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Trump’s Tariffs Have Arrived—here’s Consumer Reports’ List Of Best American Cars, Trucks & Suvs
It’s go time for tariffs. Fulfilling a campaign promise, shortly after his Inauguration, President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and a 10% charge on goods from China, which The White House said was aimed at curbing illegal immigration and the drug trade.
While the fee on Chinese imports took effect on February 3, the Canadian and Mexican tariffs went on a month-long pause after Trump spoke with Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, and Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, who both promised increased measures at border patrol.
But that was last month.
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On March 4, as Trump promised, the tariffs took effect, and what’s more, Trump says he’s planning to roll out additional, reciprocal tariffs to other countries, pledging, “whatever countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them.” White House administration is currently conducting an analysis of this proposal with plans to be finished by April 1.
How will Trump’s tariffs affect the auto industry?
Trump's tariffs are expected to wreak havoc on the auto industry, increasing costs for both raw materials and finished goods. Automakers are expected to pass these increases down to consumers in the form of higher prices, who will also face higher prices at the pumps, higher costs for auto repairs, and even steeper costs for car insurance policies.
Related: The 10 most reliable cars according to Consumer Reports
Here, specifically, is what will be impacted:
- Automakers with operations in Canada and Mexico will feel the impact of the tariffs acutely. These include General Motors, Stellantis, Toyota, and Honda, who make about 40% of their North American cars and trucks in the two countries.
- Raw material prices will also increase, since Trump signed an order on February 15 implementing 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel, which are needed to build automobiles
- Prices for auto parts will also be affected, as, according to the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, 60% of all auto parts come from Mexico, Canada, and China.
- Gas prices will rise, since 60% of the oil the US imports comes from Canada, according to data from The New York Times.
- Fortune reports that because the cost of insurance is determined by how much it costs to replace damaged cars and parts, car owners will see premiums rise as well.
Consumers can expect to see the price of an average new car increase by $3,000 or more, according to Kelley Blue Book, while pickup trucks will become as much as $10,000 more expensive.
Can you avoid tariffs by buying “American?”
Proponents of the tariffs point to a 2024 analysis on tariffs by McKinsey & Company which stated that “some economists believe that tariffs on imported goods could reduce competition for U.S. producers, increase demand for U.S.-made goods, and create jobs.”
Related: 8 popular vehicles that are less reliable than you think, according to Consumer Reports
So, car buyers might be thinking that one solution to Trump's tariffs is simply to buy an American car, truck or SUV — but it’s not quite that simple.
Consumer Reports (CR), a trusted name in consumer automotive research and advocacy since 1936, comes out with extensive rankings of top cars, trucks, and SUVS categorized for consumer convenience into subheadings like its list of best American cars.
But even CR says what is considered “American” these days is complicated because some U.S.-headquartered carmakers, like Buick and Ford, build a significant number of vehicles outside the country, while Honda, Subaru and Toyota, which were known for decades under the subheading of “foreign automakers,” now assemble many of their vehicles stateside.
Related: How does Consumer Reports make money? The product-testing nonprofit explained
CR has an extensive vehicle testing process. Every year, drivers independently test hundreds of cars at CR’s 327-acre auto testing center in Colchester, Connecticut. Analysts also conduct extensive surveys of CR’s 6 million members, compiling all of this information together so it can rank each model in terms of performance and owner satisfaction.
The cars that made Consumer Report’s list of Best American cars, trucks & SUVs also carry the “CR Recommended” distinction, which results from a high score on a 50-point evaluation that includes driving factors like braking, handling, and battery life, along with more qualitative metrics, such as reliability.
More automotive content:
- The 10 most fuel-efficient cars according to Consumer Reports
- The 10 best new SUVs under $40k according to Consumer Reports
- 10 cheap cars to buy before the tariffs take effect
Does it mean these vehicle prices won’t be impacted by Trump’s tariffs? Not necessarily, since they, too, may have production facilities outside the U.S. that could be impacted.
However, being “American branded,” as CR puts it, could help those consumers searching to buy American.
Plus, many automakers could be compelled to respond to Trump’s tariffs by shifting more of their production inside the U.S., where they already have a significant history — or invest in building new facilities altogether.
Here are the 14 cars that made the list:
The best American cars, SUVs & trucks, according to Consumer Reports
One of four Cadillac models to make Consumer Reports' list of Best American Cars is the 2025 CT4.Cadillac
Luxury entry-level car: Cadillac CT4 2025
- Price: $34,995–$62,195
- MPG: Overall 25/highway 38
Cadillac
Luxury compact car: Cadillac CT5 2025
- Price: $47,595–$95,595
- MPG: Overall 24/highway 36
Tesla
Electric car: Tesla Model 3 2025
- Price: $42,490–$54,990
- MPGE: Overall 130/highway 124
Buick
Small car: Buick Envista 2025
- Price: $23,800–$28,600
- MPG: Overall 29/highway 39
Chevrolet
Sports car: Chevrolet Corvette 2025
- Price: $68,300–$194,300
- MPG: Overall 19/highway 29
Ford
Sports car (4-seat): Ford Mustang 2025
- Price: $31,920–$63,080
- MPG: Overall 20/highway 30
Chrysler
Minivan: Chrysler Pacifica 2025
- Price: $42,450–$59,785
- MPG: Overall 21/highway 33
Chevrolet
Subcompact SUV: Chevrolet Trailblazer 2025
- Price: $23,100–$29,300
- MPG: Overall 27/highway 37
Buick
Compact SUV: Buick Envision 2025
- Price: $36,500–$46,200
- MPG: Overall 23/highway 33
Chevrolet
Midsized 3-row SUV: Chevrolet Traverse 2025
- Price: $34,520–$56,200
- MPG: Overall 20/highway 28
Cadillac
Luxury compact SUV: Cadillac XT5 2025
- Price: $44,295–$57,195
- MPG: Overall 20/highway 30
Cadillac
Luxury 3-row SUV: Cadillac XT6 2025
- Price: $49,195–$60,695
- MPG: Overall 18/highway 26
Tesla
Electric SUV: Tesla Model Y 2025
- Price: $44,990–$51,490
- MPGE: Overall 121/highway 114
Ford
Small pickup: Ford Maverick 2025
- Price: $26,995–$40,750
- MPG: Overall 23/highway 32
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