Purchasing a car is a big deal, and picking the right one is important. Our expert buying guide and car survey results can help you find the best car for your lifestyle.
Buy the best car for your lifestyle
Whether you need a safe SUV for your family, a fuel-efficient hybrid for long drives or a sleek sedan, our car survey results can help you choose the right vehicle. Our survey of 5,791 cars shows which models:
• are most reliable and
• have the most very satisfied owners.
Our survey also shows which brands overall make the most reliable cars and have the best overall satisfaction by owners.
Best cars of 2026
Best small car
Best crossover SUV
Best SUV
Best electric vehicle
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Check out our electric and hybrid car tests
Find the best electric or hybrid vehicle with our buying guide and electric cars reviews. We've road-tested 50 current and 81 discontinued models.
What you need to know when buying a car
Check out the top questions and features to look for from our car buying guide.
Buying new or used? We explain the pros and cons of buying a new or used car.
Finance: Find out more about car finance deals, add-ons and how to avoid debt traps.
When it goes wrong: Know your rights if you buy a lemon.
Get the most out of your ride
Follow a consistent maintenance schedule and adopt fuel-saving driving habits so you can ensure that you get the most out of your car while keeping expenses in check. Check out our expert advice on how to look after your car.
How car depreciation works
Automobiles lose value as they get older and the kilometres rack up. Depreciation is a hidden cost of car ownership – you don’t see it until you come to sell the car or trade it for a newer model.
5 ways to reduce your fuel bill
With the current price of petrol and diesel at painful levels, our experts have compiled a short list of tips to help keep you on the roads for a bit longer between fills.
People's Choice
Our People's Choice winners are awarded to brands that consistently rate above average for customer satisfaction and meet out other performance criteria. Become a member and see which brands have earned our People’s Choice endorsement.
Which car brands are most reliable?
We asked thousands of Consumer members about their experience with products they've used to find out which brands are most reliable and satisfying to own. The results are available to members and Digital Pass holders.
Get more for your car
Tap into our exclusive ratings and research. From choosing the best car insurance to buying the right dashcam, we'll help you get set to hit the road.
About our car survey
Car owners told us about serious, major and minor faults their vehicles have experienced in the past year.
We asked owners how satisfied they are with their vehicle and specific aspects of its performance and design. We also asked how likely they'd be to recommend their car model to family and friends.
Our survey was conducted during November and December 2025. We received data on 5,791 vehicles.
We analyse car makes and models that get at least 30 responses in our survey. That means there are some brands and models we can’t analyse because we don’t have enough data.