Car Brands Blog and Resources

For many customers, a vehicle is not just a means of transportation. It’s a ticket to adventures, memories, and opportunities. It’s the machine you trust to protect your life and the lives of your loved ones. Picking the best car brand and model is of top importance to support you in your day-to-day tasks. However, narrowing down the perfect vehicle takes time and research.  At Best Company, we seek to amplify the voice of consumers through verified customer reviews. Through our unique algorithm, we have identified the top five car brands of 2021: Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, and Nissan. Each of these brands excels in areas of quality, performance, customer service, and design. We congratulate these companies on their high-performance marks.  The review analysis below is based on a random sample taken from over 1,500 reviews. The analysis offers unique customer findings along with the pros and cons of choosing a specific brand. The data in this article can be used to help refine and direct your search for the perfect vehicle. Top Five Car Brands  Toyota Honda Ford Chevrolet Nissan   Toyota Details Best Company Rank — 1 Overall Score — 9.9 Best Company User Star Rating — 4.7/5 (based on 450+ user reviews) Warranty Length — 2 years or 24,000 miles Types of Models Offered — Sub-compacts, minivans, sedans, pickup trucks, electric, crossovers, and SUVs Time Founded — 1937  Customer Reviews  Praise: Toyota tagline “Let’s Go Places” is quite fitting for this brand. Toyota continues to impress the world with its unique green technology and reliable vehicles. Toyota has become one of the largest auto manufacturers worldwide and holds the title for the best-selling car model and best-selling hybrid model. The car company offers several affordable models with options to upgrade. Ninety-seven percent of reviews gave Toyota a 4-star or 5-star rating. Toyota is best known for its quality mark. Over 85 percent of customer reviews mention the quality of Toyota vehicles. This includes references to the longevity, reliability, and design. Customer reviewer, Boston from Utah, highlights Toyota’s dependability in his comments:  Customer Review: Boston “Our family had a Toyota for a long time and it ran well for well over a hundred thousand miles and through several small accidents. It was very dependable.” Toyota owners reported dealing with few maintenance issues on their vehicles. For those who did to get repairs done, many reviewers had a positive experience with the Toyota maintenance team. Other reviewers highlighted price value including references to competitive fuel economy and high resale value. Customers were satisfied with the performance of Toyota vehicles because of the smooth drive and handling quality.  Complaints: Toyota had few complaints from its customer reviews. Some customers reported vehicle issues as their car got older. Fewer than 2 percent of customers were dissatisfied with corporate communications and customer service at Toyota dealerships.  Company Insight According to a Toyota representative, “As the number one retail brand in the United States, and with more than 80 percent of all vehicles sold in the past 20 years still on the road today, Toyota vehicles are known for their safety, quality, durability, and reliability. Additionally, Toyota brand hybrids are the best-selling alternative fuel powertrain vehicles in the industry, and our innovation in advanced technology comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), which is a bundle of active safety features included on many new Toyota vehicles at no additional costs.” Methodology With a total of more than 450 reviews, this analysis consists of a random sample of 204 reviews. The analysis has a 95 percent level of confidence with a 5 percent margin of error. Reviews were unguided so any consistency in themes is a representation of reviewers’ own thoughts and opinions.   Toyota Profile Page Learn more about Toyota Motor Corporation by reading additional customer reviews and Toyota offerings. Learn More   Back to Company List Honda Details Best Company Rank — 2 Overall Score — 9.9 Best Company User Star Rating — 4.7/5 (based on 400+ user reviews) Warranty Length — 3 years or 36,000 miles Types of Models Offered — Sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, minivans, trucks, and electric  Time Founded — 1949  Customer Reviews  Praise: Honda is a top contender for the best car brand on bestcompany.com. The car brand's motto "The Power of Dreams" follows its history of continuous innovation and top vehicle technology. Loyal Honda customers are grateful for the safety and quality Honda provides. Around 89 percent of customer reviews mentioned quality vehicles in their reviews. This included references to longevity, reliability, and limited vehicle issues.  