This Is How Honda Overtook Toyota As The 2025 Best Vehicle Brand, But Whether Honda Is More Reliable Isn't a Simple Question

Every year, many automotive publications devise a list of the best vehicle brands. When I was contacted by a colleague from a different publication, which recently published a similar list, for multiple categories, I was intrigued enough to jump at the opportunity. Toyota and Honda have been vying for the top spot for decades.

While Toyota is, usually, the first vehicle brand to come to mind when talking about reliability, it is Honda that takes the crown, according to this list. According to US News, Honda and Acura also offer some of the best pre-owner programs, for 2025. I was curious about the methodology used and after getting to know the inner workings of it, there are a few reasons why Honda is nominated the best vehicle brand for 2025. 

What sits behind Honda's achievement? 

When deciding on the best vehicle brand, a few categories were taken into account. According to US News, the winning brand offers the best combination of reliability, interior quality, safety, and performance. Two Honda models stand out as major contributors to this achievement – the recently-updated ninth-generation Honda Civic and the all-new 2023 Honda Accord, which is currently in production.  

The 2025 Honda Civic got a much-needed variant 

While I would love to rave about the incredible Honda Civic Type-R, it is a less performance-oriented model that gives the Japanese model a much-needed edge. For 2025, the Honda Civic finally received a potent hybrid powertrain, making it more than a match for the hybrid Toyota Corolla. The 2025 Honda Civic e:HEV packs a more potent FHEV powertrain than the Corolla while matching its fuel consumption.  

The eleventh-generation Honda Accord came out in 2023, and was a stark deviation of what the previous generation stood for. While the tenth-generation Honda Accord is a car I would buy, mainly because of the de-tuned K20 engine from the Civic Type-R/ Integra Type-S duo, the new Honda Accord's hybrid mill could save owners a ton of money over a longer period of time.

Not to mention, the Accord contributes to the segment, by offering a well-equipped, hybrid sedan, which is more exciting than the Toyota Camry, almost as fuel-efficient, and even more spacious on the second row. The Accord's only real downside compared to the Camry is the lack of an all-wheel-drive variant, but that's hardly an issue as the AWD Camry hybrid sacrifices 6 MPG compared to the front-wheel-drive-only Camry hybrid. 

Does this mean Honda is now more reliable than Toyota? 

There is no simple answer to that. Both manufacturers have had their fair share of service recalls, but in more recent years, Toyota has had more severe issues, including problems with its new, twin-turbo V-6 engine, found in the Lexus GX and Toyota Tundra, as well as cases of blown engines on the GR86 and GR Yaris. Those issues have, since, been remedied and Toyota even changed its warranty conditions to better accommodate such occurrences. 

While Toyota remains a solid choice across the different segments, the Honda Civic is ahead of the Toyota Corolla in terms of quality and reliability rating. Here are some ratings from different publications, some of which based on consumer feedback: 

1. US News Rating: 2024 Toyota Corolla – 8.4/10, 2024 Honda Civic – 8.7/ 100 

2. J.D. Power: 2024 Toyota Corolla – 79/100 (Average), 2024 Honda Civic – 82/100 (Great) 

3. Cars.com: 2024 Toyota Corolla – 4.8/ 5, 2024 Honda Civic – 5/ 5 

The Corolla/ Civic comparison paints a picture and things are fairly similar with the larger Camry and Accord. Ratings for the 2025 Camry are not yet available as the refresh was recently released. The 2024 Camry has less service recalls than the 2024 Accord – 2 vs 4 - which is a brand-new generation.

There are reports of the Honda Accord having some issues with the fuel pump and the seats not being properly fastened. I expect we will see fewer of these recalls within a year. Nevertheless, Honda has proved consistent in terms of reliability while providing a slightly sportier lineup than Toyota (not counting the GR lineup, obviously). 

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.

Image sources: 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2023 Honda Accord