Someone asked me recently: ‘Is Ancel a good brand?’ Instinctively, I replied with an ‘I don’t know’. Then, like a bolt, it hit me: I’ve owned a ton of Ancel’s products in the course of my DIY journey and my favorite glovebox scanner of all time, the AD410, is made by Ancel.
This, without a shred of doubt, qualifies me to comment if Ancel is a good company for all things automobile diagnostics (or not).
So, where does Ancel stand in the grand scheme of things?
Before I answer, let me take you back a little, to history.
Table of Contents

First Things First: The Lexus Story
Before 1989, the Germans were the gatekeepers when it came to luxury and performance vehicles. If anyone wanted to make a statement with their vehicles, it had to be a Mercedes, BMW, and to a lesser extent, an Audi.
It was unthinkable that a Toyota would ever be considered a luxury vehicle or used by folks who had established themselves and were eager to show the world they had made their mark.
Then, as if out of ‘nowhere’, Toyota launched Lexus – taking the US auto market by storm and redefining what a luxurious vehicle meant, with the one billion dollar budget LS 400 powered by the legendary 1UZ-FE naturally aspirated V8 engine.
A generation after, the CEO of Ford, Alan Mulally, openly admitted to automotive journalists that he drove a Lexus LS 430 and confirmed it to be the best automobile in the world.
So, what has all this got to do with Ancel?
A Challenger of the Status Quo
A few years ago, when the discussion of automotive diagnostic tools popped up, the debate, automatically, was majorly between Launch, Autel, and a few other lesser-known brands.
However, coming from Asia (just like Lexus did), Ancel powered its way into the US and by extension, the rest of the world in 2016 with its ‘flagship’, the Ancel AD 310 – which quickly became an important best seller.
Since then, other brands have also emerged and it’s no longer a matter of Launch or Autel when considering auto diagnostic tools; there are a lot of other options, amongst which Ancel has become (and remains) a formidable force it’s impossible to ignore today.
Is Ancel a Good Brand?
Without mincing words, Ancel is a good brand, as far as the business of manufacturing auto diagnostic tools is concerned.
There is no way, otherwise, that the company would have made progress and risen to the top of the market share, if they weren’t playing their cards right.
Or, do you think Toyota would have defeated the Germans with the Lexus brand if it was not inherently superior and the Japanese knew exactly what they were doing?
As it was in 1989-90, so it was recently in the span of years starting 2016.
What Makes Ancel a Good Brand?
I’ve already clearly stated that Ancel is an awesome brand, in response to the question, ‘Is Ancel a good brand?’
However, the story goes much deeper than that. What makes Ancel a good brand?
1. A Great Price
It appears Ancel’s founder and management took direct notes from Toyota and took the Lexus experience to heart.
The company has always kept its products competitively priced – which has won the heart of car owners, home and professional mechanics alike.
Why pay more when you can get the same thing (or even better) for less?
2. Well Made Products
There’s one thing that anyone wishing to penetrate the US market understands to their bones: quality is important and of the essence.
Lexus knew this and the original LS beat all its competitors straight down to the dust.
Decades after, Ancel also understands this: products coming from its stables are usually durable – and are generally made to thrive in the demanding auto works environment and last, while at it.
Now, who doesn’t want value for money spent?
3. Ancel Is an Innovation Powerhouse!
When Lexus launched its LS400, it didn’t rest on its laurels nor did the fact that they threw the Germans to the dust get into their heads.
While the ES was also brought on board and later, the GS plus the SUVs/CUVs, Lexus made sure that it was constantly on top of its game and to date, has never truly slept on its mantra, the relentless pursuit of perfection.
Ancel, on its own, seems to have also taken good notes here. Their original code reader, the Ancel AD310 was followed up with several improved models, with each successive generation offering what the other did not.
This is truly a marvel to behold.
Wrap Up
In response to the question: ‘Is Ancel a good brand?’ I’ll answer again: YES, IT IS!
It’s okay if you’ve never heard of the company before now: when Lexus launched, few people understood what punch it packed and the business the new creation meant.
However, a few decades down the line, Lexus needs no introduction. Importantly, the fact that they are a viable (and better) alternative to the Germans is no longer debate material.
This is the path Ancel is towing and I have no doubts that it will achieve its aim/target.
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Throttle Lan
DIY Mechanic and Freelance Auto Writer