The ranking may surprise buyers who associate “American-made” mainly with the Big Three. In the top 20, only six vehicles are made by Stellantis or Ford, and no General Motors model appears on the list.
According to Cars.com’s annual ranking, the top 20 includes eight vehicles from American automakers, 11 from Japanese companies, and one from a Korean manufacturer. Honda and Acura together place seven models in the top 20, making their presence especially visible.
Tesla and Jeep Dominate the Highest Spots
Tesla leads the ranking for another year, with the Model 3 in first place and the Model Y in second. The Model 3 is assembled in Fremont, California, and has a base MSRP of $38,630.
According to Cars.com’s annual ranking, the Model Y follows in second place, with final assembly in Fremont, California, or Austin, Texas. Its base MSRP is $41,630.
Jeep takes the next two positions. The Gladiator ranks third, with final assembly in Toledo, Ohio, and a base MSRP of $42,010. The Grand Cherokee ranks fourth, assembled in Detroit, Michigan, with a base MSRP of $40,915.
Honda and Acura Make a Strong Showing
Japanese automakers account for 11 of the top 20 vehicles on the list. Honda and Acura are especially prominent, with seven models included.
The Honda Ridgeline ranks fifth, assembled in Lincoln, Indiana, with a base MSRP of $42,290. The Honda Odyssey ranks sixth, also assembled in Lincoln, Indiana, with a base MSRP of $44,290.
The Acura MDX ranks ninth and is assembled in East Liberty, Ohio, with a base MSRP of $53,250. The Honda Passport ranks tenth and is assembled in Lincoln, Alabama, with a base MSRP of $46,445. Other Honda and Acura models in the top 20 include the Honda Accord at eighth, the Acura RDX at sixteenth, and the Acura Integra at eighteenth.
The Full Top 20 Shows How Complex ‘American-Made’ Has Become
Cars.com’s ranking is based on five factors: assembly location, parts sourcing under the American Automobile Labeling Act, U.S. factory employment tied to vehicle production, engine sourcing, and transmission sourcing.
Among the 379 light-duty vehicles automakers sell or plan to sell in the U.S. in 2026, 119 are made solely in the United States. Another 243 are imported, while 17 are split between domestic and imported assembly lines.
The full top 20 list is: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid at twentieth, Toyota Tundra at nineteenth, Acura Integra at eighteenth, Kia EV9 at seventeenth, Acura RDX at sixteenth, Ford Explorer at fifteenth, Lincoln Aviator at fourteenth, Ford Expedition and Expedition Max at thirteenth, Lincoln Navigator and Navigator L at twelfth, Toyota Camry at eleventh, Honda Passport at tenth, Acura MDX at ninth, Honda Accord at eighth, Lexus TX350 at seventh, Honda Odyssey at sixth, Honda Ridgeline at fifth, Jeep Grand Cherokee at fourth, Jeep Gladiator at third, Tesla Model Y at second, and Tesla Model 3 at first.
The ranking underlines a simple point: an American badge and an American-made vehicle are not always the same thing.
