Top 6 cars, SUVs, & trucks that may avoid tariffs, according to Consumer Reports | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

On Liberation Day, April 2, 2025, President Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency, enacting a broad sweep of global tariffs designed to boost domestic production, create new jobs, reduce the trade deficit, and generate “trillions and trillions of dollars” for the American economy.

Initially, this included placing 25% tariffs on cars and automotive parts from Mexico and Canada. Later, the tariffs were expanded to encompass all foreign vehicles.

Imposing taxes on foreign vehicles was a move designed to encourage consumers to buy American-made products, since the increased costs are expected to be passed down to buyers in the form of higher prices. The average increase estimated by analysts is between $5,000 and $15,000 per vehicle.

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Additionally, the passage of new legislation known as “The Big Beautiful Bill” offers even more incentives for buying vehicles assembled in the U.S.: tax credits on loan interest of up to $10,000 per year between now and 2028.

In his remarks in front of the White House, Trump emphasized that Liberation Day “will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed.” However, tariffs have created anxieties for many businesses and consumers, who worry about their potential economic and financial consequences. Specifically, they fear that tariffs will cause inflation to rise and the economy to fall into recession.

Best cars that earn tax credits and may avoid tariffs

The good news is that economic uncertainties are something Consumer Reports (CR) is well equipped to handle.

As an independent nonprofit organization for 89 years, it has advocated for the Average Joe by providing unbiased information about consumer products and services. These tools become especially useful through times of economic hardship, when every dollar must be stretched to maximize value.

Every year, CR independently purchases hundreds of new cars, SUVs, and trucks in order to put them through a battery of performance tests at its performance center in Colchester, Connecticut. The agency tests each vehicle on acceleration, braking, emergency handling, fuel economy, and overall ride comfort. It also analyzes predicted reliability based on surveys sent to its 6 million members. Compiling all of these results together, it assigns each vehicle with a score. Those cars, SUVs, and trucks that rank the highest are designed “CR Recommended” vehicles.

This year, the venerable agency published its list of top cars, SUVs, and trucks — but then it went one step further.

In light of Trump’s tariffs, CR created another list that identified alternatives to its top-ranked imported vehicles, this time highlighting the top performers that were assembled in America.

More on cars:

And in case you’re wondering how you can tell where your car was built, CR has an answer for that, too: Simply open the driver’s side door and look at the sticker that has your vehicle identification number (VIN) on it. The manufacturer states in writing where the vehicle’s final assembly took place. In addition, the first three characters of the VIN will tell you its country of origin.

Without further ado, here’s Consumer Report’s list of top American-built vehicles that may “tariff proof:”

CR’s top 6 cars, SUVs and trucks that may avoid tariffs

Toyota’s plant in Blue Springs, Mississippi, is specifically dedicated to building Corollas.

Toyota

Small car: Toyota Corolla 2025

Price: $22,325 – $28,190
MPG: Overall 36 / Highway 51

The 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid was manufactured at Toyota’s plant in Huntsville, Alabama. It’s one of only two hybrids to make CR’s list.

Toyota

Subcompact SUV: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 2025

Price: $28,395 – $31,580
MPG: Overall 41 / Highway 47

Honda shifted production of its CR-V from Canada to the U.S. The 2025 CR-V is produced at Honda’s facilities in Indiana and Ohio.

Honda

Compact SUV: Honda CR-V 2025

Price: $30,100 – $50,000
MPG: Overall 26 / Highway 33

Some of Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid models are manufactured in Kentucky.

Toyota

Fuel-Efficient SUV: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2025

Price: $28,850 – $40,205
MPG: Overall 37 / Highway 41

The redesigned 2025 Acura RDX is manufactured at Honda’s East Liberty Plant in Ohio.

Acura

Luxury Compact SUV: Acura RDX 2025

Price: $44,700 – $54,450
MPG: Overall 22 / Highway 30

Honda’s 2025 Ridgeline truck is manufactured exclusively at the brand’s plant in Lincoln, Alabama.

Wikimedia Commons

Pickup: Honda Ridgeline

Price: $40,150 – $46,750
MPG: Overall 20 / Highway 29