Toyota has taken the top spot among America’s mainstream car brands in the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Automobile Study, as overall customer satisfaction dipped slightly amid higher vehicle prices and tighter household budgets.
The study measures what happens after the purchase, including reliability, dealership experiences and whether owners believe they received value for their money. Toyota scored 83, gaining one point from the previous study and moving ahead of Subaru.
Toyota Leads Mainstream Brands
Toyota’s 83-point score was enough to move the automaker into first place among mainstream brands. Subaru fell to 81, while Honda scored 80 and Hyundai and Kia each recorded 79.
According to the study, Toyota’s hybrid strategy had a major impact on customer satisfaction. The automaker gave buyers options ranging from gas-powered vehicles to plug-in hybrids and full electric models, allowing customers to pursue fuel savings without completely changing their driving routine.
Kia recorded one of the largest improvements in the rankings, rising two points to 79. Ford remained unchanged at 78, while Nissan scored 77 and Chevrolet fell to 75.
Ram and Jeep both posted year-over-year gains, with Ram rising five points to 74 and Jeep increasing two points to 76.
2026 ACSI Automobile Satisfaction Rankings
| Brand | 2025 Score | 2026 Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota | 82 | 83 | +1 |
| Subaru | 85 | 81 | -4 |
| Honda | 81 | 80 | -1 |
| Hyundai | 80 | 79 | -1 |
| Kia | 77 | 79 | +2 |
| Ford | 78 | 78 | — |
| Mazda | 82 | 78 | -4 |
| Nissan | 78 | 77 | -1 |
| GMC | 81 | 76 | -5 |
| Jeep | 74 | 76 | +2 |
| Volkswagen | 78 | 76 | -2 |
| Chevrolet | 79 | 75 | -4 |
| Ram | 69 | 74 | +5 |
| Dodge | 72 | 72 | — |
| Buick | 81 | 68 | -13 |
| Chrysler | 69 | 67 | -2 |
Buick Records the Largest Decline
While several brands improved their scores, others saw significant declines. Buick recorded the largest drop in the 2026 study, falling 13 points from 81 to 68.
GMC also declined, dropping five points to 76, while Chevrolet fell four points to 75. Mazda likewise lost four points, moving from 82 to 78.
Chrysler recorded a two-point decline to 67, while Dodge remained at 72.
How the ACSI Rankings Were Measured
The ACSI Automobile Study is based on feedback from vehicle owners rather than expert reviews or test drives. For 2026, the study compiled 6,699 surveys from drivers across the US, with responses collected over the year ending in June.
The survey examined more than vehicle reliability. Owners evaluated comfort, driving fun, safety, interior and exterior build quality, technology, fuel economy, warranties and resale value.
Participants also rated their dealership experience, including how complaints were handled, along with the quality of the vehicle’s app.
ACSI combines the survey responses into a single score out of 100, allowing the brands to be compared using the same measurement standard.
