Buying a car is one of the biggest financial decisions most Americans will ever make, right up there with buying a home, except you can’t live in a Honda Civic. (Well, technically you can, but that’s a different article.) The good news: Consumer Reports has done a lot of the heavy lifting for you.
Drawing on extensive reliability data and owner satisfaction surveys, the organization has revealed its 2026 Annual 10 Top Picks in cars, trucks, and SUVs. As Consumer Reports president and CEO Phil Radford put it, car buyers have to juggle safety, reliability, fuel efficiency, and affordability all at once, and the goal of this list is to give shoppers confidence that the vehicles they’re considering check all those boxes. These aren’t just cars that performed well on a test track. They’re vehicles that real owners love and that hold up over time.
So buckle up, because here’s who made the cut.
Best Small Car: Honda Civic
Image Credit: Honda.
The Honda Civic has long been a darling of the compact car segment, and for 2026 it’s earned the top spot in its class, particularly in hybrid form.
The hybrid version packs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower, which is a meaningful step up from the base gas model. That power translates to a 0–60 mph time of 7.5 seconds and fuel economy of 44 mpg overall in Consumer Reports’ testing. But what really makes the Civic Hybrid stand out isn’t just the numbers; it’s how refined and rewarding it feels to drive. Sporty enough to be fun on a winding road, practical enough for the daily commute, and efficient enough to keep gas station visits to a minimum.
If a small car needs to do everything well, the Civic Hybrid has a strong case for being the best in its category.
Best Mid-Sized Car: Toyota Camry
Image Credit: Toyota.
Some cars earn their reputation through flashiness. The Toyota Camry earns it through sheer, unflinching competence, and it keeps getting better at it.
Now sold exclusively as a hybrid, the 2026 Camry recorded an impressive 48 mpg overall in Consumer Reports’ fuel economy tests, which is remarkable for a midsize family sedan. The cabin is comfortable front and rear, the controls are refreshingly intuitive, and every trim can be had with all-wheel drive. This year’s model also posted stronger reliability scores than last year’s already-solid version, which is the kind of detail that makes long-term ownership a lot less stressful.
If dependability were a personality trait, the Camry would be the most reliable friend you’ve ever had.
Best Subcompact SUV: Subaru Crosstrek
Image Credit: Subaru.
The Subaru Crosstrek is back on the Top Picks list, and it’s showing up with more to offer than before.
Every gas-only version now comes equipped with a 180-horsepower, 2.5-liter engine paired with a continuously variable transmission and standard all-wheel drive, returning 29 mpg overall in testing. A new hybrid variant is also available with an EPA-estimated 36 mpg combined, for those who want to stretch their fuel dollar even further.
Handling is sharp and confident, but it’s the ride quality that really earns applause; the Crosstrek absorbs bumps and rough roads with a smoothness that punches above its size class. And with extra ground clearance, it handles light off-road adventures without breaking a sweat.
For drivers who want just a little more capability without going full truck mode, the Crosstrek is a sweet spot.
Best Compact SUV: Subaru Forester
Image Credit: Subaru.
Last year, the gas-only Forester made the list on the strength of its visibility, spaciousness, easy entry and exit, and rock-solid reliability scores.
This year, Subaru sweetened the deal with a hybrid powertrain, pairing its 2.5-liter flat-four engine with Toyota-sourced electric hardware. The result is a 5 mpg improvement over the standard model, which is a tangible difference when you’re filling up week after week.
What’s particularly impressive is that unlike many compact SUV hybrids that compromise on all-wheel drive capability, the Forester Hybrid retains a full-time mechanical AWD system. So you don’t have to trade capability for efficiency.
All the things that made the Forester great last year are still here, and now it comes with a side of fuel savings.
Best Midsized SUV: Toyota Grand Highlander
Image Credit: Toyota.
Finding a three-row SUV that comfortably seats adults in every row and still has meaningful cargo space is harder than it sounds.
The Toyota Grand Highlander pulls it off, making it one of the most practical family haulers on the market. Equipped with 18-inch tires, it also offers a notably smooth ride for a vehicle of its size. The optional hybrid powertrain is the real headline here: rated at 35 mpg overall in Consumer Reports’ testing, it rivals compact SUV hybrids on fuel economy while delivering performance that matches the standard turbocharged engine.
For families who need room for everyone, gear, and a road trip’s worth of snacks, the Grand Highlander makes a very convincing argument.
