Top and flop: You should definitely know these best and worst cars of each brand!
Which car from a manufacturer should you buy and which not? We'll tell you!
We'll go through almost all the major car manufacturers and tell you which of their cars are worth buying and which ones are better to avoid.
Just because we call a car the worst car doesn't mean it's bad for you. There has to be a car that's at the bottom of the hierarchy, and in some cases, it can be tiny details that pull a car down.
Remember that you can buy a new car or a used car here on Carwow – leasing is also possible. And you can also sell your car. We're here to help you with every step of your car change.
So here are the best and worst new cars from the manufacturers:
Abarth
Good: Abarth 600e
The Abarth 600e proves that electric cars can be exciting to drive. It drives really well on country roads, and the artificial engine noise is also surprisingly fun. It's just a shame that the range isn't great.
Bad: Abarth 500e
The Abarth 500e isn't quite as engaging to drive as the larger 600e, and it's not a very practical car either. The fake engine noise isn't as refined as the 600e's, and the result is incredibly annoying. But it still looks great and is easy to drive through the city. A Mini Cooper Electric is simply a better electric hothead.
Alfa Romeo
Good: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
This BMW M3 alternative has a wonderful-sounding V6 engine and is fantastic driving fun. It's also a really good-looking car that's quite comfortable on long distances. However, the interior looks a bit dated and the infotainment system is miserable.
Bad: Alfa Romeo Giulia
The stock Alfa Romeo Giulia has all the drawbacks of the Quadrifoglio, but not the excitement of the brilliant engine and chassis. It's still very nice to drive, but for the money, a more modern, practical BMW 3 Series would be more suitable.
Audi
Good: Audi RS3
If you're looking for one of the most exciting hatchbacks around, then the Audi RS3 is for you. It has a beautiful five-cylinder engine, is blazing fast and is a lot of fun on winding roads. The trunk is smaller than some other models, but that's really splitting hairs.
Bad: Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback
The main problem with the SQ8 Sportback e-tron is its price. At over 70,000 euros, it is more expensive than the far better BMW iX, but offers less range on one charge and is not as good to drive. It's a very fast car with a lot of grip, but your money is better spent elsewhere.
BMW
Good: BMW X5
The BMW X5 is basically the perfect SUV. It is comfortable and still fun to drive, has a high-quality interior and offers a large amount of space. The only thing that might put you off is the high starting price, but if you can afford one, you won't be disappointed.
Bad: BMW XM
It's hard to say what BMW was thinking when developing the XM. It is the first bespoke M model since the M1 supercar from the late 70s, and yet this SUV, which costs over 130,000 euros, is slower than the small M2 to 100 km/h. Opinions also differ on the design.
BYD
Gut: BYD Seal
Mit dem Seal hat BYD eine echte Alternative zum Tesla Model 3 geschaffen. Es lässt sich wirklich gut fahren, ist wahnsinnig schnell und hat eine ordentliche Reichweite. Es ist schade, dass er nicht ganz so praktisch ist wie das Model 3, aber wenn du Lust auf etwas anderes hast, dann ist der Seal ein tolles Elektroauto.
Schlecht: BYD Seal U
Der BYD Seal U scheint auf dem Papier ein gutes Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis zu bieten – man bekommt eine Menge Standardausstattung und auch das Hybridsystem ist gut. Allerdings wird es von der schwammigen Federung enttäuscht, die dazu führt, dass es sich in Kurven stark neigt und über Bodenwellen hüpft.
Citroen
Gut: Citroen e-C3
The Citroen e-C3 is one of the most affordable electric cars currently on offer. It costs less than 25,000 euros and is still a comfortable hatchback car with extensive standard equipment. The range of a maximum of 325 kilometers will not appeal to everyone, but for most people it is perfect for the daily commute.
Bad: Citroen e-Spacetourer
If you only want to transport seven people comfortably over short distances, the Citroen e-Spacetourer is just right. However, the interior is a bit monotonous, the range is quite short and the entry-level versions are sparsely equipped.
Cupra
Good: Cupra Born
Wenn man sich den Cupra Born ansieht, lässt er den mechanisch identischen Volkswagen ID.3 langweilig aussehen.
