Genesis, the newcomer luxury brand from Hyundai, has accelerated past Audi and is now top-rated by Consumer Reports in its annual ranking of automotive brands.
Audi was ranked No. 2, followed by BMW, Lexus and Porsche in the top 5. The remainder of the top 10 in order: Subaru, Kia, Tesla, Honda and Toyota.
The magazine’s annual report card ranks brands based on road and safety tests, owner satisfaction and reliability.
Lexus stood out in the rankings more for its reliability and standard advanced safety features than its road test scores, which often have trailed rivals. The magazine reported every Audi model tested, which totaled eight in the latest survey period, and every Genesis tested, just two models, are all recommended.
The influential magazine says its recommended vehicles must perform well in road testing, generate average or better predicted reliability ratings and perform at least adequately if included in government or insurance-industry crash tests.
The Chrysler brand, with an overall score that is four points higher, posted the biggest gain while Buick, down eight points, and Acura, down six ponts, fell the most, because of lower reliability of some models, the magazine said. Fiat remained at the bottom of the brand rankings.
Toyota Motor Corp. took four of 10 slots in the magazine’s annual ranking of vehicles, the most of any manufacturer, with the Toyota Camry taking the highest honors.
Consumer Reports added seven vehicles — the Toyota Corolla and the Camry, Chevrolet Bolt, Kia Optima, Ford F-150, BMW X3, and Audi A4 — to its 2018 list of recommended vehicles.
Chevrolet placed two vehicles in the top ten: the Bolt and the Impala, the only other brand with more than one vehicle in the top. However, the Ford F-150 was named 2018’s best full-size pickup.
Consumer Reports analyzes its road and safety tests, customer satisfaction and reliability data to compile its annual brand report card.
Article Last Updated: February 23, 2018.