Uh oh, someone tell Toyota cars to get out of the way. Toyota didn’t win the 2026 Best Car Brand award. For that matter, an American automaker didn’t win either. However, the winner does have a reputation for building reliable options. 

Honda wins 2026 Best Car Brand 

Many automakers have stopped offering cars as people have abandoned sedans for SUVs and trucks. But others, such as Honda, Toyota, and Mazda, have continued to provide a lineup of affordable, reliable options. 

According to U.S.News, Honda cars stand out as the automaker just won the 2026 Best Car Brand. Forget the Corolla for now! All of the focus is on the Honda Accord and high-quality variations of the Civic. 

U.S.News analyzed 36 brands to determine the best cars, trucks, and SUVs. The vehicles were judged on performance, interior quality, safety, and reliability in their categories. 

An average score is calculated based on ratings by critics. It’s safe to assume that the Accord and Civic are well-rounded options. Plus, both of these cars are available with a hybrid engine. Also, the Civic Hybrid just got recognized as the North American Car of the Year. 

The Civic Hybrid managed to deliver an EPA-estimated 49 MPG combined and class-leading cargo space. Also, it’s a rare option that continues to be available with a manual transmission. 

The Accord leads its class due to being comfortable and providing class-leading legroom. It also has a smooth ride and modern tech that’s easy to use. It fetches an EPA-estimated 48 mpg. 

Both of these SUVs offer affordable pricing with plenty of incentives to take advantage of. Apparently, Toyota needs to catch up.