Car Brands, Ranked

The world's largest carmaker by volume for most years since 2012, selling over 10 million vehicles annually, and its Corolla is the best-selling car nameplate in history. Consistently tops reliability studies.

Karl Benz built the first true automobile, the 1886 Patent-Motorwagen, and the brand remains the global benchmark for luxury engineering and safety innovation (crumple zones, ABS, ESP).

The definitive sport-luxury marque and one of the world's most valuable car brands, its inline-six engines and 3 Series set the dynamic standard for premium sedans for decades.

Earns among the highest profit per vehicle of any automaker and holds the record 19 outright wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 911 is one of the longest-running and most revered sports cars ever.

The most successful and storied team in Formula 1 history and a byword for exclusivity; its cars command the strongest resale values in the industry and it trades as one of the most valuable luxury brands on Earth.

Toyota's luxury arm routinely ranks #1 in J.D. Power dependability and Consumer Reports reliability, delivering near-flawless build quality that shook the German establishment on its 1989 debut.

The largest engine manufacturer in the world by volume, prized for bulletproof reliability; the Civic and Accord are perennial best-sellers and the brand's VTEC engineering is legendary.

Revolutionized rallying and road cars with quattro all-wheel drive in 1980 and helped define the modern premium interior. A core pillar of the German luxury trio alongside BMW and Mercedes.

The Model T and moving assembly line democratized the automobile, and the F-Series has been America's best-selling vehicle for over four decades. Enormous mainstream reach with mid-pack reliability.

The Beetle and Golf are among the best-selling cars ever made, and VW anchors one of the largest automotive groups on the planet, though the 2015 diesel scandal dented its reputation.

Transformed from budget also-ran to a global top-three automaker (with Kia) in two decades, now scoring high in initial-quality studies and leading with its 10-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Invented and freely gave away the patent for the three-point seatbelt in 1959, saving millions of lives, and remains synonymous with occupant protection and understated Scandinavian design.

Made electric cars desirable and became the world's most valuable automaker by market capitalization; the Model Y was the best-selling car globally in 2023, though build-quality complaints keep it mid-tier on fit and finish.

Built a devoted following on standard symmetrical all-wheel drive, boxer engines and strong safety ratings; the Outback and Forester are fixtures of the reliability charts.

Punches above its size with class-leading driving dynamics, premium interiors and the record-holding MX-5 Miata, the best-selling two-seat sports car ever built.

Reinvented itself under designer Peter Schreyer into a bold, award-winning brand; the Telluride won multiple Car of the Year honors, and quality now rivals its former budget peers.

Home to the Corvette and the Silverado, but its broad mainstream lineup posts middling-to-poor reliability scores and a diluted brand image compared with its performance halo cars.

Once a leader with the GT-R and the pioneering mass-market Leaf EV, but an aging lineup, CVT reliability complaints and financial turmoil have eroded its standing.

Produces gorgeous, characterful luxury cars but has long languished near the bottom of reliability rankings, and its shrinking sales forced a full brand reboot.

The stylish 500 gives it personality, but Fiat consistently ranks among the least reliable brands in owner surveys and has all but retreated from the North American market.