U.S. News & World Report Identifies the Best Vehicle Brands

Mazda, Honda, Ford and Porsche recognized as best for overall brand excellence

News provided by

Nov 27, 2017, 23:01 ET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today unveiled the Best Vehicle Brand awards. The awards recognize brand-wide excellence for cars, SUVs, trucks and luxury vehicles. By highlighting the best brand in the four major segments of the automotive marketplace, the awards help consumers narrow their search for a new car.

The 2018 Best Vehicle Brand Winners

Mazda: Best Car Brand
Mazda won the car class on the strength of the Mazda3, Mazda6 and Mazda MX-5 Miata. All three models have top-notch performance that puts an emphasis on direct, sporty handling, as well as quality interiors that are more upscale than their price tags might suggest.

Honda: Best SUV Brand
Honda's current crop of SUVs puts the brand well ahead of the pack, with the Honda HR-V, CR-V and Pilot all providing consumers with the comfort, utility and reliability that SUV and crossover buyers are looking for.

Ford: Best Truck Brand
In a close race, the Ford F-150 nabbed the Best Truck Brand award for Ford, with the F-150's capability, safety, and high-tech features putting it over the top.

Porsche: Best Luxury Brand
Though many consumers think Porsche only makes sports cars, the automaker offers a full lineup of impressive vehicles, including two SUVs, hybrids and the four-door Panamera fastback. In addition to pacesetting performance, all Porsche models indulge their occupants with opulent, driver-oriented interiors that score high marks with reviewers. It's also one of the most reliable brands on the market.

"Deciding where to start looking for a new car, truck or SUV can be one of the most overwhelming parts of buying a car," says Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "The Best Vehicle Brands provides consumers with the greatest possible starting point, no matter what type of vehicle they're shopping for."

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 of the automotive press, safety scores and reliability data.

Since 2007, U.S. News Best Cars, the automotive channel of U.S. News & World Report, has published rankings of the majority of new vehicles sold in America. Each year, U.S. News also publishes the Best Cars awards, including Best Vehicle Brands, Best Cars for the Money and Best Cars for Families. U.S. News Best Cars had more than 65 million visitors over the past year, with the majority actively shopping for a car. Eighty percent of active shoppers reported that the U.S. News Best Cars site influenced their car purchasing decision.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Real Estate, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, www.usnews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 30 million people visit www.usnews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report