The annual roundup of ten “Top Pick” cars from Consumer Reports for 2024 shakes things up, with only three cars returning from last year’s roster and seven new models.
This list downplays things like style or driving fun to focus on practical factors such as price, safety, and efficiency. The organization also considers its surveys to include predicted reliability and owner satisfaction in the ratings.
This year’s theme is a shift to electrification. That doesn’t mean the Top Picks are all battery-electric EVs, but many of them incorporate some level of electrification as either a hybrid-electric model or a plug-in hybrid. Currently, electrified models account for just 16.3 percent of U.S. light-duty vehicle sales according to Ward’s Intelligence.
“Consumer Reports’ new Top Picks list demonstrates that models with fully or partially electrified powertrains can surpass the overall performance of their conventional counterparts,” said Alex Knizek, manager of automotive testing and insights for Consumer Reports. “Among the standouts this year are one EV, three PHEVs, and three hybrids.”
Consumer Reports realizes that for good cars to be beneficial, they must be affordable so consumers can actually buy them. The organization named six cars in their top 10 whose base prices start at less than $30,000, while the average price paid for a new vehicle is more than $48,000.
To see which ones might be suitable for your driving needs, click through our slide show.
