CONSUMER REPORTS’ TOP NEW CARS

MOLLY BOIGON REPORTS “Hybrids Dominate Consumer Reports’ List of Top New Cars,” Automotive News, February 3, 2026. “The reviews from Consumer Reports,” Boigon observes, “support what many dealers and consumers have already suspected: Hybrids offer the convenience of internal combustion engine vehicles with fuel economy and handling benefits.”

A Note of Perspective. I must confess that my years at R&T had me feeling that Consumer Reports tested cars with the same cool analytics with which it evaluated frozen tv dinners. On the other hand, its reviews of the latter were extensive, utterly independent, and occasionally useful. 

I also admit to comparing my automotive assessments with theirs and at times finding them not all that contrasting. Plus, I’ve always found Automotive News having the most authoritative views of its industry. Thus, I’m happy to glean tidbits from Molly Boigon’s article, together with my usual Internet sleuthing.

Background. SimanaitisSays has long dwelt in details of hybrid technology: Shortly after the website’s inauguration, it discussed “Plug-In Hybrids Are Neat, But Not Created Equal,” August 19, 2012. It concluded, “Me? I’d look hard at a non-plug-in Prius, and spend the extra cash on the slightly larger Prius V’s added utility.” Full disclosure: At the time, I had recently bought a conventional Honda Crosstour—and, 13 years later, still have it. 

“Don’t Forget Hybrids,” SimanaitisSays, May 12, 2022, quoted SAE International’s Lindsay Brooke observing, “Hybrids ultimately may only be a ‘bridge’ to an all-EV future, but OEMs who have fully committed to EVs in the short term may end up regretting their decisions.” And more recently, there’s “Hybrid Cars Revisited,” March 19, 2024: There, I shared the Reinventing the Automobile: Personal Urban Mobility for the 21st Century suggestion that HEVs and PHEVs meet the Goldilocks optimum for many of us. And, by the way, fulfilling Lindsay Brooke’s prediction, there’s “Losing a $50 Billion Bet—Or Just More Trump Chaos?” SimanaitisSays.com, February 27, 2026, sharing information from Automotive News’ Lindsay VanHulle.

Consumer Reports’ Top Ten. Automotive News’ Molly Boigon observes, “Nine of the 10 top picks have hybrid options. The remaining vehicle is fully battery-electric. For five of them, Consumer Reports either recommends a vehicle that is sold only as a hybrid or gives the nod to a hybrid variant instead of a model’s gasoline version.” 

She quotes Alex Knizek, director of auto test development at Consumer Reports: “People wouldn’t even realize that they’re driving a hybrid because it’s so well integrated, and if you do notice, you’re noticing it because it’s a good thing—it’s quieter, it’s quicker and you’re getting great fuel economy.”

Consumer Reports’ Top Ten. Image from Automotive News.

Here, quoting Molly Boigon, are some of the winning points of each of the ten best.

Small Car: Honda Civic. “… another 50 hp that powers a two-second bump in its speed from 0 to 60 mph compared with the gasoline version….” 

Toyota Camry. Image from Toyota.

Midsize Car: Toyota Camry. “… now exclusively sold as a hybrid and reaches 48 mpg in the Consumer Reports test. Reviewers liked its user-friendly controls, including physical knobs and switches.”

Subcompact SUV: Subaru Crosstrek. “… comfortable even during off-pavement excursions… The gasoline-only version gets 29 mpg, while the hybrid version achieves an EPA-estimated 36 mpg combined.”

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. Image from Subaru.  

Compact SUV: Subaru Forester. “… the hybrid’s unique combination of a 2.5-liter engine and electric motor with mechanical, full-time awd. Consumer Reports said other small hybrid SUVs only offer limited awd.” 

Midsized SUV: Toyota Grand Highlander. “… a ‘near-perfect people-mover.’ Reviewers liked the hybrid powertrain’s performance with a 35-mpg overall fuel economy.”

Luxury Compact SUV: Lexus NX. “The gasoline-only NX has ‘real pep’ and the hybrid version ‘is even more refined…’ The NX plug-in hybrid can drive on electric power only for 37 miles and has 304 combined hp… ‘among the quickest in its class.’ ”

Ford Maverick Hybrid. Image from Consumer Reports. 

Small Pickup: Ford Maverick. “The hybrid got 37 mpg compared with the gasoline version’s 23 mpg in Consumer Reports tests… the publication recommended the hybrid because of its better reliability score.”

BMW X5 Hybrid. Image by Michael Samari/Car and Driver. 

Luxury Midsized SUV: BMW X5. “ ‘one of the best luxury SUVs Consumer Reports has ever tested… ‘luxurious,’ ‘well-rounded’ ‘feels special’ ‘an entertaining driving experience.’ ”

Gee, sounds like R&T. (My comment, not Molly’s.)

Electric Vehicle: Tesla Model Y. ” ‘got accolades for its ‘practical yet sleek’ design, range, performance and access to the automaker’s Supercharger network. …reliability is improving…’ ” 

Best Full-Size Pickup: Ford F-150. “The V-6 engine is ‘a gem,’ and the hybrid version ‘prioritizes brawn over efficiency.’ ” 

Thanks, Molly Boigon and Automotive News, for your informative summary of the Consumer Reports Ten Best. ds  

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2026