BMW tops Consumer Reports' 2023 brand rankings

BMW climbed two spots to place first in Consumer Reports' annual ranking of the top automotive brands for performance, safety and reliability.

Subaru, which was No. 1 in 2022, finished second this year.

Addressing "growing pains" was a deciding factor in the latest rankings, according to Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports.

Reliability improved notably at BMW, Fisher said. The brand was also an early innovator in infotainment and has shown standout growth toward simplicity and usability of media and information interfaces.

Mini, Lexus, Honda, Toyota, Genesis, Mazda, Audi and Kia rounded out the top 10.

Genesis rose 12 spots in the rankings and Kia, Lincoln and Tesla also moved up. The improvements, Fisher said, were primarily a result of the brands "addressing some reliability issues that they've had in the past."

Among brands that dropped, Porsche slid seven slots and Chrysler fell 12 spots. Fisher said the declines were partly because hybrid models were evaluated separately this year, giving more weight to problems with individual models, such as the Chrysler Pacifica.

"There aren't a lot of vehicles in the [Porsche and Chrysler] product lineup," Fisher said. "So just one or two vehicles faltering can really move them quite a lot in the rankings."

Fisher said Porsche had four models tested that were used in the latest brand report card. The Macan, previously rated above average for predicted reliability, was only average this year, he said. And the reliability of the Taycan EV continued to be rated below average.

Buick remained the highest-ranked domestic brand, though it fell one spot from last year to 12th.

Land Rover fell three spots to last place this year, a result of sacrifices in comfort and reliability in exchange for off-road capability, Fisher said. Similar issues were reflected in the ranking of Jeep at second-to-last.

Mercedes-Benz, GMC, Mitsubishi, Alfa Romeo and Jaguar were ranked near the bottom.

Consumer Reports again gave Green Choice designations to the cleanest, lowest-emitting passenger vehicles; Toyota led with nine Green Choice models.

Consumer Reports also announced its annual list of 10 top picks for cars, SUVs and trucks on Thursday.

Half of the picks this year are hybrid models, which are coming to occupy a "sweet spot" in the market, Fisher said.

The top hybrid models include the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Ford Maverick Hybrid, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid and the Lexus NX350h.

More mainstream than many EVs — what Fisher says can be "science projects" — and more fuel efficient than many vehicles powered solely by internal combustion engines, hybrids overall stood out as comparable and reliable.

"There are a lot of high-selling vehicles that guzzle gas," Fisher said. "And when we see fast and efficient (hybrid) models, it is clear they don't need to."

The Ford Maverick in particular is a "game changer," he said. Combining fuel efficiency, usability and versatility, the Maverick was "just really not like anything we've ever seen before," Fisher said.

The Tesla Model 3 rejoined the list this year, specifically included to reflect the convenience of the Tesla supercharger infrastructure.

"If you are purchasing an EV at that price point, it is our advice to purchase the Tesla Model 3," Fisher said. "Not because it's absolutely the best, but because if you need to take a trip, it is a completely different experience."

The other cars on the top 10 list are the Toyota Corolla Cross, the Subaru Forester, the Nissan Leaf and the Kia Telluride.

To be a Consumer Reports top pick, vehicles must perform well in the organization's road tests, come standard with key safety features, and receive positive reviews for reliability and satisfaction in CR's member surveys, according to the official statement announcing the top picks.