Consumer Reports, a reputable product testing organisation, revealed its 2024 top vehicle rankings on Tuesday, with hybrid cars ranked first.
Six of the top 10 choices made by the nonprofit consumer organisation were “electrified” cars, including plug-in hybrid models. The all-electric Tesla Model Y crossover and three gas-powered cars without hybrid versions completed the list of non-hybrid autos.
Seven fully electric or electrified vehicles have made it into Consumer Reports’ top selections for the second year in a row. This is due to automakers producing a large number of these vehicles to suit consumer demand and comply with increasing federal fuel economy rules.
Of all the automakers, Toyota Motor had the most top picks—four—followed by Subaru with two. One vehicle each from Tesla, Ford Motor, Mazda, and BMW was included in the list.
All four of Toyota’s cars in the top ten rankings were plug-in or hybrid models.
“The markets are changing. There’s a lot more powertrain choices today than there have really ever been,” Fisher told CNBC. “When we’re looking at the top vehicles, the top picks, a lot of them turn out to be electrified choices, because they just tend to do the things that people really want from a car.”
Plug-in hybrids and hybrids both use EV technologies in addition to a conventional engine. Conventional hybrids, like the Toyota Prius, have electrified components, including a small battery, to help the engine achieve greater fuel economy. In order to enable all-electric driving for a certain amount of miles until an engine is required to power the vehicle or electric motors, plug-in hybrids often feature larger batteries.
According to Fisher, plug-in hybrid cars, which fall in between an electric vehicle and a standard hybrid, are a “dark horse” in the American auto industry that many people are only now starting to learn about.
Three plug-in hybrid cars are ranked in this year’s Consumer Reports rankings, which is a record for the annual list.
“What’s really surprising and what we’ve learned this year is that plug-in hybrids are important,” Fisher stated.“They’re not well understood, but depending on what your situation is, it can be kind of the best of both worlds of electric vehicle and gas.”
Consumer Reports tests new cars and chooses the best models across a range of pricing points and categories. Every year, the company tests roughly fifty new cars.
This is the complete list:
- Mazda 3 is a small automobile.
- Toyota Camry Hybrid is a midsize car. Toyota Prius/Prius Prime plug-in hybrid is a plug-in hybrid vehicle.
- Subaru Crosstrek is a subcompact SUV.
- Small SUV: Subaru Forester
- Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a midsize SUV.
- luxury SUV: BMW X5/X5 Plug-in
- Ford Maverick/Maverick Hybrid small truck; Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid SUV; Tesla Model Y electric vehicle
Last year, the Tesla Model Y ruled the American market and beyond. It looks to knock Tesla’s base Model 3 sedan out of the top 10 after it was included on the list the previous year.
A Cox Automotive subsidiary, Kelley Blue Book, reports that 1.1 million battery-electric cars were sold in the United States in 2017. 394,497 of the Tesla Model Y were among the nearly 655,000 Tesla EVs that were sold, in part due to domestic tax incentives and discounts.
Even while sales of battery-electric vehicles are continually rising, hybrid electric vehicles are still a popular choice among American consumers, in part because charging infrastructure is not as developed or dependable as it is in countries like Norway where the usage of completely electric vehicles is more widespread.
Based on internal testing, owner polls of reliability, safety, and general happiness, Consumer Reports compiles annual auto brand report cards that include the top picks.
The Tesla Model Y dominated the American market and other markets last year. It appears to remove Tesla’s entry-level Model 3 vehicle from the top 10, having been on the list the year before.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive subsidiary, 1.1 million battery-electric vehicles were sold in the US in 2017. Among the almost 655,000 Tesla EVs sold were 394,497 Model Y vehicles, partly as a result of domestic tax breaks and rebates.