Many reviewers felt safe placing their family members and loved ones in a Honda vehicle. One reviewer shared a heart-warming story about the safety Honda provided to her daughter: Customer Review: Jaylene Although it scared me that she would be out on the roads driving alone, I knew that putting her in a Honda car would keep her safe. And it proved to be true. Only two years after buying her car, she got in a life-threatening car crash and walked away without a scratch on her. Thanks, Honda." Customers also noted the great price value of Honda vehicles with references to affordability and long-term value. Reviewers were satisfied with the vehicle performance and Honda customer service.  Complaints: Honda had few complaints from its customer reviews. Some customers reported vehicle issues and negative experiences with Honda’s maintenance team. Customer service at specific Honda dealership was another complaint mentioned by fewer than 3 percent of respondents.  Company Insight According to a Honda Spokesman, “Honda offers a broad range of clean, safe, fun and connected vehicles with the highest fleet average fuel economy and lowest CO2 emissions of any major full-line automaker in America, according to the latest data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Designed and manufactured to exceed the demands and expectations of customers, Honda’s offerings include the Civic, Insight, Accord, Accord Hybrid, Clarity Plug-in Hybrid and Clarity Fuel Cell passenger cars; HR-V, CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport and Pilot sport utility vehicles; the Ridgeline pickup and Odyssey minivan.”  Methodology With a total of more than 400 reviews, this analysis consists of a random sample of 191 reviews. The analysis has a 95 percent level of confidence with a 5 percent margin of error. Reviews were unguided so any consistency in themes is a representation of reviewers’ own thoughts and opinions.   Honda Learn more about Honda Motor Company by reading additional customer reviews and Honda offerings. Learn More   Back to Company List Ford Details Best Company Rank — 3 Overall Score — 9.2 Best Company User Star Rating — 4.4/5 (based on 380+ user reviews) Warranty Length — 3 years or 36,000 miles Types of Models Offered — Sedans, sports cars, SUVs, trucks, and vans Time Founded — 1903 Customer Reviews  Praise: Ford Motor Company is an American automaker that revolutionized the car industry with the invention of the assembly line. Ford stands behind its logo “Built Ford Proud” by engineering vehicles with lasting quality and dependability. In Ford’s customer review analysis, 77 percent of reviewers highlight the quality of Ford’s vehicles. One customer recognized the durability of a Ford vehicle even in the event of an accident: Customer Service: Daisy “I absolutely love my Ford Focus. I was unfortunately in a car accident, and my car was barely dented at all. It is extremely durable, and I would recommend a ford to anyone.” The popularity of Ford pickup trucks was also consistent throughout the reviews. Some reviews mentioned choosing Ford pickups for their personal and commercial needs. Reviewers were impressed with the towing capacity and power of Ford trucks. Over 20 percent of Ford reviews mentioned satisfactory customer service. Many reviewers had a positive experience purchasing their new car and taking the vehicle in for servicing. Complaints: Ford had few customer complaints among its reviews. Some complaints about Ford vehicles included vehicles requiring repeated repairs and expensive maintenance.  Company Insight No response submitted by Ford Motor Company.  Methodology With a total of more than 380 reviews, this analysis consists of a random sample of 171 reviews. The analysis has a 95 percent level of confidence with a 5 percent margin of error. Reviews were unguided so any consistency in themes is a representation of reviewers’ own thoughts and opinions.   Ford Learn more about Ford Motor Company by reading additional customer reviews and Ford offerings. Learn More   Back to Company List Chevrolet Details Best Company Rank — 4 Overall Score — 8.6 Best Company User Star Rating — 4.4/5 (based on 220+ user reviews) Warranty Length — 3 years or 36,000 miles Types of Models Offered — Sedans, sports cars, SUVs, trucks, vans, and commercial vehicles Time Founded — 1911 Customer Reviews  Praise: Chevrolet is a top-performing, American made car brand under the GMC umbrella. Chevy has been recognized by other brands for several awards over the year. Chevrolet continues to “Find New Roads” as the brand seeks to implement unique safety features and performance improvements. In the review analysis, 76 percent of reviewers discussed aspects of Chevy vehicle quality. Customers noted that Chevy vehicles are long-lasting and reliable for family transportation.  