The 10 Best New Car Brands to Own - Ranked by Real Drivers

Honda’s got the rep for making reliable, budget-friendly cars, and the Driver Power survey agrees. They scored top five for build quality and running costs, plus they nailed #1 for cheap servicing. The only real complaints? The Civic’s firm suspension and pretty basic looks. Overall, Honda’s holding it down, even while flying under the radar during the EV switch-up.

Suzuki just beats out its Japanese rival, thanks to killer safety tech that landed it fourth place in that category. It didn’t dominate everywhere, but its solid all-round game put it comfortably in the top 10. The biggest flop? The infotainment system, especially the sat nav. Still, with great scores for braking, handling, and steering, Suzuki snagged a respectable sixth place for overall handling.

BMW totally lives up to its “Ultimate Driving Machine” rep, landing third for powertrains. But surprisingly, handling didn’t wow owners - they ranked it 12th. Still, BMW scored in the top 10 in safety, practicality, interior, and infotainment. Drivers loved the iDrive system for being easy to use, with smooth smartphone hookups and decent sat-nav. The downsides? Running costs are pricey, and the styling’s still a love-it-or-hate-it thing - those giant kidney grilles are still annoying some people.

Peugeot’s crushing it with design right now, landing third for exterior style. Even though it shares parts with other Stellantis brands, drivers clearly prefer Peugeot’s handling, ranking it fourth overall, especially for steering, probably thanks to that small wheel in the i-Cockpit. It also made the top 10 for interior quality and practicality. The only downside? It scored pretty low, 25th, for value for money.

Renault is the highest-ranked French brand on the list, just missing the top five thanks to some ups and downs. Owners weren’t too impressed with the interiors, practicality, driving, or reliability. But it made up for it with a solid second place for running costs and third for its Google-powered infotainment. Throw in top-10 scores for safety, styling, and value, and Renault earns a solid spot in the overall top 10, even with a few bumps along the way.

Land Rover made a big jump this year, climbing five spots to crack the top five. Famous for loyal fans and an all-SUV lineup, it nailed practicality with a solid second place. The interiors feel super plush too, landing third for cabin quality, and those bold 4×4 vibes scored fourth for exterior design. But some things haven’t improved much - fuel economy, reliability, and value still tanked, ranking 30th, 24th, and 28th.

This British brand made waves in the Driver Power rankings, thanks to the Vauxhall Grandland Mk8 snagging second place in the best models list. With a lineup packed with fuel-efficient hybrids and electric rides, it took first for economy and running costs. The downside? Interior quality - owners weren’t feeling the finish or front-seat comfort, even if a spinal expert gave it a thumbs-up. It didn’t crack the top 10 for safety or value, but with solid scores across the board, Vauxhall’s got plenty to be happy about.

Coming in third is Lexus, Toyota’s premium brand and a longtime Driver Power fave. It crushed it compared to its mainstream sibling (Toyota came 14th), scoring top five for value, infotainment, interior, and especially quality and reliability thanks to its solid build. As a luxury brand, it’s no shock Lexus didn’t make the top 10 for running costs, but its 13th place for ride and handling might surprise some. Still, a strong showing from Japan’s best.

Mercedes came in second in the Driver Power brand rankings and topped the model list with the GLE Mk4. Premium buyers expect a lot, and Mercedes delivers, landing on the podium in nine out of 10 categories. Owners rave about the top-tier safety tech and the easy-to-use MBUX infotainment. It also nailed second place for both exterior and interior design, proving why it’s a true luxury brand. The downside? High running costs, bad fuel economy, and expensive servicing. Still, overall, it’s a solid win.

Subaru took the top spot for the second year straight, killing it in almost every category on the Driver Power brand list. It snagged first place in seven out of 10 areas, especially shining in ride and handling, plus quality and reliability, probably thanks to its rally roots. Like Mercedes, the only weak spot was running costs, coming in 18th. Not shocking since Subaru’s boxer engines aren’t exactly fuel-sippers, even with hybrid and electric options. Still, with just one category outside the top 10, Subaru clearly deserves the crown this year.