Securing a place on the prestigious Edmunds Top Rated Awards list for 2026 requires far more than just impressive track performance. Each year, these accolades honour the finest new cars, trucks, and SUVs available, with winners determined through Edmunds' exhaustive, independent testing and evaluation protocols.
Rigorous Selection Process
To earn an award, vehicles must lead their class based on assessments conducted at the Edmunds test track and over extensive real-world driving miles. This ensures that every winner delivers exceptional reliability, comfort, and efficiency in everyday use.
Edmunds categorises the awards into six primary segments: best car, best SUV, and best truck, each with an electric counterpart. The 2026 lineup features both returning champions and exciting newcomers, all offering compelling options for prospective buyers. All listed prices include destination charges.
Edmunds Top Rated Car: Honda Civic Hybrid
The Honda Civic retains its title as the Edmunds Top Rated Car for 2026, building on last year's success. Equipped with an available hybrid powertrain, the Civic achieves up to an EPA-estimated 49 mpg in combined city and highway driving, outstanding for a compact vehicle.
Beyond fuel efficiency, the Civic Hybrid offers brisk acceleration, spacious seating, and a premium interior design that surpasses many rivals. It is available as a sedan or hatchback, the latter providing additional cargo flexibility. Starting price for the hybrid sedan: $30,590.
Edmunds Top Rated Electric Car: Tesla Model 3
Major updates introduced last year continue to make the Tesla Model 3 a standout choice, earning it the Edmunds Top Rated Electric Car award. This affordable small electric sedan delivers impressive range and advanced technology features.
In Edmunds' independent EV Range Test, the Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive covered 338 miles on a single charge, facilitating worry-free commuting or longer journeys. Access to Tesla's extensive Supercharger network enhances convenience, while the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system provides advanced autonomous driving capabilities. Starting price: $38,630.
Edmunds Top Rated SUV: Hyundai Palisade Hybrid
The fully redesigned Hyundai Palisade Hybrid secures the Edmunds Top Rated SUV award for 2026. This midsize three-row SUV accommodates up to eight passengers and exudes a luxury aesthetic, available with gas or hybrid engines.
Its roomy, comfortable interior includes premium features like power-operated second-row seats, rare even among luxury brands. Edmunds favours the Palisade Hybrid for its superior power and acceleration compared to the gasoline version, alongside an EPA-estimated 34 mpg combined, excellent for a large family SUV. Starting price: $45,760.
Edmunds Top Rated Electric SUV: Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 wins the Edmunds Top Rated Electric SUV award, appealing broadly with its affordable five-seat design. It offers a range of trims from budget-friendly to high-performance N and off-road XRT models.
The interior is both high-tech and spacious, ensuring passenger comfort. Notably, the Ioniq 5 supports rapid public fast charging, minimising downtime and maximising driving enjoyment. Starting price: $36,600.
Edmunds Top Rated Truck: Ford Maverick
Ford claims another Edmunds Top Rated Truck award, this time with the compact Ford Maverick. Its smaller size makes it more manoeuvrable in urban settings than larger trucks, with options for a fuel-efficient hybrid or a turbocharged engine.
Despite its compact dimensions, the Maverick handles typical truck duties well, featuring a functional cargo bed and a maximum towing capacity of 4,000 pounds. Available all-wheel drive and specialised versions like the off-road Tremor and sporty Lobo add versatility. Starting price: $28,990.
Edmunds Top Rated Electric Truck: Rivian R1T
Recent enhancements keep the Rivian R1T at the forefront, earning it the Edmunds Top Rated Electric Truck award. Its unique styling, stable handling, and rapid acceleration blur the lines between pickup and performance car.
In Edmunds' EV Range Test, a dual-motor R1T with a Max battery achieved 390 miles per charge, leading its class. It also excels in traditional truck attributes, including an off-road-ready all-wheel-drive system, an 11,000-pound towing capacity, and innovative cargo storage between the cab and bed. Starting price: $74,885.
This article was supplied to The Associated Press by Edmunds, with contributions from Keith Buglewicz, an Edmunds staff writer.
