Best Car Brand: Mazda
Mazda wins its sixth consecutive Best Car Brand award thanks to its superb performance and upscale interiors. The Mazda3, Mazda6, and MX-5 Miata are all ranked highly in their respective classes.
The Mazda3 was last redesigned in the 2019 model year and is now our top-ranked compact car. Both the manual and the six speed automatic transmission provide smooth shifts. The Mazda3 also has sharp steering and athletic handling, which injects some fun into the daily commute. Although front-wheel drive is standard on the Mazda3, all-wheel drive is available, which is uncommon in its class.
The Mazda3 is available as both a sedan and a hatchback. If you need more room for luggage, the available hatchback has plenty of cargo space and also comes with folding rear seats. Regardless of which body style you choose, the Mazda3’s cabin contains premium materials, plenty of space in the front row, and an easy-to-use infotainment system.
Best Car Brand: Mazda
Another option is the Mazda6, which performs just as well as the Mazda3, but gets the enhanced cargo space of a midsize car. In addition, the interior is filled with premium materials and the seats are comfortable. On the road, the optional turbocharged engine and agile handling make the Mazda6 one of the most thrilling rides in the segment.
If you’re looking for something even sportier, the MX-5 Miata has precise handling and a four-cylinder engine that helps it accelerate quickly. For affordable sports cars, this is one of the most agile. If you want a comfy and fun convertible, the Miata is the perfect car.
The Miata’s cabin, while small, has abundant soft-touch materials and an intuitive infotainment system. It also comes with several standard safety features including automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning.
[Check out our Mazda deals page for the best finance and lease deals available for these cars.]
Best SUV Brand: Hyundai
Hyundai unseats Kia and wins its first ever Best SUV Brand award. With consumers focusing more towards SUVs, Hyundai has made an effort to modify their strategy, and has seen plenty of success. Their crossover lineup includes the Santa Fe, Palisade, Tucson, Venue, Kona, and Kona EV. All but the Santa Fe and Tucson made their debut in 2018 or later. Hyundai SUVs are known for their vast amount of advanced features, well-appointed interiors, and comfortable rides.
The Santa Fe is the top-ranked midsize SUV and is also near the top of the list among all crossovers. The Santa Fe has a roomy and comfortable interior with plenty of cargo space, allowing enough room for the whole family. The infotainment system is easy to use and offers quick response times. In addition, there are several standard active safety features, including emergency automatic braking and lane keeping assist, that help keep the driver and passengers protected.
Additionally, the Santa Fe has a comfortable and balanced ride. It also has some of the better safety and reliability scores in its class, which helped the midsize SUV win both the 2020 2-Row SUV for the Money and 2020 Best New SUV for Teens $35K-$40K awards. Even though the Santa Fe ranks highly among its rivals, Hyundai plans to make some major upgrades for the 2021 model year, potentially improving it even more and distancing it from the competition.
Best SUV Brand: Hyundai
Like the Santa Fe, the Tucson is a compact SUV that’s also slated to be fully redesigned next year. The Tucson prioritizes its interior with a simple, easy-to-use infotainment system. It also delivers a comfortable ride with agile steering and a smooth braking performance.
Another option is the Kona, our top-ranked subcompact SUV. Like all Hyundai models, the Kona shows off an upscale interior and has an intuitive infotainment system. The Kona’s engine also provides strong power for its class, while still managing to keep a composed ride and balanced handling. If the Kona’s solid fuel economy isn’t enough, there’s also a Kona EV, a fully electric version, which is significantly more fuel efficient.
The newest Hyundai models are the midsize Palisade and the subcompact Venue. Both debuted in 2020 and already rank highly in their respective classes. While quiet, the Palisade’s V6 engine is able to generate plenty of power with smooth acceleration. Its cabin is one of the most upscale in the midsize SUV class, and is roomier than most rivals. While the Venue’s performance may not be as strong as the Palisade’s, the subcompact SUV’s well-crafted interior makes up for it. Inside, you’ll also find comfortable seating and an infotainment system with a wealth of easy-to-use features.
[Check out our Hyundai deals page for the best finance and lease deals available for these SUVs.]
Best Truck Brand: Ram
Competition among trucks brands is fierce, but this year Ram hauls ahead, winning our Best Truck Brand award. Over time, the job description of the pickup has expanded beyond tough utilitarian to include comfortable daily driving and even high-tech luxury, and Ram checks a lot of boxes for modern truck shoppers.
You can say that the Ram 1500 is towing the brand’s success, as it comes available in a swath of trims with ranging capability and luxury, allowing unique combinations for just about every pickup driver. A base work truck is available for classic pickup needs, while aspiring desert racers can climb into the new-for-2021 Ram TRX. The TRX comes equipped with a supercharged V8 engine shared with the infamous Dodge Challenger Hellcat. The quality of the brand speaks for itself, as the Ram truck is one of the best selling vehicles in the United States.
