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KBB.com Names 2019 Brand Image Award Winners

Honda, Lexus, and Toyota lead the nonluxury, luxury, and truck categories in Kelley Blue Book’s latest rankings of factories that successfully generate ‘attention and enthusiasm’ among new-car buyers.

April 17, 2019
KBB.com Names 2019 Brand Image Award Winners

The Tundra was the No. 2 overall-rated vehicle in KBB.com’s latest brand perception rankings, helping Toyota earn Best Overall Truck Brand.

Photo courtesy Toyota Motor Sales USA

2 min to read


IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book announced the winners of the 2019 Brand Image Awards, a program based on new-car buyer perception data. Automakers are recognized for creating and maintaining brand attributes that earned the “attention and enthusiasm” of more than 12,000 in-market luxury, nonluxury, and truck shoppers who used KBB.com to inform their purchase.

“Building familiarity and loyalty among car shoppers has never been more important to automakers, especially as the market is flooded with all-new and redesigned models competing for market share,” said Hwei-Lin Oetken, director of strategic insights for Kelley Blue Book. “Compelling product and marketing communications continues to influence purchase consideration. This year’s winners have attracted car shoppers based on many attributes that are important to consumers and motivate them toward their ultimate purchase decision.”

In the nonluxury segment, Honda won its second consecutive Best Overall Brand award as well as Best Value Brand and Most Refined Brand. Subaru was named Most Trusted Brand, Mazda won Best Performance Brand, and Dodge earned the Best Car Styling Brand award.

Toyota was named Best Overall Truck brand, dethroning Ford on the strength of high ratings for the Tacoma and Tundra.

Four luxury brands were honored, led by Lexus with a fourth consecutive Best Overall Luxury Brand title as well as the Most Trusted Luxury Brand award. Porsche won Best Performance Luxury Brand and Best Car Styling Luxury Brand. Acura was named Best Value Luxury Brand and Mercedes-Benz won Most Refined Luxury Brand.

To read the KBB.com report in full, click here.

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