Customer Review: Steve “We love our Chevrolet Tahoe. It's a great family-friendly vehicle, up to date on the latest technology, and most importantly safe. Definitely planning to buy a Chevrolet again in the future.” Over 20 percent of customers mentioned vehicle features such as extra cargo space, comfortable seating, large gas tank, and multiple USB ports. Customers found that Chevrolet’s vehicle options gave teens, young adults, and families affordable options when purchasing a new car.  Complaints: Chevrolet customers had few complaints about their vehicles. Among the few complaints, some customers noted repeated vehicle repairs and poor towing performance. Other customers hoped for better warranty and financing options in the future.  Company Insight Steven Majoros, Vice President of Chevrolet Marketing, says “Chevrolet and our Chevrolet Dealer body have been an integral part of American culture and American car culture for over 100 years. We’ve stayed that way by always delivering exactly what our customers want and need — great design, outstanding performance, and purposeful technology — all delivered with foundational quality and value people expect from Chevrolet.   And with a world-class line up that spans performance vehicles, sport utilities, trucks, electric vehicles, and more, we’re well suited to deliver whatever lies ahead and wherever the road takes our customers for the next 100.” Methodology With a total of more than 220 reviews, this analysis consists of a random sample of 141 reviews. The analysis has a 95 percent level of confidence with a 5 percent margin of error. Reviews were unguided so any consistency in themes is a representation of reviewers’ own thoughts and opinions.   Chevrolet Learn more about the Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company by reading additional customer reviews and Chevy offerings. Learn More   Back to Company List Nissan Details Best Company Rank — 5 Overall Score — 8.5 Best Company User Star Rating — 4.5/5 (based on 220+ user reviews) Warranty Length — 3 years or 36,000 miles Types of Models Offered — Sedans, sports cars, SUVs, trucks, vans, and commercial vehicles Time Founded — 1933 Customer Reviews  Praise: Nissan is a Japanese automaker known for its style and performance. Nissan lives by its tagline “Innovation That Excites” by continuing to push new models and vehicle technology in the car industry. The car brand hopes to release autonomous vehicle models in the coming years. The customer review analysis revealed that many Nissan customers are satisfied with the quality and price of Nissan vehicles. Over 67 percent of reviewers highlight the vehicle quality in their reviews. Thirty percent of reviews mentioned great price value such as fuel economy and affordability.  Customer Review: JaRon “Bought 3 brand new ones, love Nissan brand. Great quality car for the money. Altima is in my opinion the best mid-size car for the money there is.” Around 14 percent of reviews discussed vehicle performance such as easy vehicle handling, smooth rides, high power, and great towing capacity. Customers were also satisfied with vehicle features including the cargo space and comfortable seats.  Complaints:  Out of the few 1–3 star ratings, some Nissan customers felt that their vehicles had repeated car issues. Other reviewers noted that their car did not handle well in winter weather or had a short turn radius.  Company Insight “Nissan has something for everyone — from the Z sports car to the LEAF EV and the TITAN full-size pickup to a full line of SUVs and sedans, and of course the GT-R supercar. This Nissan lineup delivers advanced technology, expressive design, and an exciting driving experience. Our focus on customers means we’re constantly looking to meet their needs, helping to keep drivers and passengers safe and make their rides easier and more fun. The all-new 2021 Rogue is a testament to that — it was engineered to make family life easier with a combination of functionality, flexibility, technology and safety,” said Allyson Witherspoon, vice president, and chief U.S. marketing officer.  “Nissan is introducing one of the freshest lineups in the U.S. marketplace. We are in the middle of revealing 10 new products in just 20 months, with six coming to showrooms by the end of 2021. And, to make it easier for customers to shop the lineup, we’ve rolled out Shop@Home, a revamped online shopping experience that essentially brings the dealer showroom directly to people’s homes.” Methodology With a total of more than 22 reviews, this analysis consists of a random sample of 138 reviews. The analysis has a 95 percent level of confidence with a 5 percent margin of error. Reviews were unguided so any consistency in themes is a representation of reviewers’ own thoughts and opinions.   Nissan Learn more about Nissan Motor Company by reading additional customer reviews and Nissan offerings. Learn More Back to Company List