Best Truck Brand: Ram
Sticking with the basics, the Ram 1500 is capable of towing up to 12,750 pounds when properly equipped. A range of different engines are available for different needs, including a diesel and a mild-hybrid system mated to a V8. Ram’s mild-hybrid eTorque technology maximizes the 1500’s towing ability. Equipping the truck with a V6 enables its maximum payload capacity of 2,300 pounds. Neither figures are class-leading among full-size trucks, though both are competitive and entirely adequate for most trucking needs.
Modern amenities are what really set the Ram 1500 apart from other pickups for daily drivers. For example, the Ram is the only truck to offer an optional air suspension, which gives this pickup exceptional on-road ride quality. Inside, high-quality materials and solid craftsmanship can make the cabins of well-equipped 1500s feel like they rival the interiors of conventional luxury brands. Rugged, work-friendly materials can be optioned as well.
Passenger accommodations are a selling-point as well, with comfortable front row seats and loads of rear-seat legroom in crew cab models. Its Uconnect infotainment system is considered one of the best in the business for functionality and ease-of-use.
While a $32,245 starting MSRP is above the segment average (and popular competitors like the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado 1500), the Ram 1500 offers a lot to justify the price. For all of the available features and capability, Ram rightfully earns the title of best truck brand in 2020.
[Check out our Ram deals page for the best finance and lease deals available for this truck.]
Best Luxury Brand: Porsche
Be it with sports coupés or SUVs, Porsche has long upheld the benchmark for combining luxury with automotive athletics. Rightfully so, it has earned our Best Luxury Brand award, taking the title for the sixth consecutive year.
Porsche is best known for its luxury sports cars, including the Boxster and Cayman, as well as the iconic 911. Each occupies a spot at the top of the segment ranking, thanks in part to class-leading performance and comfort. It doesn’t matter if you choose a hardtop or convertible, these coupés have a rear-mounted engine layout that lends itself to famous handling capabilities for road and track driving. A range of powertrain options are available for different drivers and different budgets, with the ability to choose between four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines, rear- or all-wheel drive, and an automatic or manual gearbox. Climb all the way up to the 911 Turbo S for exclusive (i.e. expensive) access to 640 horsepower.
For an extra set of doors and a comfortable second row of seats, the Panamera adds family friendliness without sacrificing much in the way of performance. Just like in the sports cars, the Panamera is available with a range of engine choices, including hybrid options. The Panamera also ranks near the top of the super luxury car segment.
Best Luxury Brand: Porsche
If the Panamera super sedan just doesn’t cut it, two SUVs are an option. The Macan, a luxury compact SUV, puts the driver in a more commanding driving position and offers a long list of available safety and infotainment features. Spend a little more and you can drive home in a Cayenne, which offers much the same as the Macan but with added rear legroom and cargo carrying capacity that’s expected of a luxury midsize SUV. Don’t worry about sacrificing any muscle, as both of these SUVs offer class-leading handling abilities even in their base form, with the option to step up to a high-caliber Turbo trim.
Brand new for 2020, the Taycan is Porsche’s first foray into electric luxury cars. Powered exclusively by batteries, the Taycan’s modern, emissions-free powertrain provides a historically accurate Porsche driving experience, one that can make daily drivers feel like heroes.
Though layouts and driving styles differ, high-quality interiors are common across the Porsche lineup. Material quality is top-notch, and the cabin successfully demonstrates both form and function. The front seats are both comfortable and well-positioned, and the same can be said for the rear seats – so long as you opt for a model with four doors.
Methodology
The Best Vehicle Brand awards are an objective assessment of quality across all of a brand’s offerings in four categories: Cars, SUVs, Trucks, and Luxury. Brand ratings are based on the U.S. News Best Cars overall scores for each vehicle, which incorporate the consensus opinion of the automotive press, as well as safety and reliability data.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
If you’re interested in any of the vehicles from the brands mentioned, head over to our new car rankings to learn even more about them. You can also peruse our best car deals and lease deals pages for all the best incentives manufacturers are currently offering.
Once you’ve found the right vehicle for you, be sure to use the U.S. News Best Price Program for the best prices in your area. Whether you’re buying or leasing, shoppers who use the program save an average of more than $3,000 off their new vehicle.
2021 Best Vehicle Brand Awards
- Best Car Brand: Mazda
- Best SUV Brand: Hyundai
- Best Truck Brand: Ram
- Best Luxury Brand: Porsche
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The Best Vehicle Brands in Our Rankings
With so many cars and SUVs to choose from, beginning with a brand can be a useful place to start your search. That said, it can be complex having to navigate a constantly evolving marketplace where brands regularly come and go. With our Best Vehicle Brand awards, we hope to simplify the process and give you a good place to start.
Some brands offer diverse lineups, so we’ve focused our analysis on four common categories: cars, SUVs, trucks, and luxury vehicles, and found the best brand in each segment. The winning brand’s vehicles tend to rank near the top of their respective classes, so you can be confident you're making a smart purchase.
If you don’t consider yourself a brand loyalist, or you’re considering changing lanes, this award is a good place to start. Even if you’re a fourth-generation Ford driver, it’s always worth shopping around. Read on to learn about our winnings brands that should be at the top of your test-drive list.