Consumer Reports' annual list of the best auto brands sees Audi at the top

Consumer Reports has published its annual list of the best auto brands on the market as based on its research. The list is officially called the Consumer Reports 2016 Brand Report Card and the results near the top of the list are interestingly sprinkled with some mainstream brands that pack as much reliability and quality as luxury brands. Sitting at the very top of the list is Audi with an overall score of 80, road test score of 83, and reliability better than average.

CR also recommended 100% of the Audi models tested. The first surprise on the list comes in the second spot where Subaru sits with an overall score of 78, road test score of 80, better than average reliability, and 100% of its models recommended. Subaru scored better in all areas except predicted reliability than the third place company Lexus.

Fourth spot is Porsche followed by BMW in fifth place. The sixth place spot is Mazda, another surprise, with CR giving the brand an overall score of 74, road test score of 74, and better than average reliability with 100% of Mazda models recommended. In the seventh place spot is Buick with Toyota right behind in eight, Kia in ninth place, and Honda rounding out the top ten.

According to the CR list, Honda's legendary reliability is slipping with the brand only scoring average on predicted reliability. American brand Ford falls in 16th place, Lincoln is in 17th place, Chevy is in 20th place, GMC in 23rd palace, Cadillac is 24th, Dodge is 25th, Chrysler 26th, and Jeep is in 29th place. CR does point out that a brand needs to have at least two models with test and reliability data to be included on this list. That means Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Maserati, Ram, Smart, and Tesla lack the data to be included.

SOURCE: Consumer Reports