There are 7 countries that make the best cars in the world and they are also the origin of the most popular brands in the automobile industry. We’ve heard people say that they prefer Japanese cars over American cars. Some go for German over Italian. Whatever your preferences are, it’s important that you have certain criteria to support your choice of car.
We like looking at the best products from different countries as it helps narrows down the choices of our readers in their search for specific items. From something as generic as food to something as niche as the 7 countries that make the best olive oil in the world, we explore which nations offer the top products in a certain category. Today, we’ll look at something more utilitarian—cars.
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To help you make a well-rounded choice of your next vehicle, we considered the following 10 factors in our ranking. Each country is graded and ranked according to horsepower, safety, acceleration, smart rating, speed, overall weight, towing capacity, fuel efficiency, price, and seating capacity of the cars they make. Except for price range, higher scores are given for higher performance on the rest of the criteria. But for the price tag, the lower it is, the higher score is given. The data are aggregated and curated from Time and research engine Find the Best, which is now known as Graphiq.
You probably own a vehicle from one of the 7 countries that make the best cars in the world. But if you’re looking to upgrade then you have to choose from one of the top three countries for guaranteed optimal performance on all areas. Let’s find out who bags the top spot!
7. Italian Cars – 25 points
Home of the Ferrari, Fiat, Maserati, and Lamborghini, Italian cars rank first on speed and acceleration. They have dominated the best sports cars lists all over the world. So if you want to literally live life on a fast lane then Italian cars will give the adrenaline rush you crave for. With that niche comes a hefty price tag.
These Italian beauties rank first in price tags. They are also the lightest and the most compact with minimal seating capacity. All of these are needed to ensure that your Ferrari races at lightning speed. Safety and fuel efficiency are definitely not their strongest suits, ranking last in both criteria. So if you’re looking for a family car, you might want to look at vehicles from other countries.
6. Korean Cars – 33 points
From the makers of Hyundai, Kia, Daewoo, and Renault Samsung, Korean cars prioritize fuel efficiency and cost-savings as their main selling points. They are high-quality, affordable vehicles that are ideal for long drives because of its fuel-saving performance. You may be surprised that South Korea is the fifth largest car manufacturer in the world. This is due to the increasing local and export demand.
Korean cars are mostly spacious making them suitable for families. While they may not be made for “Fast and Furious” movies, Korean vehicles are reliably safe. In fact, Hyundai and Kia cars ranked first in the 2015 initial quality study done by industry analyst J.D. Power. The two brands were recognized as most reliable in the first 90 days of ownership. Nary a glitch.
5. Swedish Cars – 43 points
Home of Volvo, Saab, and Koenigsegg, Swedish cars rank first in smart rating, safety, and seating capacity. Being first in smart rating means that they are top in expert awards, safety, and value over time. Some of the experts that graded the cars are Automobile Magazine, North American Car of the Year, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, and Cars.com.
They may not have the speed, but you can be assured that you’ll be safe in a Swedish car at any given time. They rank second in overall weight, making their cars undeniably formidable. They’re also unbelievably roomy, normally accommodating up to six people. If you want a top-notch family-safe car then get a Swedish car.
4. American Cars – 44 points (TIE)
It would be unthinkable not to have the U.S. in the top 7 countries that make the best cars in the world. The land of Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Jeep, and Dodge is the leader in overall weight. You’ve heard it before that everything is big in America. This is specifically true in their cars. They’re a true heavyweight even in size. Out of the 50 largest cars in 2014, 33 of them were made in the U.S.
They’re staying true to their roots as American cars have always been known in the automobile industry for producing high-performing muscle cars. The U.S. rank second in towing capacity and third in horsepower, which comes as no surprise with their sturdy built. Simply put, if you want to be the king of the road then go for an American car.
3. Japanese Cars – 44 points (TIE)
Home of Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Suzuki, and Subaru, Japan has always been known to produce the best cars in the world. Gaining the top spot in fuel efficiency, Japanese cars can get you anywhere without costing you an arm and a leg. They rank second in seating capacity making it ideal for long drives with family and friends. Best of all, Japanese cars are affordable being the second cheapest on the list.
They also rank fourth in speed besting American, Swedish, and Korean cars. Despite joining the automobile industry late in the game (i.e. after World War II), Japan made huge investments in car technology and infrastructure while the U.S. manufacturers were content with their 30-year-old factories. Eventually, the tides turned and it was the Americans who were adopting the Japanese way of car manufacturing.
2. British Cars – 45 points
The makers of Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Land Rover, Mini, and Aston Martin take pride in leading the rest of the countries in horsepower. If you want superb performance, British cars will definitely meet your standards. British cars are also known for their luxurious models.They have a rich history in car manufacturing, dating back to the 18th century. The Brits still incorporate classic touches to their modern vehicles.
They also rank first in towing capacity, making it reliable at any given time. The Brits even rank second in speed and acceleration. It’s worth nothing though that among the seven countries they rank last in safety followed by the Italian cars.
1. German Cars – 46 points
The home of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Audi is the runaway winner as the country that produces the best cars in the world. Germany is known for its “function over form” principle and that has been evident in their vehicles. German cars focus on two main things: functionality and quality. They are the leader in car manufacturing in Europe and among the top five in the world, producing 6 million cars annually.
They may not rank first in any of the criteria we’ve mentioned, but they never got low scores. German cars rank second in horsepower and safety, which is a great balance in showcasing optimal performance. They rank third in speed, acceleration, and towing capacity thus showing high reliability while still meeting the need for speed. In a nutshell, German cars provide the best in everything without compromising performance quality.
The 7 countries that make the best cars in the world are also the origins of innovation in the automobile industry. We owe it to Germany that we have gas-powered vehicles today. Japan was the first to venture in smart and electric cars while Sweden was the first to invent GPS. Moving forward, we expect the same countries to lead in car technology breakthroughs. It’s just a matter of time before one of them releases a flying automobile. Come to think of it, the thought of having a time-traveling car is not that far-fetched anymore.
