The Q3 results are in, and competition for customer trust has never been tighter. With over 4,000 UK franchise dealerships tracked, this quarter’s Google Review League reveals who’s raising the bar, who’s falling behind, and how customer experience standards continue to evolve.
In this post, we’re highlighting the standout performers, the biggest movers, and the reputation benchmarks that every dealership can use to measure success going into Q4.
View the Q3 2025 Google Review League Results
Top 5 Dealerships: Reputation done right
These five dealerships delivered near-perfect experiences this quarter, all maintaining flawless 5.0★ ratings and impressive lifetime review volumes:
1️⃣Henry’s Suzuki Glasgow– 1,256 lifetime reviews, 5.0★
2️⃣Toomey Hyundai Basildon – 751 lifetime reviews, 5.0★
3️⃣Gravells Kia Hereford– 406 lifetime reviews, 5.0★
4️⃣Arnold Clark Dundee Kia– 293 lifetime reviews, 5.0★
5️⃣Howards Suzuki Taunton – 262 lifetime reviews, 5.0★
Only four dealerships (Henrys Suzuki Glasgow, Toomey Hyundai Basildon, Gravells Kia Hereford and Arnold Clark Dundee Kia) remained in the Top 5 across both Q2 and Q3. Howards Suzuki Taunton entered the elite group in Q3, achieving the highest standard of digital reputation with a 5.0-star rating and 262 lifetime reviews. This demonstrates that a dealership outside the previous quarter’s elite list can rapidly ascend and maintain the highest standard of digital reputation. These dealerships continue to set the benchmark, combining great service, consistent review collection, and team-wide accountability.
Top 5 Manufacturers: Brand-wide excellence
The Top 5 manufacturers’ list demonstrated remarkable stability, as the same five brands remained in the top 5 and led the industry in average Google star rating across their UK networks.
1️⃣Dacia – 4.79★
2️⃣Aston Martin – 4.74★
3️⃣MG – 4.73★
4️⃣Lexus – 4.68★
5️⃣DS Automobiles – 4.68★
This stability is critical for dealers, as it proves that when a review strategy is integrated into brand culture, it drives sustained, measurable trust across the entire network. Although four of the five brands experienced minor rating erosion, their collective ability to remain in the elite tier emphasises the importance of consistent, high-level performance.
Who slipped? Bottom 5 manufacturers by rating
Some premium networks have work to do, with ratings still lagging behind the market leaders. In Q3, the lowest-rated manufacturers were:
1️⃣Land Rover – 4.14★
2️⃣Jaguar – 4.19★
3️⃣BMW – 4.25★
4️⃣Mercedes-Benz – 4.25★
5️⃣Volkswagen – 4.26★
Volkswagen entered the bottom 5 (replacing Smart in Q2), ending Q3 with an average rating of 4.26★. This serves as a major warning sign for the brand, who should look internally at their network’s review strategy. Small gaps in perception can affect visibility and conversion in today’s highly competitive digital marketplace.
If a dealership is part of a low-rated network (like Land Rover, Jaguar, or now Volkswagen), they should benchmark their rating not just against the national average (which is higher) but also strive to outperform their brand’s national average to gain a competitive local edge.
The big movers: Who climbed the league?
Glyn Hopkin MG Buckhurst Hill made the biggest leap this quarter, climbing 1,029 places in the national rankings (from 1,622 to 593).
Meanwhile, Berry Chiswick Hyundai earned the title of most improved rating, boosting its Google score from 3.6★ to 4.0★ (+0.4★).
These are dealerships proving that with consistency and process, perception can be completely turned around in a single quarter.
Reputation benchmarks to measure up to
Here’s how the UK franchise network looks overall in Q3:
44.8% of dealerships now hold a 4.5★+ rating
49.2% sit between 4.0★ – 4.5★
Just 6% fall below 4.0★
The essential takeaway for dealers is that 4.5-stars is the new competitive baseline for customer trust. With 44.8% (nearly half) of the UK network now holding a 4.5★+ rating in Q3, and the percentage of top-tier performers growing from Q2 to Q3 (43.7% to 44.8%), the standard is rising. Dealerships must prioritise achieving the 4.5★+ group to avoid competing in the compressed middle ground (49.2% of dealerships sit between 4.0★ and 4.5★) and distance themselves from the 6% minority below 4.0★. Treating reviews as a “live performance metric” is critical for conversion and visibility.
Brand-level breakdown: Who’s winning the review-volume race?
Hyundai and Kia once again led the pack, each averaging around 43 new reviews per dealership in Q3. Close behind were Volvo (38) and Renault (36), showing that consistent engagement isn’t limited to any one segment.
Luxury and low-volume brands like Aston Martin, Bentley, and Lamborghini saw fewer than 5 new reviews per site — expected, but a reminder that every review counts when volumes are smaller.
Review volume feeds directly into local visibility and customer trust. The more active you are, the more visible your locations become in Google Search and Maps.
Takeaway for dealership leaders
Leaders must recognise two primary escalations: first, the benchmark for top-tier success (4.5★+) is rising, increasing from 43.7% of the network in Q2 to 44.8% in Q3; and second, the required pace of review collection has accelerated, increasing the average from 20 new Google reviews per site in Q2 to roughly 22 in Q3. This collective increase cements the fact that review volume feeds directly into visibility, local SEO performance, and customer trust, making adherence to these higher benchmarks essential for competitive standing.
Coming in January: Q4 and year-end results
The Q4 2025 Google Review League will wrap up the year, revealing which brands finished strongest. Expect review volumes to spike through Black Friday, new-reg handovers, and year-end offers, the perfect moment to build momentum for 2026.
Looking to improve your car dealership’s Google Rating?
Reputation management is more important than ever, and dealerships that actively engage with customer feedback and optimise their online presence will continue to thrive. To support this, we’re launching our brand-new, automotive-focused reputation platform, Customer Connect. The platform has been designed to help dealerships monitor, manage, and enhance their online reputation more efficiently than ever before.
Want to improve your rating? Get in touch with our team today!
