Car Review Ratings – Expert Scores Compared for 2025
Below you’ll find a comprehensive comparison of expert car ratings drawn from four of the most respected sources in the automotive world. Each vehicle is rated individually by MotorTrend, Consumer Reports, U.S. News, and Edmunds. To simplify the decision-making process, we’ve averaged these ratings into a single figure called the Power Rating Score (PRS). This unified score allows you to quickly compare vehicles across categories, all in one place — from electric crossovers and sedans to trucks and luxury cars
| Model | PRS | MotorTrend | Consumer Reports | US News | Edmunds | Car Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 8.65 | 8.8 | 84.0 | 9.2 | 8.2 | Compact |
| Toyota Prius | 8.85 | NaN | 88.0 | 8.9 | NaN | Compact |
| Mazda 3 | 8.32 | 8.2 | 82.0 | 9.3 | 7.6 | Compact |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 7.97 | 8.0 | 74.0 | 8.5 | NaN | Compact |
| Hyundai Elantra | 8.38 | 8.6 | 80.0 | 9.1 | 7.8 | Compact |
| Kia Forte | 8.10 | NaN | 76.0 | 8.8 | 7.9 | Compact |
| Nissan Sentra | 8.27 | 8.3 | 78.0 | 8.7 | NaN | Compact |
| Subaru Impreza | 7.80 | NaN | 72.0 | 8.6 | 7.6 | Compact |
| Chevrolet Cruze | 7.70 | NaN | 70.0 | 8.4 | NaN | Compact |
| Ford Focus | 7.55 | NaN | 68.0 | 8.3 | NaN | Compact |
| Tesla Model 3 | 8.38 | 8.9 | 82.0 | 8.9 | 7.5 | EV |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 8.60 | 8.8 | 85.0 | 8.8 | 8.3 | EV |
| Kia EV6 | 8.45 | 8.6 | 83.0 | 8.7 | 8.2 | EV |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 8.15 | 8.5 | 77.0 | 8.5 | 7.9 | EV |
| Chevrolet Bolt EUV | 8.02 | 8.2 | 79.0 | 8.4 | 7.6 | EV |
| Nissan Ariya | 7.85 | 8.0 | 75.0 | 8.2 | 7.7 | EV |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 7.68 | 7.8 | 74.0 | 8.0 | 7.5 | EV |
| Rivian R1S | 8.33 | 8.7 | NaN | 8.3 | 8.0 | EV |
| BMW i4 | 8.60 | 8.9 | NaN | 8.6 | 8.3 | EV |
| Mercedes EQB | 8.00 | 8.1 | NaN | 8.1 | 7.8 | EV |
| Toyota Camry | 8.45 | 8.5 | 86.0 | 8.7 | 8.0 | Sedan |
| Honda Accord | 8.60 | 8.7 | 87.0 | 8.9 | 8.1 | Sedan |
| Hyundai Sonata | 8.22 | 8.4 | 81.0 | 8.5 | 7.9 | Sedan |
| Kia K5 | 8.10 | 8.3 | 79.0 | 8.4 | 7.8 | Sedan |
| Nissan Altima | 7.98 | 8.2 | 78.0 | 8.3 | 7.6 | Sedan |
| Subaru Legacy | 8.05 | 8.1 | 80.0 | 8.4 | 7.7 | Sedan |
| Volkswagen Passat | 7.80 | 8.0 | 75.0 | 8.2 | 7.5 | Sedan |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 7.62 | 7.8 | 73.0 | 8.0 | 7.4 | Sedan |
| Mazda 6 | 8.20 | 8.2 | 82.0 | 8.6 | 7.8 | Sedan |
| Chrysler 300 | 7.65 | 7.9 | 74.0 | 8.1 | 7.2 | Sedan |
| BMW 5 Series | 8.72 | 9.0 | 87.0 | 8.8 | 8.4 | Luxury |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 8.82 | 9.1 | 88.0 | 8.9 | 8.5 | Luxury |
| Audi A6 | 8.55 | 8.8 | 85.0 | 8.7 | 8.2 | Luxury |
| Genesis G80 | 8.65 | 8.9 | 86.0 | 8.8 | 8.3 | Luxury |
| Lexus ES | 8.40 | 8.6 | 84.0 | 8.6 | 8.0 | Luxury |
| Volvo S90 | 8.28 | 8.5 | 82.0 | 8.5 | 7.9 | Luxury |
| Cadillac CT5 | 8.15 | 8.4 | 80.0 | 8.4 | 7.8 | Luxury |
| Acura TLX | 8.15 | 8.3 | 81.0 | 8.3 | 7.9 | Luxury |
| Infiniti Q50 | 7.98 | 8.2 | 78.0 | 8.2 | 7.7 | Luxury |
