Toyota hybrid cars for sale at a dealership in Chicago, February 6, 2024.
Scott Olson | Getty Images
Hybrid cars topped the 2024 top vehicle rankings released Tuesday by influential product testing organization Consumer Reports.
These “electric” vehicles, including hybrid models, account for six of the top 10 picks by the nonprofit consumer organization. Rounding out the list were the non-hybrid models that were all-electric Tesla The Model Y crossover and three gas-powered vehicles, no hybrids.
This marks the second year in a row that seven electric or all-electric vehicles have been included in Consumer Reports' top picks, as automakers launch several vehicle models to meet consumer demand as well as tightening federal fuel economy regulations.
toyota motor It had the most choices of any automaker, in fourth place, followed by Subaru in two places. tesla, ford motor, Mazda and BMW each had one car on the list.
Toyota Four vehicles in the top 10 were all hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
“Markets are changing,” Jake Fisher, senior director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports, told CNBC. “There are a lot more engine options today than there have ever been.” “When we look at the best cars, the best choices, a lot of them turn out to be electric options, because they tend to only do the things that people really want from a car.”
Both hybrid cars and hybrid cars with a conventional engine combine with electric car technologies. A conventional hybrid car like the Toyota Prius has electrified parts, including a small battery, to provide better fuel economy to help the engine. Plug-in hybrids typically have a larger battery to provide all-electric driving for a certain number of miles until a motor or electric motors are needed to power the vehicle.
Plug-in hybrids, which bridge the gap between regular hybrids and electric cars, represent a “dark horse” of the American auto industry that many consumers are only just beginning to understand, Fisher said.
This year's Consumer Reports rankings include three hybrid vehicles, the most ever in the annual list.
“In terms of what was surprising and what we learned this year, it was really about plug-in hybrids,” Fisher said. “It's not well understood, but depending on your situation, it could be the best of both electric and gas vehicle worlds.”
Consumer Reports selects the best models at a variety of price points and ratings based on its testing of new vehicles. The organization tests about 50 new vehicles each year.
Here is the full list:
Small car: Mazda 3 Mid-size car: Toyota Camry Hybrid Hybrid/plug-in hybrid: Toyota Prius/Prius Prime Hybrid Compact SUV: Subaru Crosstrek Compact SUV: Subaru Forester Mid-size SUV: Toyota Highlander Hybrid Luxury SUV: BMW X5 /
The Tesla Model Y dominated the US and abroad last year. It appears to replace the Tesla Model 3 sedan in the top ten after this model appeared on the list last year.
According to data from Kelley Blue Book, a subsidiary of Cox Automotive, 1.1 million battery-electric vehicles were sold in the United States last year. Nearly 655,000 of those vehicles were Tesla EVs, including 394,497 Tesla Model Ys, and sales were driven in part by rebates and tax credits locally.
While sales of battery electric vehicles are still growing, hybrid electric vehicles remain a favorite among many U.S. car buyers, in part because charging infrastructure is not yet as widespread or reliable as it is in states that are more widely adopting cars. Fully electric, like Norway.
Top Picks are considered in Consumer Reports' annual auto brand report cards, based on their internal testing as well as reliability, safety and overall customer satisfaction according to owner surveys.
BMW topped the overall brand list, followed by Subaru, then Porsche. Honda Lexus rounds out the top five brands. At the bottom of the world rankings were rivian, GMC, Jaguar, Land Rover and Jeep.