Außerdem bietet er einen geräumigen Innenraum, eine gute Reichweite und lässt sich gut fahren, auch wenn das Fehlen von physischen Schaltern lästig sein kann.
Schlecht: Cupra Ateca
This is one of those cars that isn't bad, but it's starting to show its age compared to the rest of the Cupra range. The 300 hp Ateca is still good to drive and practical, but its interior is dated by modern standards.
Dacia
Good: Dacia Bigster
No other family SUV offers as good value for money as the Dacia Bigster. For around 24,000 euros, you get a really spacious, practical family car that is easy to drive and has all the amenities you need. The hybrid engine isn't the most refined, but that's pretty much the only real criticism we can make of the Bigster.
Bad: Dacia Sandero Stepway
The Dacia Sandero Stepway is one of our favorite small cars, so to call it the worst is tough. The label has to go to a car, though, and the only reason for that is that it's more expensive than the regular Sandero, but doesn't offer any noticeable benefits.
Fiat
Good: Fiat 600
Fiat setzt auf retro-inspirierte Designs, was angesichts der Beliebtheit des alten 500 durchaus Sinn macht. Der 600 ist ein kleiner und komfortabler SUV, der mit einer Reihe von effizienten Motoren erhältlich ist, auf Wunsch auch als reine Elektroversion 600e. Er ist nicht das praktischste Auto seiner Klasse, aber er ist verlockend günstig.
Schlecht: Fiat 500e Cabrio
The Fiat 500e Convertible has some advantages that speak for it. It's easy to ride, it's chic, and you might like the idea of riding with the wind in your hair. However, the already impractical 500 has become even more impractical in everyday life due to the removal of the roof, as the trunk is very small, and it is quite expensive.
Ford
Good: Ford Puma
The Ford Puma is not selling badly in 2025. It is a lot of fun to drive, has a large trunk and is well equipped as standard, but the rear seats are a bit cramped.
Bad: Ford Puma ST
The Ford Puma ST sounds great on paper - it offers the same equipment and comfort as the standard vehicle, just with a little more spice. However, it is not much faster, much more expensive and very uncomfortable on bumps. It's better to stick to a more traditional hot hatch like the Volkswagen Polo GTI.
Hyundai
Good: Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe gives you many reasons why it is the best Hyundai model. It is incredibly practical, pleasant to drive and offers extensive standard equipment. The lack of a diesel engine is the only blemish on the Santa Fe's otherwise impeccable testimony.
Bad: Hyundai Bayon
At first glance, the Hyundai Bayon offers decent value for money. It is a small SUV for less than 24,000 euros with a lot of equipment, good interior and economical petrol engines, but a Volkswagen T-Cross is more practical and nicer to drive.
Kia
Good: Kia EV3
Kia hat mit dem EV3 einen echten Volltreffer gelandet. Dieser flippig aussehende Elektro-SUV ist geräumig und komfortabel, bietet eine Reichweite von bis zu 600 Kilometern und kostet knapp 36.000 Euro. Die Sicherheits-Assistenzsysteme können ein wenig aufdringlich sein, aber es ist immer noch eines der besten Elektroautos auf dem heutigen Markt.
Schlecht: Kia Niro EV
Again, it's hard to use the word "bad." The Niro EV is a perfectly adequate electric car, but since the EV3 was introduced, it seems a little pointless. The trunk is only slightly larger, it doesn't look so cool, it doesn't get that far on one charge – currently it's only available as a used car anyway.
Mercedes
Good: Mercedes S-Class
If you want to know what equipment your family car will have in 10 years, take a look at the current Mercedes S-Class. It's long been at the forefront of new technology, and the super-soft suspension makes it one of the best luxury cars you can buy.
Bad: Mercedes EQA
With a starting price of £50,000, the Mercedes EQA is simply too compromised to justify that price. The trunk is tiny and it's not particularly comfortable, but you get a good range and a brilliant infotainment system.
MG
Good: MG3
In our opinion, the MG 3 is the best Chinese car you can buy right now – at least if it's not an electric car. For less than 18,000 euros, you can get a high-tech hatchback car that offers a lot of fun to drive, and for a few thousand euros more, you can get a speedy hybrid engine.