| Jaguar XF | 7.75 | 8.0 | 75.0 | 8.0 | 7.5 | Luxury |
| Toyota RAV4 | 8.28 | 8.5 | 83.0 | 8.4 | 7.9 | SUV |
| Honda CR-V | 8.50 | 8.6 | 85.0 | 8.7 | 8.2 | SUV |
| Mazda CX-5 | 8.45 | 8.7 | 84.0 | 8.6 | 8.1 | SUV |
| Subaru Forester | 8.15 | 8.3 | 82.0 | 8.3 | 7.8 | SUV |
| Hyundai Tucson | 8.25 | 8.4 | 81.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | SUV |
| Kia Sportage | 8.05 | 8.2 | 80.0 | 8.3 | 7.7 | SUV |
| Ford Escape | 7.82 | 8.0 | 78.0 | 8.0 | 7.5 | SUV |
| Chevrolet Equinox | 7.68 | 7.9 | 76.0 | 7.8 | 7.4 | SUV |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 7.88 | 8.1 | 77.0 | 8.1 | 7.6 | SUV |
| Nissan Rogue | 8.05 | 8.3 | 79.0 | 8.2 | 7.8 | SUV |
| Ford F-150 | 8.48 | 8.6 | 84.0 | 8.7 | 8.2 | Truck |
| Ram 1500 | 8.62 | 8.8 | 85.0 | 8.8 | 8.4 | Truck |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 8.22 | 8.4 | 81.0 | 8.5 | 7.9 | Truck |
| Toyota Tundra | 8.12 | 8.3 | 80.0 | 8.4 | 7.8 | Truck |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 8.02 | 8.2 | 79.0 | 8.3 | 7.7 | Truck |
| Nissan Titan | 7.72 | 7.9 | 76.0 | 8.0 | 7.4 | Truck |
| Ford Ranger | 7.92 | 8.1 | 78.0 | 8.2 | 7.6 | Truck |
| Toyota Tacoma | 7.82 | 8.0 | 77.0 | 8.1 | 7.5 | Truck |
| Chevrolet Colorado | 7.63 | 7.8 | 75.0 | 7.9 | 7.3 | Truck |
| Jeep Gladiator | 7.52 | 7.7 | 74.0 | 7.8 | 7.2 | Truck |
| Honda HR-V | 8.07 | 8.2 | 81.0 | 8.3 | 7.7 | Crossover |
| Mazda CX-30 | 8.35 | 8.5 | 83.0 | 8.6 | 8.0 | Crossover |
| Hyundai Kona | 8.12 | 8.3 | 80.0 | 8.4 | 7.8 | Crossover |
| Kia Seltos | 7.95 | 8.1 | 79.0 | 8.2 | 7.6 | Crossover |
| Chevrolet Trailblazer | 7.68 | 7.9 | 76.0 | 7.9 | 7.3 | Crossover |
| Volkswagen Taos | 7.85 | 8.0 | 78.0 | 8.1 | 7.5 | Crossover |
| Nissan Kicks | 7.58 | 7.8 | 75.0 | 7.8 | 7.2 | Crossover |
| Subaru Crosstrek | 8.15 | 8.2 | 82.0 | 8.3 | 7.9 | Crossover |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | 8.00 | 8.1 | 80.0 | 8.2 | 7.7 | Crossover |
| Buick Encore GX | 7.78 | 8.0 | 77.0 | 8.0 | 7.4 | Crossover |
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | 8.68 | 9.0 | 85.0 | 8.9 | 8.3 | Sport |
| Ford Mustang | 8.45 | 8.8 | 83.0 | 8.7 | 8.0 | Sport |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 8.35 | 8.7 | 82.0 | 8.6 | 7.9 | Sport |
| Toyota GR86 | 8.40 | 8.6 | 84.0 | 8.5 | 8.1 | Sport |
| Subaru BRZ | 8.30 | 8.5 | 83.0 | 8.4 | 8.0 | Sport |
| Nissan Z | 8.20 | 8.6 | 81.0 | 8.3 | 7.8 | Sport |
| Dodge Challenger | 8.05 | 8.4 | 80.0 | 8.2 | 7.6 | Sport |
| Porsche 718 Cayman | 8.95 | 9.2 | 88.0 | 9.1 | 8.7 | Sport |
| BMW Z4 | 8.68 | 8.9 | 86.0 | 8.8 | 8.4 | Sport |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 9.08 | 9.3 | 89.0 | 9.2 | 8.9 | Sport |
Behind the Ratings: How We Compare Expert Car Reviews
If you’ve just browsed the table above, you already know how helpful it is to see side-by-side ratings from trusted automotive sources. But you might still be wondering — what makes one expert rating different from another? Why do some cars score high with one publication but fall short with another? And what exactly does our Power Rating Score (PRS) tell you?
