Multiple apologies in advance if I offended anyone with what follows. Just calling it with candor as I see it.
My criteria is #1 Fun Build, #2 Well Engineered #3 Quality Instructions and all else is secondary. Based on my experiences.
Tier 1 Best Armor Model Companies Today
Tamiya - All Hail the Supreme Over King, Best of the Best, Alpha & Omega of Quality Models. Tamiya has held my #1 spot for 40+ years. Tamiya is consistent. 
Meng - serious competition
RFM - serious competition
If a Tier 1 company’s name is on the box of a new release I have high exacting expectations.
Tier 2 - always lacking or disappointing in one way or another but generally excellent. Worth buying and building. Would have to make major improvements to reach Tier 1 status.
Hasegawa
Fujimi
TriStar
Asuka
Amusing Hobby
Dragon
Takom
AFV Club
Mini-Art
If a Tier 2 company’s name is on the box of a new release I have moderate expectations based on past experiences.
Special note Dragon could be Tier 1 with improved instructions sheets and better engineering. So close yet light years away.
Tier 3 - always lacking in multiple ways but generally very good. Probably worth buying and building.
Trumpeter
Border Models
ICM
Zvezda
Panda
Hobby Boss
Polar Lights
Bronco
If a Tier 3 company’s name is on the box of a new release I really don’t care as I probably won’t be buying the product after reading the reviews unless highly interesting subject matter.
Tier 4 - kits by these manufacturer’s are generally suitable for filling up a dumpsters and empty landfills with possibly a few exceptions. The companies are basically hopeless write off lost causes not worthy of a modelers attention. Same bottom of the barrel pretty much as 30 years ago. At least they are consistently terrible.
Revell
Monogram
ESCI
Airfix
Italeri
Alan
Academy
MiniCraft
If a Tier 4 company’s name is on the box of a new release I don’t care as I won’t be buying the product. The reviews will be pure comedy with a plethora of avoidable goof ups and screw ups that can come only from 2nd rate production, 3rd rate research and moronic bottom of the barrel management.
Most good models with a Tier 4 company name on the box are reboxed and some other companies product in most cases. Probably from a Tier 2 company.