Driving the news: Subaru has earned the no. 1 spot in Consumer Reports' 2026 brand report card for the second year in a row, with BMW taking second and the top luxury spot.
The details: CR's survey covered 380,000 vehicles across 25 model years—the most it has ever tracked. The rankings evaluate 31 brands on road-test performance, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety.
Porsche, Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Lincoln, Hyundai, Acura, and Tesla rounded out the top 10.
Tesla jumped eight positions to crack the top 10, with the Model Y and Model 3 overcoming past build quality issues to improve the brand's standing.
Lincoln climbed 17 spots, the biggest jump of any brand, as its aging product lineup became more reliable over time.
Audi dropped 10 spots after the Q4 E-Tron brought reliability issues and the reliable A4 was discontinued.
Chrysler fell nine spots—the brand only makes one minivan in three versions, and all three have below-average predicted reliability.
Dodge, GMC, Land Rover, and Jeep anchored the bottom five overall.
What they're saying: "While Subaru models provide good performance and comfort, they also excel in areas that may not be immediately apparent during a test drive," said Jake Fisher, CR's senior director of auto testing. "They share proven parts that help assure consistently great reliability."
Bottom line: With buyers holding onto vehicles longer, reliability is becoming a bigger deciding factor at point of sale. Dealers stocking proven performers have an easier sell, while those carrying higher-risk brands need to get smarter about service plans, warranty coverage, and managing customer expectations from day one.
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