Buying a vehicle in today’s climate can be a daunting proposition so making certain you make the best possible choice is important — despite market restrictions.
A new study out shows Honda, Hyundai, Ram and Porsche are the dealerships to check out first, according to the latest “Best Vehicle Brand” award from U.S. News & World Report.
“After you identify the type of vehicle that you want, it’s important to find the brand that fits your needs,” said Jim Sharifi, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars, in a statement. “The Best Vehicle Brand awards recognize the automakers that produce the type of vehicle that best matches those consumer interests.”
To determine the award winners, U.S. News Best Cars averaged the overall score of all the given brand’s products in each award class. The brand with the highest overall average score was named the winner in the category. The overall scores come directly from the U.S. News Best Cars rankings, which are based on a combination of the consensus opinion of the automotive press, safety scores and reliability data.
A look at the winners
Honda took the award for Best Car Brand with the Civic, Insight, Accord and Accord Hybrid. The magazine noted the vehicles’ driving dynamics, safety scores and “competitive” reliability rankings as the primary drivers of the win.
For the second straight year, Hyundai captured the honor of Best SUV Brand. The award is a bit ironic given the company’s been playing catch-up in the segment for so long. However, with a complete portfolio now — Palisade, Santa Fe, Tucson and Venue — the company’s on top. The publication noted its driver assistance and infotainment technology and affordability as the differentiators.
Ram sits atop the truck mountain largely because the 1500 “is one of the few trucks on the market to make a case for itself as both a work vehicle and a daily driver,” editors noted. The assertion comes from the truck’s coil-spring suspension that makes for a comfortable commute while being able to handle “serious towing and hauling.”
This is the seventh consecutive Best Luxury Brand win for Porsche. Though the brand is known for sports cars, Porsche offers a lineup of vehicles that effortlessly marry performance with upscale panache. Though almost any Porsche is at home on a racetrack, all models feature driver-focused interiors built with high-end materials and plenty of comfort.
Best certified pre-owned award
There was little surprise in this honor as Lexus took it for the fifth straight year. The publication cited its warranty coverage, vehicle dependability — some going more than 250,000 if maintained — and its program perks as the reasons.
“A well-deserved reputation for reliability makes Lexus vehicles an appealing choice among certified pre-owned cars,” Sharifi said. “Lexus backs that assurance of dependability with an excellent CPO warranty, along with a list of program benefits that include a free loaner car and free maintenance visits.”
The Lexus CPO warranty includes coverage for up to two years, with no mileage limit and no deductible. Lexus CPO buyers can also take advantage of free roadside assistance and a free loaner car, as well as four complimentary factory maintenance service visits in their first two years or 20,000 miles of ownership, the magazine noted.