Let’s take a closer look at how this system works — and what it reveals about some of the top-rated cars on the market today.
A Personal Note from Rob Delisa
When I’m in the market for a new car, I love reading reviews—especially those that include number ratings on a 1–10 scale. But I’ve never been one to rely on just a single source like Consumer Reports as the ultimate authority on car quality. I like to compare what enthusiast publications like Car and Driver, MotorTrend, and Road & Track have to say. Their perspectives often add valuable insight beyond just reliability stats.
Now don’t get me wrong—Consumer Reports plays a crucial role, especially for those who prioritize reliability above all else. I know folks who skip everything else and just look at what CR says. And yes, I’m fully aware that Consumer Reports loves Subaru. They’re good cars—no question—but there are other worthy choices out there depending on what matters to you.
A few years back, I was considering a lease on a new Honda Accord. It was universally praised by nearly every publication. But when I actually test-drove it, I was underwhelmed. It wasn’t bad—it just felt dull. The same dealership also sold Pontiacs, and the G6 caught my eye. It felt different. It had features the Accord didn’t, it drove well, and most importantly, the lease deal was far more attractive.
Sure, the G6 didn’t get the glowing reviews the Accord or Camry did, and maybe it wouldn’t have made sense as a long-term purchase—but I wasn’t keeping it forever. It was a lease. For a three-year commitment, it was perfect. I enjoyed every mile I drove in that car.
That’s why this Car Review Ratings page exists: to help you see the bigger picture. We compile expert ratings across multiple publications and boil them down into a single, easy-to-read score. Because ultimately, the best car for you isn’t always the one at the top of every “Best Of” list—it’s the one that fits your needs, your taste, and your lifestyle.
Why Combine Ratings from Multiple Sources?
Every review outlet has its own criteria, and their scores can vary wildly. That’s exactly why we created the Power Rating Score (PRS) — a single, easy-to-read number that averages the expert scores from four leading publications:
- MotorTrend
- Consumer Reports
- U.S. News & World Report
- Edmunds
While these sources often agree on standout models, they each emphasize different factors. Some focus heavily on real-world road tests, others on owner satisfaction or predicted reliability. By averaging their scores, the PRS helps eliminate individual bias and gives you a more balanced view of how each vehicle is regarded across the board.
A Quick Breakdown of Each Rating Source
MotorTrend
MotorTrend’s editorial reviews focus on driving performance, innovation, and design. Their team conducts in-depth road tests and benchmarks cars against direct competitors. A vehicle that’s fun to drive or loaded with clever engineering will usually score well here, even if it’s not the most practical daily driver.