Best Luxury Compact SUV: Lexus NX
Image Credit: Lexus.
The Lexus NX proves that you don’t have to sacrifice elegance to get efficiency.
The cabin may be on the cozier side of compact, but it’s finished with quality materials and controls that actually feel premium to use—something not all luxury brands can say. The turbocharged gas-only version is plenty quick and competitive in its class.
The hybrid variant goes even further, delivering 38 mpg overall in AWD form during Consumer Reports testing. And for those who want the full electrified experience, the plug-in hybrid version offers 37 miles of electric-only range and a combined 304 horsepower. It’s quiet, polished, and reliable in a way that justifies the Lexus badge.
If a small luxury SUV is on your radar, the NX is the one that tends to make buyers very happy they chose it.
Best Small Pickup Truck: Ford Maverick
Image Credit: Ford.
The Ford Maverick continues to redefine what people expect from a small pickup.
It comes in at an accessible price point, fits into parking spots that full-size trucks can only dream about, and offers a hybrid powertrain that achieved 37 mpg overall in Consumer Reports’ testing, numbers that many sedans would envy. The gas-only turbocharged four-cylinder brings 250 horsepower and 23 mpg for those who prefer a more spirited drive. For 2026, AWD is now available across both engine options, and specialty trims like the performance-oriented Lobo and off-road-ready Tremor give buyers even more ways to configure it to their lifestyle.
Whether you’re commuting through the city or hauling gear on the weekend, the Maverick handles both with genuine ease.
Best Luxury Midsized SUV: BMW X5
Image Credit: BMW.
The BMW X5 is the kind of vehicle that makes you feel good before you’ve even turned the key.
The interior is a thoughtful blend of leather, wood, chrome, and soft-touch surfaces, and the seats are sculpted to support long drives without complaint. Performance-wise, the gas-only X5 delivers sports-sedan levels of acceleration while achieving 23 mpg overall, strong numbers for a nonhybrid luxury SUV in this segment. For drivers with shorter commutes, the plug-in hybrid version is designed around a 39-mile electric-only range, and once the battery runs down, it still returns a respectable 21 mpg.
Either way, you get the driving experience BMW is known for. It’s a luxury SUV that earns the premium it asks for.
Best Electric Vehicle: Tesla Model Y
Image Credit: Tesla.
For drivers ready to go fully electric, the Tesla Model Y remains the benchmark.
Refreshed for 2026, it brings meaningful upgrades to the package: a more comfortable ride, a quieter cabin thanks to acoustic glass, a refined interior, and an 8-inch rear touchscreen on the mid-level Premium trim and above. Range remains excellent, and access to Tesla’s Supercharger network continues to be one of the biggest practical advantages in the EV market.
The Model Y also keeps its characteristic strengths: brisk acceleration, responsive handling, and clear forward sightlines. Perhaps most importantly, reliability has continued to improve year over year, making it a more confident long-term ownership proposition than ever.
If you’re making the leap to electric, this is where most drivers land, and most of them stay happy.
Best Full-Size Pickup Truck: Ford F-150
Image Credit: Ford.
The Ford F-150 is part of the Ford F-Series, which remains a U.S. sales-leading truck line, and improved reliability scores in Consumer Reports’ latest survey data have earned it a well-deserved spot on this year’s Top Picks list.
The base 325-horsepower, 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 is a refined engine that handles everything from daily driving to heavy hauling with minimal fuss. A traditional V8 is still available for traditionalists, but the standout option is the 430-horsepower hybrid V6, which produces 570 lb.-ft. of torque, making it a serious workhorse for towing. Practical features like enhanced blind-spot monitoring, trailer hookup assistance, and a workbench-capable tailgate round out a truck that’s as useful as it is impressive.
Ford’s BlueCruise driver assistance system is also available for long-haul highway comfort.
The Bottom Line
Image Credit: Subaru.
What’s striking about Consumer Reports’ 2026 Top Picks is how well these vehicles cover the full range of what American drivers actually need. From a city-friendly hybrid compact to a three-row family hauler to an all-electric road tripper, there’s a clear winner in every category, and each one earned its spot through real-world reliability data and owner satisfaction, not just a single impressive test. The common thread running through all ten? They’re vehicles that hold up over time, which is ultimately what matters most when you’re making a purchase this significant.
Whether your priority is fuel economy, cargo space, luxury, or pure capability, this list gives you somewhere solid to start. Do your research, take a test drive, and trust that the homework has already been done.
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