SUV’s making the list: Subaru’s Crosstrek and Forester, along with the Toyota Grand Highlander
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Your vehicle needs to be safe and reliable. Wouldn’t it be nice if it were affordable, too? Consumer Reports has its top ten picks for 2026.
Of course, Consumer Reports tests how every new car handles, the safety features built in, but they even measure the cargo space! On top of that, Consumer Reports asks its members to give hands-on owner satisfaction ratings.
“The cars our team looks at data from our testing and from member surveys to determine what are the ten vehicles that stand out most in their class. These are the vehicles that are easy recommendations to make and a great starting point for any car shopping,” said Jeff Bartlett, Consumer Reports.
On the top picks list are the Subaru Crosstrek and Forester, along with the Toyota Grand Highlander for SUVs. Top luxury SUVs include the Lexus NX and BMW X5.
For drivers who want a truck that’s easy to live with, the Ford Maverick is Consumer Reports’ pick for best small pickup, and the Ford F-150 makes the list too. It’s the first full-sized pickup in years to score high enough to be a top pick.
“We also have a couple of great sedans on the list, with the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry. Both of these performed well in our tests, get terrific fuel economy, and are very reliable,” said Bartlett.
Additionally, each winner comes standard with automatic emergency braking that works both at low speeds with pedestrian detection and at highway speeds.
For the first time, every model on this year’s Consumer Reports best new cars list is either a hybrid, available as one, or is an electric vehicle. While car shoppers can’t go wrong with the traditional gas-only versions, their hybrid counterparts often offer quicker acceleration, quieter cabins, and improved fuel economy, which could translate into lower long-term ownership costs.
