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The 5 best car brands, according to Consumer Reports — and the 5 worst

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If you’re buying a car, you want to make the right choice. And while individual models vary widely, the brand can make all the difference.

That’s why Consumer Reports ranked car brands across four metrics — road-test scores, predicted reliability, safety, and owner satisfaction — to find the best ones.

Continue reading to see the five best and the five worst.

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5th best: Toyota

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Up four spots on this year’s list, Toyota benefited from strong road test scores.

"Toyota mostly fulfills its reputation for building efficient and exceptionally reliable vehicles," CR said. "Most of their models do well in our testing, thanks to their impressive fuel economy, comfortable rides, quiet cabins, and ease of getting in and out. All of this makes Toyotas among the best options for used vehicles.

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4th best: Honda

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Up one spot from last year, Honda ranked fourth, with a strong overall performance. "Hondas are generally affordable, reliable, and fuel-efficient, with intuitive controls and good driving characteristics," CR said. "Its SUVs and sedans are usually near the top of Consumer Reports’ ratings for road tests and predicted reliability."

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3rd best: Porsche

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Up one spot from last year, Porsche makes reliable, great cars. "Every Porsche we’ve tested has achieved stellar road-test and owner satisfaction scores, thanks to sharp handling, a controlled ride, superb braking performance, and beautifully crafted interiors," the magazine said. "Although Consumer Reports’ survey data shows that its vehicles can be expensive to maintain and repair, the brand tends to do well in our reliability rankings."

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2nd best: BMW

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BMW maintained its second place spot this year, with the highest road test score of any brand. "BMW’s sedans and SUVs regularly earn CR’s recommendations for packing industry-leading comfort and technology into vehicles that are agile, quick, and even fuel efficient," CR said. It was ranked the top luxury brand.

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Best: Subaru

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Once again claiming the top spot, Subaru is much-praised. "Subaru is known for no-nonsense SUVs with standard full-time all-wheel drive. Its cars frequently rank near the top of Consumer Reports’ Owner Satisfaction and reliability ratings, making some used Subarus a good choice," CR said.

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5th worst: Alfa Romeo

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Italy’s Alfa Romeo struggles across all metrics, though its drivers aren’t too unhappy with their choice. While CR said their vehicles are agile and fun to drive, "these benefits are weighed down by odd controls and below-average predicted reliability, which also makes used models difficult to recommend."

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4th worst: Dodge

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Dodge cars struggle with reliability, and while its trucks and SUVs have some fun features, "most alarmingly, it lags behind more modern vehicles in crash tests," CR said. It doesn’t recommend buying used Dodges.

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3rd worst: GMC

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While GMC scored decently on road tests, it was dragged down by its unreliability. "GMCs SUVs and trucks are versions of Chevrolets with different badges, different styling, and some extra luxury features. Overall, though, GMCs don’t often stand out, equipment-wise, from their mechanical siblings," CR said. "Both used and new GMC models rank below average in Consumer Reports’ ratings for predicted reliability."

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2nd worst: Land Rover

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Don’t let the luxury fool you, Land Rover scored low on road tests and for reliability. "Despite off-road prowess, the brand gained notoriety for building SUVs that broke down frequently and expensively. Even today, the brand retains its reputation, as Consumer Reports’ reliability data confirms," CR said. It warned that "used Land Rovers are risky purchases."

10 / 10

Worst: Jeep

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No surprise here, Jeep ranked last. "Low reliability scores across the brand make it difficult to recommend buying a used Jeep," CR said. It also received the lowest road-test score of any brand.