Subaru has retained its top spot as the ‘Best Car Brand’, according to owners polled in the 2025 Driver Power survey, Carwow Group’s flagship research study, launched in Auto Express.
Thousands of new car buyers using Carwow Group websites were asked to rank how satisfied they were with their current vehicle across various categories. For the second year running, Subaru owners gave the highest satisfaction scores, this time placing the brand first in seven out of 10 categories, including powertrain, safety, practicality, ride and handling, and quality and reliability.
Mercedes placed second overall, with owners giving high ratings for safety systems and infotainment. The brand was ranked among the top three manufacturers in all but one of the judging categories, losing favour with owners only when it came to fuel economy and servicing costs.
Lexus was rated third-best brand to own, with owners giving consistently high ratings across all categories. The Japanese brand achieved top five finishes for value, infotainment, interior, quality and reliability, losing out on running costs and ride and handling.
Vauxhall placed fourth, achieving first place for customer satisfaction in the economy and running costs categories, while Land Rover completed the top five list of best brands to own, with particular praise from owners in the practicality category.
Top 10 manufacturers in the 2025 Driver Power survey
- Subaru
- Mercedes
- Lexus
- Vauxhall
- Land Rover
- Renault
- Peugeot
- BMW
- Suzuki
- Honda
Paul Barker, Editor of Auto Express, said: “Underpinning these Driver Power results is a wealth of first-party data which, coupled with the vast insights available across the Carwow Group platform, can be used by dealers to make informed decisions on stock and marketing strategy. We see how consumer interest can be nurtured into active purchase intent, and for dealers, stocking these trusted marques can lead to greater visibility, more buyer engagement and enhanced loyalty.”