Hybrid Vehicles Lead Consumer Reports' Top 10 New Vehicle Picks
Hybrid vehicles dominated the 2024 top vehicle rankings released by Consumer Reports, with Toyota Motor leading in top picks.
Consumer Reports' Top 10 Vehicle Rankings
Consumer Reports' influential product testing organization released its top 10 vehicle rankings for 2024, with hybrid vehicles taking the lead. The rankings included both hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, which accounted for six out of the top 10 picks. The remaining four spots were filled by the all-electric Tesla Model Y and three gas-powered vehicles with no hybrid variants.
Toyota Motor emerged as the automaker with the most top picks, with four of its vehicles making the list. Subaru followed with two top picks, while Tesla, Ford Motor, Mazda, and BMW each had one vehicle on the list.
The Rise of Electrified Vehicles
Consumer Reports' top picks for 2024 reflect the changing market landscape, with a greater emphasis on electrified vehicles. According to Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports, the top picks tend to be electrified choices because they satisfy the desires of car buyers. However, Fisher believes that plug-in hybrids, which bridge the gap between traditional hybrids and all-electric vehicles, are still not well understood by consumers.
This year's rankings included three plug-in hybrid vehicles, marking the highest number ever for the annual list. Fisher highlighted the benefits of plug-in hybrids, stating that they offer the advantages of both electric and gas-powered vehicles, depending on the driver's needs.
Consumer Reports' Brand Rankings
Consumer Reports' top picks are factored into the organization's annual auto brand report cards. The overall brand rankings for 2024 were led by BMW, followed by Subaru, Porsche, Honda, and Lexus. On the other end of the spectrum, Rivian, GMC, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Jeep ranked at the bottom of the list.
The brand rankings take into account the organization's internal testing, as well as reliability, safety, and overall customer satisfaction based on owner surveys.
