Top Car Brands According to Driver Power Survey
Every year, the automotive industry looks to the Driver Power survey to determine which car brands are delivering the best customer satisfaction. This year, a Japanese brand has once again claimed the top spot, marking its second consecutive win in this prestigious ranking.
- 0.1 Top Car Brands According to Driver Power Survey
- 0.2 10. Honda – 85.77%
- 0.3 9. Suzuki – 85.79%
- 0.4 8. BMW – 86.00%
- 0.5 7. Peugeot – 86.12%
- 0.6 6. Renault – 86.29%
- 0.7 5. Land Rover – 86.52%
- 0.8 4. Vauxhall – 86.80%
- 0.9 3. Lexus – 87.06%
- 0.10 2. Mercedes – 89.26%
- 0.11 1. Subaru – 90.30%
- 0.12 Best Manufacturers 2025
The Driver Power survey is conducted by Auto Express and involves input from motorists who provide feedback on their experiences with various car models. The data collected helps compile an overall satisfaction score for each brand, allowing consumers to make informed decisions about their next vehicle purchase.
The scoring system used by Driver Power is divided into 10 categories, with each brand receiving a percentage score out of 100. The top 10 brands all achieved scores over 85%, indicating strong performance across multiple areas. With 31 different manufacturers making the final list, there was intense competition, along with some unexpected results.
Here’s a look at the top ten brands based on their scores, along with insights from Tom Jervis, Auto Express’s consumer editor.
10. Honda – 85.77%
Tom Jervis noted that Honda has a strong reputation for producing high-quality, reliable cars that are cost-effective to run. The brand performed well in build quality and running costs, with a first-place ranking in servicing costs. However, exterior styling and ride comfort were areas where it fell short, particularly with the Civic suspension.
Jervis concluded that Honda’s performance is impressive given its relatively low profile during the transition to electric vehicles.
9. Suzuki – 85.79%
Suzuki narrowly edged out its Japanese competitor, with owners praising its safety systems. It ranked fourth in this category, though it didn’t have any other standout performances. Jervis described it as a “jack-of-all-trades.”
The brand struggled in the infotainment category, where its built-in sat-nav brought down its overall score. Despite this, Suzuki scored well in braking, road manners, and steering, earning it a respectable sixth place overall for ride and handling.
8. BMW – 86.00%
BMW came in third for the powertrain category, a result expected given its reputation for building high-performance vehicles. However, poor handling led to a 12th-place finish in that area.
Jervis highlighted BMW’s strong finishes in safety, practicality, interior, and infotainment. The iDrive system was praised for being user-friendly, with good smartphone connectivity and decent built-in sat-nav. However, the brand’s lackluster exterior styling and high running costs prevented it from reaching the top of the list.
7. Peugeot – 86.12%
Peugeot proved that affordability doesn’t mean sacrificing style or appeal. The French brand placed seventh, with strong performance in design, handling, and interior layout.
Its i-Cockpit cabin layout helped it secure a third-place finish in steering. However, Peugeot’s value for money ranking was a low 25th, which affected its overall score.
6. Renault – 86.29%
Renault had a mixed performance, with some categories scoring highly and others lagging. While it ranked second in running costs and third in Google-powered infotainment, its interiors, practicality, and reliability were not well-received.
Despite these inconsistencies, Renault still managed to place within the top 10 for safety, exterior, and value.
5. Land Rover – 86.52%
Land Rover made significant progress, moving up from the bottom of the top 10 last year to fifth this year. Customers praised its practicality and luxurious interiors, while its exterior design also earned a fourth-place finish.
However, fuel economy, reliability, and value remained weak points for the British brand.
4. Vauxhall – 86.80%
Vauxhall excelled in the Driver Power survey, thanks to its lineup of fuel-efficient hybrids and zero-emissions EVs. It ranked first in economy and running costs.
Despite this, its interior fit and finish were poorly rated, leading to lower scores in that category. Vauxhall also scored outside the top 10 in safety features and value for money, but its overall performance was still commendable.
3. Lexus – 87.06%
Lexus, Toyota’s premium brand, finished 11 places ahead of its cheaper sibling. It received high marks in value, infotainment, interior, and quality and reliability.
Reliability was its strongest category, with a third-place finish. Jervis noted that while Lexus didn’t perform well in running costs, its overall performance was impressive.
2. Mercedes – 89.26%
Mercedes secured the runner-up position, with strong performance in nine out of 10 categories. Owners praised its safety systems, infotainment (MBUX), and exterior and interior design.
Fuel economy and servicing costs were its only drawbacks, but overall, Mercedes delivered a strong showing.
1. Subaru – 90.30%
Subaru took the top spot for the second year in a row, dominating seven out of 10 categories. Its rally heritage contributed to high scores in ride and handling, quality, and reliability.
While its high running costs and lack of hybrid or electric models were a downside, Subaru’s overall performance was exceptional, making it a worthy winner.
Best Manufacturers 2025
Beyond the top 10, several other brands also performed well, including Tesla, Skoda, Volvo, Toyota, Nissan, Citroen, Mazda, Kia, Audi, Hyundai, Fiat, Mini, Ford, Seat, Jaguar, Jeep, Volkswagen, Cupra, Dacia, BYD, and MG.
