From Compact Cars to Mighty Trucks: The Best Vehicles in Every Class

From Compact Cars to Mighty Trucks: The Best Vehicles in Every Class

What do the editors think? When it comes to the best new cars, trucks, SUVs, and minivans, you might want to know what the editors of Car and Driver think.

Finding the right vehicle to drive can be a daunting task. There are more than 500 new models on the market, which can make it extremely difficult to find the right car to drive. Instead of going it alone, you can trust some experts who give you their opinions and share their expertise. With that in mind, here are some of the best new cars on the road today.

What are the best compact cars?

The list of the top compact cars isn’t surprising. You’ll find some names you already know on this list, including:

  • Honda Civic
  • Mazda 3
  • Toyota Prius
  • Toyota Prius Prime

In the subcompact car class, the Nissan Versa tops the list, making it easy to find some good options for your drive.
If we move to the sports cars that fall into the compact car class, we see:

  • Honda Civic Si
  • Honda Civic Type R
  • Hyundai Elantra N
  • Toyota GR Corolla
  • Volkswagen Golf GTI
  • Volkswagen Golf R
  • Volkswagen Jetta GLI

How about those luxury compact cars?

When you’re looking for a small car with upscale features and qualities, the best compact luxury cars could be where you find what you want. The top choices in this class are:

  • Acura Integra Type S
  • Audi A3
  • Audi S3
  • BMW 2 Series

Are there any midsize sedans that you should drive?

The midsize sedan market is one of the longest-lasting car classes in the market. One reason this class continues to be such a winner is the names you know, including:

  • Honda Accord
  • Hyundai Sonata
  • Kia K5

If you look at the luxury side of things in the midsize car class, you’ll find:

  • Audi A5 Sportback
  • BMW 3 Series
  • BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
  • Genesis G70

Going slightly upscale, some names appear as some of the best midsize luxury cars, including:

  • Audi A6
  • Audi A7
  • Genesis G80

What about the compact SUVs?

More people than ever are driving SUVs of every shape and size. The starting point is the compact SUV class, which has these models listed as the best models in the class:

  • Buick Envista
  • Chevrolet Trax
  • Hyundai Kona
  • Kia Niro
  • Mazda CX-30
  • Subaru Crosstrek
  • Volkswagen Taos
  • Ford Bronco Sport
  • Honda CR-V
  • Mazda CX-5
  • Mazda CX-50
  • Volkswagen Tiguan

Maybe you want a luxury SUV

If you’re looking for a compact luxury SUV to be the best choice for your driving experience, these models should be on your list.

  • BMW X1
  • Volvo XC40
  • BMW X3
  • Genesis GV70
  • Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
  • Porsche Macan
  • Volvo XC60
  • Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Could the midsize SUV class be right for you?

When you need more room and capability in the SUV you drive, the best SUVs, according to the editors at Car and Driver, are:

  • Ford Bronco
  • Honda Passport
  • Honda Pilot
  • Hyundai Palisade
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee
  • Kia Telluride
  • Mazda CX-90
  • Toyota Grand Highlander

Check out the best midsize luxury SUVs

If you’re looking for a great SUV from a luxury name with lots of room and capability, the best luxury midsize SUVs could be right for you. Some of these are:

  • Genesis GV80
  • BMW X5
  • Porsche Cayenne
  • Volvo XC90

What large SUVs make the cut?

The full-size SUVs that hit the top marks are:

  • Chevrolet Suburban
  • Chevrolet Tahoe
  • GMC Yukon

And turning to the luxury side of the market, you’ll find:

  • BMW X7
  • Cadillac Escalade
  • Land Rover Range Rover

Which trucks are at the top of the list?

Trucks come in several sizes, giving us several of the best trucks to drive and enjoy. Let’s take a look at which models hit the top spots with Car and Driver:

  • Ford Maverick
  • Hyundai Santa Cruz
  • Chevrolet Colorado
  • GMC Canyon
  • Honda Ridgeline
  • Toyota Tacoma
  • Ford F-150
  • Ram 1500
  • Ford Super Duty
  • Ram 2500/3500 HD

The entire minivan market makes the cut

Only a few minivans are still offered, and the best models listed are:

  • Ford Transit
  • Chrysler Pacifica
  • Honda Odyssey
  • Kia Carnival
  • Toyota Sienna

Once you figure out which vehicle class you’ll enjoy, you can easily find a great model to drive. In addition to these incredible models, the Car and Driver team also provides a list of electric vehicles from various classes that could also be right for you. Which is the best vehicle for you to drive?

This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.

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