We all have perceptions and ideas about vehicle brands. A new survey by Consumer Reports reveals how consumers rank the best and worst car brands–at least in terms of perception.
Volvo is still viewed as “safe.”
Toyota and Honda are still known for reliability and dependability.
Land Rover, unfortunately for the brand, is still viewed as expensive to own due to regular trips to the mechanic.
Fiat is still haunted by legacy perceptions of quality even as its redesigned and better-engineered and built Fiat 500 struggles to gain a foothold following its re-introduction to American roads last year.
Consumer Reports Survey Identifies 2012′s Winners and Losers
Consumer Reports recently released findings from their 2012 Car-Brand Perception Survey and while last year’s leaders remain at the top of the car brand tower, other brands are climbing the ladder.
That means traditional brand leaders Toyota, Ford, Honda and Chevrolet are still perceived by survey respondents as the best overall brands in seven categories: safety, quality, value, performance, environmentally friendly/green, design/style, and technology/innovation.
But Toyota, Ford, Honda and BMW all registered double-digit drops in brand-perception scores.
We’ve included two tables below that demonstrate the best and worst in terms of brand perception.
The tables compare the 2011 and 2012 overall scores for the top 10 brands and bottom 10 brands. These scores are the cumulative total based on a brand’s total perception level across the seven categories.
But it’s important to recognize that perception isn’t always reality. In fact, some brands that perform well in brand perception may not test as well in reliability, safety or other criteria.
Likewise, brands that get blasted in terms of perception may actually be highly recommended by Consumer Reports’ testers. Infiniti is a good example of that phenomenon. All five of the vehicles offered by the luxury automaker are “Recommended” by Consumer Reports. Go figure.
So take these findings as one more factor to weigh as you consider a new car.
And let us know: do these brand perceptions match your perceptions of the best and worst car brands?
Best Overall Brand Perception 2012 vs. 2011
| Brand | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota | 131 | 147 |
| Ford | 121 | 144 |
| Honda | 94 | 121 |
| Chevrolet | 92 | 102 |
| Mercedes-Benz | 84 | 90 |
| BMW | 69 | 93 |
| Volvo | 67 | 84 |
| Cadillac | 63 | 66 |
| Lexus | 54 | 69 |
| Tesla | 51 | DID NOT
RANK IN TOP 10 |
Worst Overall Brand Perception 2012 vs. 2011
| Brand | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Saab | 5 | 10 |
| Fiat | 7 | DID NOT
RANK IN BOTTOM 10 |
| Mini | 7 | 19 |
| Mitsubishi | 7 | 8 |
| Land Rover | 8 | 9 |
| Mercury | 10 | 14 |
| Suzuki | 11 | 5 |
| Jeep | 12 | 16 |
| Infiniti | 16 | DID NOT
RANK IN BOTTOM 10 |
| Mazda | 16 | DID NOT
RANK IN BOTTOM 10 |
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- Vehix Names Best Crossovers for 2012
- Most Fuel-Efficient SUVS for 2012
- Top 10 Best-Selling Cars – November 2011
- Highlights from the 2011 Detroit Auto Show
- Old Honda Accords and Civics Most Stolen Cars of 2010
- Vehix Recommends 8 Used Luxury SUVS Under $30,000
- The 10 Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs for 2012
Tags: 2012 Car-Brand Perception Survey, 2012 Consumer Reports, Best Car Brands, BMW, Cadillac Lexus, Chevrolet, Consumer Reports, Consumer Reports Perceptions, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jeep, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mercury, Mini, mitsubishi, SAAB, Suzuki, tesla, Toyota, Volvo, Worst Car Brands
My 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara is a wonderful car. I have had absolutely NO problems with it. The perception that the Suzuki vehicles have a lot of problems is for me, at least, a complete myth. It is still going strong and is still problem free.
I had a VW Passat which was a Consumer Reports recommended car and it was the most problematic car I have ever owned. The engine actually caught fire from faulty spark plugs that the company had failed to let me know had been recalled. The list of repairs is endless and they were VERY expensive.