Poor: MG5
When the MG 5 was launched, it impressed with its spacious interior and low price. Since then, however, things have evolved, and now the 5 looks dated with its drab exterior and cheap-looking interior.
Nissan
Good: Nissan Qashqai
The Nissan Qashqai is something of a jack-of-all-trades in the SUV world: much better than it needs to be, considering that most people would buy it anyway.
Der Qashqai ist seit Jahren die erste Wahl für Familien, und er ist ein komfortables Auto mit einem soliden und praktischen Innenraum.
Schlecht: Nissan Juke
At the other end of the scale is the Nissan Juke, which has little to offer apart from generous safety equipment. It is cramped, uncomfortable and the technology on board is difficult to operate.
Opel
Good: Opel Frontera Electric
For less than 29,000 euros, the Opel Frontera Electric offers a spacious interior and is comfortable to drive. It's also well-equipped, but it feels cheap inside and doesn't have a long range either.
Bad: Opel Mokka
The Mocha has been around for a while, and you can see that in some places. The main problem is the interior, which simply looks a bit drab compared to the mechanically similar Peugeot 2008.
Renault
Good: Renault 5
Few cars have made as much of a splash as the new Renault 5, and it's clear why. The retro-futuristic styling looks fantastic, and the interior is equally funky. It might not be as spacious as a BYD Dolphin, but it's so good to ride that you can overlook it.
Bad: Renault Arkana
The Renault Arkana uses the same hybrid system as the Captur. In this car, it's smooth and sophisticated, but in the Arcana it's kind of jerky, noisy and not exactly economical. Add to that the cramped rear seats and hard suspension, and you have a car that isn't particularly attractive.
Skoda
Good: Skoda Superb Combi
The Å koda Superb Combi lives up to its name. Even if it doesn't set your world ablaze, it's a fantastic family car that can handle pretty much anything you throw at it. The trunk is huge, the legroom in the rear is great and it is a really comfortable highway cruiser.
Schlecht: Skoda Enyaq vRS
Der Standard-Skoda Enyaq ist ein brillanter Elektro-SUV, aber der vRS verleiht ihm eine sportliche Note, die er einfach nicht braucht. Das normalerweise sehr komfortable Fahrverhalten wurde versteift, wodurch es sich wackelig und unruhig anfühlt, und die zusätzliche Leistung trägt nicht wirklich zum Erlebnis bei.
Tesla
Gut: Tesla Model 3
In short, the Tesla Model 3 is one of the best electric cars on the market. It's fast, comfortable, well-equipped, and offers a long range – all for under $40,000.
This makes it almost 9,000 euros cheaper than a Polestar 2 and over 15,000 euros cheaper than the BMW i4.
Bad: Tesla Model X
The Tesla Model X has a high price, and the build quality lags behind German premium brands. Operation via the central touchscreen can be impractical and unintuitive while driving. In addition, the Model X is less efficient due to its size, which has a negative impact on range, and the eye-catching Falcon Wing doors are often impractical in everyday life. In addition, it is now very outdated.
VW
Good: VW ID.7 Tourer
The Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer is more than 10,000 euros cheaper than the Audi A6 e-tron, but it doesn't feel like it. The interior is really spacious, it's super comfortable and looks good.
Bad: VW Touareg
With a price tag of over 64,000 euros, it's hard to understand why anyone would choose the Volkswagen Touareg over the BMW X5 – which, of course, costs a good deal more. It's not that good to drive, has a pretty boring interior for the price, and the V6 gasoline engine is very thirsty.
Volvo
Good: Volvo EX30
The funky little Volvo EX30 is a former Carwow Car of the Year, and this small electric SUV is still a good buy in 2025. It looks great, is comfortable to drive and offers plenty of safety features, but a Kia EV3 is more spacious in the rear.
Bad: Volvo EX90
The Volvo EX90 is a very good electric seven-seater that's comfortable and spacious, but the price of almost €84,000 is hard to justify against the much cheaper Kia EV9. The Kia also looks great and feels almost as high-quality inside - and all for around 20,000 euros less.