Edmunds’ Valentine’s Day guide, republished by The Associated Press, frames choosing a vehicle as a relationship “match,” with each model described through a driver-focused personality lens and paired with a starting price that includes destination fees. In the guide, “Valentine’s Day isn’t just about roses and candlelight,” but about “chemistry,” including the kind people say they can feel quickly—sometimes, the guide suggests, without thinking too hard.
At the top of the list, Edmunds groups the 2026 Subaru BRZ and the 2026 Toyota GR86 under “Emotional availability.” The guide says the cars are “corporate siblings” made through a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota, and describes them as rear-wheel-drive coupes designed for “genuine driving excitement.” Edmunds also notes that the BRZ and GR86 are “very similar” while giving shoppers reasons to consider them as a “fun-per-dollar” option, even while acknowledging they may be “light on cargo capacity and backseat space.” Edmunds lists the 2026 Subaru BRZ starting price at $37,055 and the 2026 Toyota GR86 starting price at $32,395.
For “Confidence but not arrogance,” Edmunds points to the Ford Maverick, portraying it as an easy-to-drive pickup built around a hybrid powertrain. The guide says today’s pickups can be “more rugged and capable than ever before,” but it argues that not everyone needs a 15-ton towing capacity or a cabin as large as it describes in the guide’s comparison to New York City apartments. Instead, Edmunds describes the Maverick as compact with a low starting price and provides a specific maximum towing figure of 4,000 pounds, while listing the 2026 Maverick starting price at $29,990.
Edmunds then turns to a performance pick it labels “Rebelliousness,” with the Ford Mustang Dark Horse. The guide describes the Dark Horse as having a 500-horsepower V8, a track-tuned suspension, and a “boisterous exhaust note,” and says the V8 can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission. While it cautions that the car’s “unruly nature” could “land you in hot water” and that buyers may “spend more time at the gas pump than you’d prefer,” Edmunds still frames it as “worth the trouble,” listing the 2026 Mustang Dark Horse starting price at $66,075.
For shoppers looking for “Sense of adventure,” the guide recommends the Jeep Wrangler, saying its “go-anywhere attitude” is paired with a free-spirited feel. Edmunds describes the Wrangler as available across multiple trims, from the Sport to the Sahara and the Rubicon 392, and links the vehicle’s appeal to its off-road capability and flexible design features. The guide adds that with effort, owners can remove the Jeep’s top and even its doors. It lists the 2026 Wrangler starting price at $36,890.
Finally, Edmunds pairs “Reliability” with the Honda CR-V, contrasting it with the Wrangler’s off-road focus and the Mustang Dark Horse’s “bad-boy spontaneity.” The guide emphasizes long-term dependability and cites a 4.5 out of 5 star RepairPal reliability rating as part of its case for the CR-V, while also describing features it says buyers may like over time, including a comfortable ride, a roomy interior, and an available hybrid powertrain for “great mpg.” Edmunds lists the 2026 CR-V starting price at $32,370.
The guide ends with a general note, attributed in the republished text to Edmunds, suggesting that the “perfect match” is the one whose personality keeps drivers smiling on every mile of the journey. Bradley Iger is listed as a contributor at Edmunds in the Associated Press’s republishing credit.