I’ve owned Hondas and Toyotas and found them to be average reliability and some models are not that easy to fix when they break. No offense to Ford fans, but I have personally never owned a decent Ford (I wish I could say I have). Ironically Mercury is listed among the worst ten, when in fact a lot of Mercurys probably come down the same assembly line as Fords or at least they did historically.
The two Saabs I have owned have been just as reliable, if not more reliable than the Hondas and Toyotas that I have owned and they are way more fun to drive. I can understand how ones perception of Saab would be low given that the company has filed bankruptcy late last year. I don’t think it’s because they don’t make a good product. I think it’s more due to mismanagement and obviously a big perception problem!
I am amazed that Mazda is on the bottom of the worst brand!!! I have both a 91 Miata; which runs perfectly to this day and an 04 RX-8 which is a tremendous vehicle, both in reliabilty and in value.
I have owned a Mazda 6 for 6 years and have not had a lick of problems with it. It is a solid car and a lot fun to drive. Agree with Pat. I don’t understand why it rank low. Bullcrap.
I too would normally call bull on this especially with my Mazda 6s that I’ve owned since 2003 and not having any problems other than having to do normal maintenance on it. But, this is a survey on perception, not actual fact, it’s on consumers perception of the quality of the brand. So come to think of it, Consumer Reports might be right about Mazda on this. Mazda is not selling their cars like they used to and other smaller manufacturers are selling many more vehicles than Mazda. So the consumers in general are not appearing to like the current Mazda lineup. Well, thats fine, Mazda is really overdue for a complete overhaul of all of their vehicles. Seeing what the future 6 and upcoming RX9 and Tribute looks like, I think they will be making a comeback in the next few years.
I bought a 1989 Mazda 323 brand new, and owned it until late 2001 (driving around a quarter million miles). It was a fantastic little car, getting good gas mileage the entire time I owned it, and needing about an average amount of repairs for the kind of car and the way I drove it. And my experience mirrors what I have heard form countless others, both during the time I owned it and since! I am very surprised at this low rating, and wonder how it came about.
No where do I see Subaru listed…I have a 1995 that has never had anything done to except oil changes, timing belt and tires….My daughter bought a new Honda it started falling apart immediately…the engine blew at 2 yrs..it’s noisey and rides like a tank….I have a problem with some of consumers reports finds on a number of findings.
My wife bought a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitira(original mileage 4400 miles, 2 years old, kept until 2010, 67000 miles. Interstate mpg 27, around town 17-19 mpg. Went to buy a 2010, the dealer had none. We bought a Lexus 350 AWD, would not have anything else except a LEXUS. Love it. GPM interstate 27, around town 15-17 GPM.
My wife bought a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitira(original mileage 4400, 2 years old, kept until 2010, 67000 miles. Interstate mpg 27, around town 17-19 mpg.Sold to 1st interest. Went to buy a 2010, the dealer had none. We bought a Lexus 350 AWD, would not have anything else except another LEXUS. Love it. GPM interstate 27, around town 15-17 GPM.
I love me Fords, keep them till they die. Also know a few people who went to HONDA onl
It’s a car you never know what you are going to get these days. I had a 1978 two-door oldsmobile cutlass supreme that lasted for 24 years beats any toyota or any other car in the market today. Drove it all over the US and Canada changed oil and maintain the tires for years. My cousin bought it 6 years ago and its still running, he refurbished everything and now it is a classic. Simple car without any problems, nowadays the computer generated vehicle with all of its sensors here and there pretty much would empty your wallet. I had a Ford Explorer the repair was enourmous and recently bought a 2009 Chevy Impala for work now the engine light is on, I guess the car industry is a money making hole on the ground without any consideration to the quality of products they sell nowadays and the car is the worst products that a consumer buy nowadays.
Thanks
I have a 99 Mercury Grand Marquis. It had 28k miles on it when I got it in 03. I have spent next to nothing to run it! It’s tempting to look at all the new models, but my car looks great – all Marquis look alike and you can’t tell the year anyhow. I get 28 mpg on the hiway and 21 in town. Not the best bt todays standards, but I love the room in the trunk, luxury interior, dark tinted wihndows, etc. That’s my car and I’m sticking with it!!!