Consumer Reports released its annual list of top 10 picks for new cars, trucks and SUVs Thursday, and hybrids and electric vehicles made up the majority of this year’s winners.
The nonprofit research, testing, and advocacy organization says its Top Picks list features vehicles that earned the “best of the best” in its ratings. They perform well in road tests, come with key safety features and received high marks from owners for reliability and satisfaction.
This year, five of the top 10 picks are hybrids and two are EVs. Six earned Consumer Reports’ Green Choice designation, which means they’re among the top 20% of vehicles that emit the lowest amount of greenhouse gasses and other pollutants.
Consumer Reports says its top choices are selected from hundreds of current tested models, with an added emphasis on vehicles that are affordable with the latest safety features.
“To be one of our Top Picks, a vehicle has to have certain safety features that come standard across the board. It’s encouraging to see the new vehicles this year that prioritize safety and sustainability, right alongside performance and reliability,” Consumer Reports president and CEO Marta Tellado said in a news release.
Here’s the full list of Consumer Reports’ Top Picks for 2023, broken down by price.
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Under $25,000
Toyota Corolla Hybrid: The compact sedan stands out with its fuel economy (48 mpg in Consumer Reports’ tests – similar to the efficiency of a Prius) and comes standard with active driver assistance features.
Toyota Corolla Cross: The subcompact SUV is considered to be roomy for its class and gets 28 mpg. Its standard safety gear and top marks for predicted reliability make the vehicle a “smart choice,” according to Consumer Reports.
$25,000 to $35,000
Subaru Forester: This is the small SUV’s 10th consecutive year as a Consumer Reports Top Pick. Consumer Reports highlights the vehicle’s spacious cabin, generous cargo area and controls that are easy to operate. It gets 28 mpg, among the best in its class.
Toyota Camry Hybrid: The Camry Hybrid made the list for its comfortable ride, athletic handling, accommodating seats, simple controls and fuel economy (47 mpg in Consumer Reports’ tests).
Ford Maverick Hybrid: The small pickup offers easy access to the cabin thanks to a low floor and large doors and is relatively roomy. The controls are simple and the vehicle delivers 37 mpg in tests.
Nissan Leaf: The standard hatchback EV comes with a 149-mile range, while the Leaf Plus features a 212 mile range and better pickup. Either option offers a soft ride with a quiet cabin, according to Consumer Reports.
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$35,000 to $45,000
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid: The hybrid SUV uses a 226-horsepower engine, while the plug-in hybrid option adds 35 horsepower and has 31 miles of electric-only range. Consumer Reports notes that the cabin is roomy with a spacious rear seat and a “generous” roster of standard safety features.
Kia Telluride: This is the fourth year the three-row midsized SUV has been a Top Pick. Consumer Reports says the Telluride “simply does everything well,” offering a large cabin with good outward visibility as well as soft-touch surfaces, attractive trim accents and plenty of elbow room. The 2023 models have a larger infotainment screen and expanded driving assistance features.
$45,000 to $55,000
Lexus NX350h: This hybrid SUV delivers 38 mpg, and Consumer Reports says driving it is a “treat” thanks to its quick steering and comfortable front seats.
Tesla Model 3: The four-door offers plenty of torque and precise steering, according to Consumer Reports. And Tesla’s Supercharger network makes trips “far better” than other EVs brands – even if Consumer Reports notes that a lack of traditional controls can be frustrating.
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2023 Auto Brand Rankings
Also Thursday, Consumer Reports released its annual Auto Brand Report Card Rankings, which look at which automakers are producing the best-performing, safe, and reliable vehicles based on independent testing and surveys. (Higher scores are better.)
- BMW: 81
- Subaru: 79
- Mini: 79
- Lexus: 77
- Honda: 77
- Toyota: 76
- Genesis: 76
- Mazda: 75
- Audi: 74
- Kia: 73
- Acura: 72
- Buick: 71
- Hyundai: 71
- Porsche: 70
- Dodge: 68
- Lincoln: 66
- Tesla: 66
- Infiniti: 65
- Volkswagen: 64
- Volvo: 64
- Nissan: 63
- Ford: 63
- Chevrolet: 62
- Cadillac: 62
- Chrysler: 62
- Mercedes-Benz: 56
- GMC: 55
- Mitsubishi: 54
- Alfa Romeo: 53
- Jaguar: 52
- Jeep: 46
- Land Rover: 45
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