Consumer Reports' top 10 vehicles for 2026 — see which cars made the list

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Consumer Reports' verdict connected the apical caller cars for 2026 is in, and it brings immoderate invited quality for car shoppers looking to chopped down connected their substance usage portion besides staying harmless connected the road.

This year's premix of apical cars, trucks and SUVs see respective models that travel successful beneath the average $50,000 starting terms for a caller vehicle.

For the archetypal time, the apical 10 besides each travel successful electrical oregon hybrid versions, according to the merchandise investigating and probe group, which released its rankings connected Tuesday. Compared to gas-powered vehicles, the hybrid and EV options connection perks similar amended acceleration, quieter cabins and improved substance economy, according to Consumer Reports.

"Everything present is electrified, truthful to speak," said Alex Knizek, manager of car trial improvement astatine Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports purchases and tests astir 50 caller vehicles each year, assessing the cars based connected their show successful dozens of roadworthy tests, arsenic good arsenic authorities and security manufacture clang tests. The enactment besides considers reliability and user restitution scores pulled from survey data.

Most cars that claimed the highest rankings are repeats from past year, with the objection of 3 caller vehicles that managed to infiltrate the apical 10. Read connected for Consumer Reports' database of the champion vehicles for 2026.

Best tiny car: Honda Civic

The Honda Civic, agelong lauded for its value, is simply a caller entrant into Consumer Reports' apical 10 this year. The car's basal terms successful 2026 is $24,695.

Of the car maker's 3 Honda Civic sedan models, CR said the hybrid mentation is the best. It offers each the perks of the gas-powered models, successful summation to amended substance ratio — astatine 44 miles per gallon (mpg) — and superior acceleration — going from 0 to 60 mph successful 7.5 seconds, according to Consumer Reports. Honda introduced the hybrid mentation of its Honda Civic conveyance successful 2003, according to JD Power.

According to Knizek, the hybrid exemplary is some quieter and much almighty than the gas-powered model.

Best midsize Car: Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry, present sold exclusively arsenic a hybrid, besides snatched 1 of the apical slots connected the list, with Consumer Reports touting its "practical interior space" and "user-friendly controls." The conveyance has a basal terms of $29,100.

"It handles well, it rides well, looks beauteous good, too," Knizek said. "So it's conscionable a well-rounded sedan."

One downside: The debased placement of the beforehand and rear seats whitethorn marque them challenging to entree for some.

Best subcompact SUV: Subaru Crosstrek

With a basal terms of $26,995, the Subaru Crosstrek comes successful some hybrid and gas-powered versions. Consumer Reports said the conveyance offers unafraid handling and tin grip "off-pavement excursions."

Knizek praised some the Crosstrek and the Subaru Forester (listed below) for their reliability and visibility.

"Where they truly radiance is they're reliable," helium said. "But they are substance efficient, and this is going to dependable silly, but you tin spot retired of them truly well."

Best compact SUV: Subaru Forester

Another Subaru car connected this year's apical 10 database is the Forester, which starts astatine $29,995. Subaru introduced a hybrid version of the car past year, which it says gets 40% amended substance system than the non-hybrid model.

Consumer Reports pointed to the Forester's fantabulous visibility, comfort, information and spacious interior.

Best midsize SUV: Toyota Grand Highlander

Consumer Reports said the Toyota Grand Highlander is simply a bully prime erstwhile it comes to three-row SUVs, with a roomy interior and 18-inch wheels making for a smooth, comfy ride. The conveyance gets 35 mpg wide and has a basal terms of $41,660.

"There are different three-row SUVs, but to get 1 that's this spacious and has a fuel-efficient hybrid enactment is beauteous rare," Knizek said.

Best luxury compact SUV: Lexus NX

The Lexus NX got precocious marks for its high-quality interior plan and comfort, with Consumer Reports praising its "especially plush and supportive" beforehand seats.

The vehicle, with a basal terms of $44,175, is disposable arsenic a afloat gas-powered car, regular hybrid oregon plug-in hybrid. The hybrid mentation of the Lexus NX combines a almighty 304-horsepower motor with substance efficiency, with the conveyance capable to question 37 miles solely connected electricity, according to Consumer Reports.

Best tiny pickup truck: Ford Maverick

At a starting terms of $28,145, the Ford Maverick caught Consumer Reports' attraction for its affordability. It comes successful some hybrid and gas-powered models, achieving 37 mpg and 23 mpg, respectively. The motortruck tin tow 4,000 pounds, according to Ford's website.

With a smaller frame, the car is besides much nimble, Knizek said. "If you're successful a city-type of mounting and you request a truck, this is thing a small spot much manageable," helium said.

Best luxury midsize SUV: BMW X5

Consumer Reports described the BMW X5 arsenic 1 of the champion luxury cars it has ever tested, praising its supportive seats and well-fashioned interior. The car comes successful some a gas-only mentation and a hybrid exemplary with a 39-mile electric-only range.

With "a batch of luxury brands, conscionable connected average, we don't spot the champion reliability. But BMW has truly bucked that trend, the X5 included," Knizek told CBS News. "Beyond the reliability of it, it's conscionable a really, truly compelling luxury SUV."

The X5 is the most costly car connected the apical 10 list, with a basal terms of $67,600.

Best electrical vehicle: Tesla Model Y

Consumer Reports ranks Tesla's Model Y, launched successful 2020, arsenic its champion electrical vehicle. The car's reliability has accrued with clip and is integrated into the automaker's Supercharger network, which "still has yet to beryllium topped," Knizek said. The car's basal terms is $39,990.

Some downsides: Knizek said the controls connected the wrong tin beryllium distracting. Consumer Repiorts besides recommends against utilizing the self-driving diagnostic Tesla advertises.

Tesla past week decided to upwind down accumulation of 2 older car models, the S and X, according to the Associated Press. Both models saw a diminution successful income past year, Kelley Blue Book information shows.

Best full-size pickup truck: Ford F-150

The Ford F-150, with a starting terms of $37,290, has some a gas-powered and a hybrid version. The conveyance stands retired successful the motortruck class for its reliability, Knizek said.

"The reliability has dilatory crept up implicit time," helium said. "It's bully to beryllium capable to constituent radical toward a motortruck that's going to service them beauteous well."

Some of the bells and whistles Consumer Reports liked: blind-spot monitors and driving immunodeficiency that simplify backing up and hooking up a trailer.