These Automakers Are The Best In The World, According To Our Readers

Photo: Bruce Bennett (Getty Images)

Earlier this week we asked our readers to tell us which automaker is currently the best in the world. While there was a wide variety of answers, it’s difficult to deny that Japanese manufacturers have garnered a favorable reputation. The only American automaker that had any significant support was a divisive choice, to say the least. I’ll give you two hints: the company has never been based in Detroit and it only builds electric vehicles.

Photo: Toyota

So, what answer is there besides Toyota?

You look for a vehicle that runs and runs, there’s the Toyota premium you pay to get a great car off the lot or a damn good used car. Writers tout Toyota products for how well they perform. And not going whole hog with the EV “revolution” is making Toyota look prescient to the 10th power.

Submitted by: the1969DodgeChargerFan

Photo: Lexus

Lexus. Like Toyota only fancier, more comfortable, more reliable, etc. There are more layers of corrosion protection, paint and clearcoat than what you find on other manufacturers (find a 20 year old Lexus and just try to find rust on the body). They run for decades longer than other cars, again, go take a 20-year-old Lexus for spin and just try to call me a liar. A better warranty than all the other brands. A better customer experience. I could go on.

Submitted by: ceragan42

Photo: Riley / Wikimedia Commons

The one automaker which (to my knowledge) has never had a safety-related recall.

Submitted by: namesakeone

Unfortunately, I have to mention that Matchbox had a recall during the 1980s due to lead paint being used on its cars.

Photo: Porsche

How is Porsche not more popular in the replies? Toyota in the standard of reliability and nothing else. The driving experience and materials are awful and the only reason 90% of buyers put up with them is because the cars run forever and the owner hates driving anyway.

The only reason anyone buys a coupe or crossover that’s not a Porsche is money. The 911 is the global standard for a fun-to-drive car and the Macan/Cayenne are the standard for joy that also holds a family. The Taycan is what a luxury BEV looks & feels like, dwarfing Tesla/Polestar in every way that matters. Porsche is probably the one maker you can expect to find in some suburban driveway as the owner’s dream car but also find it in every billionaire’s collection.

If an appliance that you hate and only serves the purpose of driving you from A to B is considered The Standard of the World, then I guess Toyota wins that. However, if The Standard of the World also includes literally anything else about the experience of owning and driving a vehicle, Porsche exceeds Toyota and everyone else that sells more than like 15k cars a year (Porsche even beats out some of those 10k car/year companies, IMO).

Submitted by: engineerthefuture

Photo: Brandon Bell (Getty Images)

Tesla. They singlehandedly redefined the driving experience. There is a reason why the Model Y is the best selling car in the world.

Submitted by: David Warmbier

I think their quality control issues alone would disqualify them from being the BEST. Add on their stale, dated 10-year-old lineup or the complications they face to actually launching new vehicles like the Cybertruck, which they can’t release faster than its reputation is deteriorating or their irrational business decisions and cruel layoffs or the fact that they Union bust so they can continue to behave like they aren’t American. Seems like a stretch to say they are the BEST just because Elon sold an idea of FSD, which will eternally be in Beta mode.

Submitted by: sputnik

Photo: Honda

Honda. The perfect mixture of reliability, affordability and style.

Honda seems to understand the American market better than domestic OEMs. It has exciting vehicles in the mid-20k range, while most domestic OEMs seem to want to redefine 35k as the new starting point. They still provide a sedan, and I think enough of them to prove that that market is worth not ignoring.

They’ve made efficient vehicles since before it was a political mandate. The auto industry wouldn’t be rushing to correct itself if they’d invested more into good 4-cylinder engines and worked on generating better public opinion of smaller more efficient ICE engines.

No, the cars aren’t the best. But we can afford them. And they look good enough and are reliable enough that we can love them. There is a rich aftermarket supply for those of us who can’t bring ourselves to love the Civic stock but would die for a heavily modded one. It’ll never be the fastest but I think it might be the most well-loved.

Submitted by: sputnik

Photo: Volvo

I’m gonna say Volvo. I think their lineup is still the best, and it amazes me more people won’t consider them. From cars to semis, why not Volvo?

Submitted by: skeffles

Photo: Mazda

1. The Mazda MX-5

Seriously. How many automakers still have a bespoke RWD sports car convertible that’s affordable?

2. Pretty much everything they make is beautiful. Whether it’s a sedan or SUV, the Mazda version will be the nicest version you can get, with a premium interior, and it’ll be good to drive. All this at prices that are pretty reasonable. The new CX-90 and CX-70 are pretty awesome looking for an SUV.

3. They’re reliable. They’ve shot up in reliability rankings over the years, and every Mazda I’ve owned (5 now) has been completely trouble free.

4. They’re small, but still willing to do something weird. Like a rotary engine as a range extender.

We should all take a moment and thank the automotive gods that Mazda still exists. They might not be the zoom-zoom company anymore, but they’re still pretty incredible.

Submitted by: dolsh

Photo: BMW

BMW is the answer, they have a diverse vehicle line up to include EVs, quality higher than most others, greater integrated technology, distinctive styling, great reliability, great warranties, etc. The ultimate driving experience is not just a sales pitch for them.

Submitted by: Dan J

Photo: Damian Morys / Wikimedia Commons

I’d argue for Ferrari. They’ve maintained (well, rekindled post ‘80s and post 458 facelift series) their top of the heap brand magic, and keep creating astonishing automobiles that are beautiful and powerful. Their desirability is untouchable in the marketplace.

Submitted by: XL500

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