FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

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.”

Ad Loading...

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.

More Awards

honda civic
Awardsby Lauren LawrenceFebruary 4, 2026

Hybrids Abound in CR 2026 Top 10 Picks

Based on Consumer Reports’ new Safety Verdict score, Mazda makes the safest new cars on the road at a brand level, the highest percentage of its tested fleet earning the top score.

Read More →
Top 10 stamp over a car outline
Awardsby Lauren LawrenceFebruary 2, 2026

Toyota and Lexus Top KBB Brand Watch

Cox Automotive subsidiary has relaunched its Brand Watch study as a twice-annual recap instead of yearly to 'offer a clearer view of brand and model consideration.'

Read More →
five gold stars on a speech bubble with Edmunds logo on the bottom
Industryby Lauren LawrenceJanuary 28, 2026

Dealers Receive Five-Star Awards

Edmunds released its 2026 Five Star honors to dealerships for outstanding customer service, including 11 'Five-Star Premier' designations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
2026 red Honda Civic
Showroomby Lauren LawrenceJanuary 26, 2026

Low Price, Long Life: 2026 New-Car Rankings

The Honda Civic is named the most reliable new car for the money at $27,768 with a predicted 13½ year life span, breaking down to $2,058 annually, or less than half the industry average.

Read More →
A gold trophy next to the Endurance logo on a dark background.
Awardsby StaffJanuary 20, 2026

Endurance Claims Vehicle Protection Provider of the Year Title

The Automotive Awards nod from Corporate Vision is the company's third consecutive year, adding to its list of 2025 laurels.

Read More →
blue 2025 Chevrolet Equinox parked in front of water
Awardsby Lauren LawrenceJanuary 20, 2026

S&P Loyalty Awards Bestowed

General Motors and Telsa are the returning winners in the 30th annual S&P Automotive Loyalty Awards with Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer and Overall Loyalty to Make, respectively.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Awardsby Hannah MitchellDecember 17, 2025

Autos Take Flying Safety Colors

Twelve brands are awarded for protective features while others fail to place.

Read More →
yellow background with awards trophy and confetti
Awardsby Lauren LawrenceDecember 10, 2025

Time Dealer of the Year Nominees Named

Forty-seven dealers are in the running this year.

Read More →
Awardsby Hannah MitchellOctober 8, 2025

The 250K-Mile Club

One brand holds sway when it comes to durability, while certain styles tend to last longer and hybrids gain staying power.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Industryby StaffSeptember 10, 2025

Spectrum Automotive Declares National Sector Observance

First National Automotive Industry Day will be marked on Oct. 1

Read More →