Nov. 19, 2019—U.S. News & World Report has announced its 2020 Best Vehicle Brand awards and Best Certified Pre-Owned Program award.
The Best Vehicle Brand awards, evaluating 35 brands, recognize industry-wide excellence for cars, SUVs, trucks and luxury vehicles, according to a press release. Drawing on data from the U.S. News Best Used Cars rankings and auto brands' CPO program parameters, the Best Certified Pre-Owned Program award highlights the CPO program that offers buyers the most benefits.
Here are the best brand winners, according to the publication:
Mazda: Best Car Brand
For the fifth consecutive year, Mazda won this 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.
Kia: Best SUV Brand
Kia broke Honda's four-year winning streak with a range of SUVs that can meet the needs of any buyer. From the subcompact Niro to the three-row Telluride, Kia's line of practical, affordable SUVs and crossovers have new designs and the kind of features that impress car reviewers.
Ram: Best Truck Brand
Like Kia, Ram broke another brand's four-year streak for the Best Truck Brand award, beating out Ford for the first time. The Ram 1500 stands alone among trucks with its coil-over suspension that makes the Ram comfortable enough for commuting and capable enough for serious towing and hauling. The Ram's interior features a monster touch-screen infotainment system, and on upper trims, the kind of materials that buyers usually see in luxury SUVs.
Porsche: Best Luxury Brand
This is the fifth year Porsche has won the best Luxury Brand award, and though many consumers think Porsche only makes sports cars, the automaker offers a full lineup of impressive vehicles. In addition to pacesetting performance, all Porsche models indulge their occupants with opulent, driver-oriented interiors that score high marks with reviewers.
"Deciding where to start looking for a new car, truck or SUV can be one of the most overwhelming parts of buying a car," said Jamie Page Deaton, executive 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 safety scores, reliability data and the consensus of the automotive press.
