These car brands have the highest road test scores according to consumer reports – Jalopnik

First introduced in 1974, BMW’s ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ marketing still resonates with motorists – and not just the brand’s dedicated enthusiasts. BMW met its expectations among Consumer Reports (CR) experts and was ranked as the No. 1 automotive brand in on-road test scores. Two other German brands known for catering to drivers joined BMW in the top five: Audi, which came in third, and Porsche, which came in fifth. You could also say that Subaru – the second-place brand – is also committed to a unique driving experience, aided in part by its symmetrical all-wheel drive systems.

But if we expand our focus to the seven brands with the highest CR test scores, it turns out that three of them come from a perhaps more unexpected source: the Hyundai Motor Group. The parent company of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis saw its brands ranked fourth, sixth and seventh respectively on the CR list.

Genesis is certainly building some credibility with today’s drivers – see the powerful Genesis G90 Magma Wingback concept. But it’s important to remember that CR’s road tests are about much more than which car performs best from an enthusiast’s perspective. The road test results come from the fifty or so new vehicles the publication brings to its own factory in Colchester each year. There they are assessed on aspects such as acceleration, braking, driving feel, safety and more.

Also with the second-highest overall score of any brand, and a No. 1 ranking among luxury brands, BMW stood out in CR testing with rides like the X5 – which ranked No. 1 in the midsize luxury SUV segment for both overall and test scores. The X5 stood out as a perennial favorite CRnoting that this generation “optimally balances comfort, agility, power delivery and interior quality.” As for the next-generation model, it was teased with five different types of powertrains, including a hydrogen setup.

Audi and Porsche bring a family connection into play, as both brands are owned by Volkswagen AG (along with names like VW itself, Lamborghini, Bentley, Ducati and the new Scout Motors brand that plans to take dealers out of the EV equation). The thing is, even though there’s some behind-the-scenes sharing between VW Group vehicles, there are two very different models in the CR spotlight here.

For the brand with four rings, it was the ultra-luxury sedan Audi A8. CR said it was “hugely satisfying to drive, thanks to the smooth and responsive powertrain, near-magic carpet and elegant interior.” Meanwhile, the 718 Boxster achieved the best score of all Porsche models. Although he still looks back fondly on the earlier six-cylinder Boxsters, CR says the current generation retains “its spectacular agility, instantaneous responses, easy top controls and premium cabin ambience.” (If you’re wondering about the Porsche 911, Consumer Reports didn’t test drive it this year.)

Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is more than just a brand; it offers real benefits for almost all of the brand’s cars and SUVs. That’s something Consumer Reports must have discovered during its road tests, as Subaru finished just behind BMW in the rankings – albeit just ahead of the brand in overall vehicle scores. Admittedly, the Subaru Forester – which earned the brand’s best test score – was far from perfect. The Forester’s acceleration certainly did not impress CRbut the publication reported that it is “still the best-driving small SUV.”

The Hyundai brand matched its fourth-place overall score (among mainstream brands) with a fourth-place finish in road tests. The three-row Hyundai Ioniq 9 achieved one of the best possible road test scores CR and notes, “It’s fast, has a quiet interior, glides comfortably over most road surfaces and has a responsive ride.” The athletic Hyundai Ioniq 5 N was not far behind. CR said, “dynamically, it’s as capable as a Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 718 Boxster or Toyota Supra.” Yes, those are all gas cars, but we found the Ioniq 5 N to be so much fun to drive that you won’t care that it’s electric.

Furthermore, as we mentioned at the outset, the Hyundai brand’s siblings Kia and Genesis barely fell outside the top five. With that success, it’s no wonder Hyundai Motor Group claims to have overtaken Volkswagen AG as the world’s second most profitable automaker.