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A brand can make or break an automaker. By name alone, it carries a reputation for popularity, reliability and cost. As consumers, we’re often very conscious of the vehicle brand we’re driving, since it says a lot about our tastes and preferences.

Many tout Japanese brands for economy and quality, German marques for performance and luxury, and the American Big Three for rugged reliability — but do those perceptions truly reflect the automakers that produce the best cars?

To find out, AxleGeeks took an analytic approach, comparing every major mass-market automaker based on expert reviews, safety and efficiency of their models. We’ve ranked the 30 best car brands in descending order, ending with the best car brand on the market. We then combined that information into our Smart Rating, which allows you to easily see how each brand stacks up to the competition.