Audi Defeats BMW and VW: Germany's Top 10 Most Popular Car Brands in 2025 Revealed
Every year, leading German consumer institutes conduct comprehensive surveys to gauge public sentiment and identify the most favored brands across various sectors. The results for the automotive industry in 2025 confirm a fierce battle among local manufacturers. While German consumers largely stick to domestic brands, the ranking reveals crucial shifts in popularity.
Surprisingly, the traditional mass-market leader, Volkswagen, landed outside the top three. The ultimate victory went to a premium competitor, securing the title of Germany's most popular car brand. Read on for a detailed breakdown of the top 10 rankings.
The Competitive Lower Tier: Places 10 to 7
10th Place: Hyundai (11.5 points)
The Korean manufacturer, Hyundai, secures the 10th spot. Their popularity stems from a strong focus on reliability and leading the charge in electrification with successful models (like the Ioniq 5). With products ranging from small speedsters (like the upcoming Inster) to large family SUVs (like the Tucson and Santa Fe), Hyundai caters to diverse segments.
9th Place: Opel (12.3 points)
Under the Stellantis Group, Germany’s Opel takes ninth place. Known for offering a value-for-money German alternative, Opel retains strong local appeal through bestsellers like the Corsa and Mokka.
8th Place: Porsche (13.8 points)
The first premium brand on the list, Porsche, demonstrates its enduring aspirational appeal. Its modern popularity is heavily driven by highly profitable SUVs (such as the Cayenne and the electric Macan), alongside its iconic 911 model line.
7th Place: Volvo (15.1 points)
Representing Sweden, Volvo has successfully positioned itself as the leader in safety and comfortable, minimalist design. Their popularity surged on the back of successful large SUVs (like the XC60) and their affordable electric entry (like the EX30).
The Mass Market Powerhouses: Places 6 to 4
6th Place: Skoda (17.0 points)
Skoda, part of the Volkswagen Group, continues to score highly by offering clever, practical, and inexpensive vehicles. They maintain a strong market position with volume models (like the Octavia Combi) and newer electric entries (such as the Elroq).
5th Place: Toyota (17.1 points)
The world's largest car seller, Toyota, secures 5th place in Germany. Their success is rooted in their reputation for reliability and leadership in hybrid technology. Germans favor their broad range, including small city cars (like the Yaris) and family SUVs (such as the RAV4 and Corolla).
4th Place: Volkswagen (20.3 points)
Volkswagen (VW), the domestic volume leader, surprisingly lands just outside the top three. While models like the Golf, Polo, Tiguan, and Passat remain segment bestsellers, the brand's score indicates a slight consumer hesitancy amidst their intensive transition to ID electric vehicles. New models aim to reinforce its core market position.
Germany's Most Popular Car Brands: The Top 3 Rivals
3rd Place: Mercedes-Benz (23.9 points)
The brand with the star, Mercedes-Benz, secured the third spot. Despite undergoing internal restructuring, Mercedes maintains strong popularity, valued for its luxury, comfort, and technological advancements. Bestsellers such as the E-Class and exciting future electric models (like the CLA and the new GLC with EQ technology) ensure its strong position.
2nd Place: BMW (24.4 points)
BMW in Munich claims the runner-up position. Historically focused on sheer driving pleasure, BMW boasts bestsellers (like the X1, 1 Series, and 3 Series) alongside its high-performance M models. BMW is preparing to defend its premium role with electric models (such as the iX3) and the upcoming "New Class" architecture.
1st Place: Audi (25.1 points)
The winner of the survey is Audi, located in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. As the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group, Audi managed to narrowly triumph over its rivals, Mercedes and BMW, in terms of sheer popularity. The brand scores highly due to successful design language and a clear path toward electric mobility (including the A6 e-tron and the planned electric A2).
This result positions Audi as the winner of the traditional German premium rivalry in terms of consumer goodwill for 2025.
The Top 10 Most Popular Car Brands in Germany (2025)
The survey methodology involved collecting approximately one million consumer reviews across 32 categories in Germany over a 12-month period. Brands were scored between -100 and 100 points based on consumer perception. Below is the final ranking and score for the top 10 automotive brands:
| The 10 Most Popular Car Brands in Germany 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Place | Make of Car | Score |
| 1 | Audi | 25.1 |
| 2 | BMW | 24.4 |
| 3 | Mercedes-Benz | 23.9 |
| 4 | Volkswagen | 20.3 |
| 5 | Toyota | 17.1 |
| 6 | Skoda | 17.0 |
| 7 | Volvo | 15.1 |
| 8 | Porsche | 13.8 |
| 9 | Opel | 12.3 |
| 10 | Hyundai | 11.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the German Car Market
The survey measures consumer popularity and sentiment, not necessarily sales volume. Audi's top ranking suggests stronger overall goodwill, perceived brand value, and positive public perception in 2025, potentially due to successful model launches and a clear future strategy.
Yes. Toyota secured the 5th place in the ranking, proving that its global reputation for reliability, quality, and leadership in hybrid technology strongly resonates with German consumers, allowing it to surpass other volume manufacturers like Skoda and Volvo.
While VW models remain high sellers, landing outside the top 3 suggests that the brand is experiencing public hesitancy, likely due to the highly visible and sometimes challenging transition from established combustion engines (like the Golf) to its new generation of ID electric vehicles. The brand's popularity score is lower than its premium rivals.
The ranking was compiled by YouGov, based on approximately one million consumer reviews collected over a 12-month period. Brands were scored based on consumer perception and sentiment across various metrics within the automotive category.
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