SAINT ANTHONY – If you’re in the market for a new car this year, Consumer Reports’ top picks may steer you toward a hybrid or EV. Seven of its top 10 are hybrids or all-electric.
To find the best vehicles of 2023, Consumer Reports experts drove hundreds of thousands of miles on more than 200 vehicles and sorted through reams of data from more than 50 tests that include safety and real-world owner experiences related to reliability and owner satisfaction
“Simply put, these are vehicles that stand out in their respective categories,” said Jennifer Stockburger of Consumer Reports. “Our ‘Top Picks’ must come standard with key safety features, including automatic emergency braking that works at highway speeds and includes pedestrian detection.”
Price remains an important factor for buyers. For vehicles in the $25,000 and under category, Consumer Reports recommends the Toyota Corolla Cross small SUV ($23,060-$28,465) or the Corolla Hybrid Sedan ($22,800-$26,640). These are cars that will continue to save you money down the line with great fuel economy and few repairs.
Consumer Reports says the 2023 Nissan Leaf, with prices ranging from $28,040 to $36,040, shows that not all electric cars come with sky-high prices.
“The Leaf was truly the first mainstream electric vehicle when it launched more than a decade ago, and it continues to show that electric vehicles can be reliable and economical,” Stockburger said.
For a midsize sedan, Consumer Reports recommends the Toyota Camry Hybrid ($26,220 – $36,645), which returned “an impressive 47 mpg overall” in Consumer Reports testing.
SUVs are as popular as ever. This year, the Subaru Forester ($26,395 – $36,495), Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid ($35,910 – $41,570) and three-row Kia Telluride ($35,890 – $52,985) made Consumer Reports’ list.
Consumer Reports says the new Ford Maverick Hybrid ($22,595 – $28,355) is a fun alternative to small SUVs. It’s a pickup truck that gets 37 mpg. It has five seats and a 4 1/2-foot truck bed.
For those ready to splurge, the Lexus NX350h ($41,995 – $57,805) and Tesla Model 3 ($43,490 – $53,990) are Consumer Reports’ top picks that cost more than $45,000.
Notably there are two vehicles that have continuously been on the list in past years, the Lexus RX and the Toyota Prius. The reason: Both popular models were redesigned for 2023, and Consumer Reports is testing them right now.
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