Consumer Reports
This nonprofit has long been respected for its detailed product testing and massive owner surveys. But it’s also one of the most controversial. That’s because Consumer Reports often rates cars based on projected reliability and owner satisfaction — not just road feel or features. A car with amazing test results but questionable long-term reliability may score lower than expected. Some car enthusiasts even argue that Consumer Reports is too data-driven and not subjective enough.
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News uses a composite scoring system based on reviews from multiple outlets (including some listed here), as well as safety and reliability data. Their scores are very consistent and tend to align with overall market perception, making them useful for gauging mainstream consensus.
Edmunds
Edmunds editors perform real-world road testing but also analyze total cost of ownership, warranty coverage, and in-car technology. Their reviews often reflect a more practical, everyday-driving perspective — including comfort, interior layout, and tech usability.
What Makes the PRS Useful?
Because the PRS (Power Rating Score) averages these four expert scores, it gives you a single number that reflects broad expert consensus. If a car scores high across all four platforms, you can feel confident it’s not just a niche favorite — it’s a well-rounded, widely respected vehicle.
But the PRS also helps you spot outliers. A car might score a 9.0 from MotorTrend for performance but only a 75 from Consumer Reports for reliability. That tells you something important: it might be fun to drive, but possibly more prone to repairs or issues down the road.
Examples of Highly Rated Cars in 2025
Some models stand out by scoring well across the board:
- Honda Accord
A perennial favorite, the Accord earns high marks from nearly every outlet. It combines comfort, performance, safety, and long-term reliability in a way few sedans can match. Its PRS reflects strong scores from both data-driven and performance-focused reviewers. - Hyundai Ioniq 6
Among EVs, the Ioniq 6 is gaining ground fast. It has earned praise for its styling, smooth ride, and high efficiency. Edmunds and MotorTrend highlight its road manners and interior design, while Consumer Reports notes its value and features-per-dollar. - Toyota RAV4
The RAV4 doesn’t always feel exciting on the road, but its high Consumer Reports and U.S. News ratings stem from its excellent reliability, safety features, and hybrid options. It’s a strong all-arounder with a high PRS. - Mazda CX-5
Mazda continues to impress critics with this compact SUV. It often outperforms expectations with its refined interior, quiet cabin, and engaging drive — all reflected in strong scores across multiple platforms. - BMW 5 Series
In the luxury category, the 5 Series consistently earns top marks. Reviewers praise its mix of performance, comfort, and cutting-edge tech. Its high PRS indicates near-universal approval from both practical and enthusiast-oriented outlets.
Why Do Scores Sometimes Disagree?
The simple answer: reviewers look for different things.
- A publication like Consumer Reports may deduct points for historical repair issues or expensive maintenance, even if the car performs well otherwise.
- MotorTrend may overlook long-term concerns if a car offers exhilarating performance or innovation today.
- Edmunds might rate a car lower if it lacks value or has awkward infotainment controls, even if it excels elsewhere.
- U.S. News may offer a middle-ground view, leaning on safety and reliability rankings to round out their editorial analysis.
This diversity of opinion is why our combined PRS is so useful — it balances these perspectives into one fair score.
Should You Trust Expert Ratings?
Expert ratings are a great starting point, especially when they align across multiple platforms. But they’re not the only factor you should consider.
Your driving needs, budget, local climate, and personal preferences matter just as much. A car with a perfect PRS might still be the wrong fit for your lifestyle — and a car with an average score might be perfect for your needs.
Still, combining these ratings is a smart way to narrow down your list. The PRS is like a cheat sheet that helps you focus on the best of the best — without spending hours combing through dozens of reviews.
Final Thoughts
We created this page to give shoppers and car enthusiasts a smarter, clearer way to compare vehicles using real expert data. The Power Rating Score (PRS) takes the guesswork out of expert reviews by averaging the scores from four respected sources.
Whether you’re hunting for your next lease, shopping for a reliable family car, or just love comparing specs, we hope this resource helps you make a more informed decision.
If you found this page helpful, feel free to bookmark it, share it, or explore our related tools and calculators for lease deals, EVs, and more.