Edmunds has released its 2026 Top Rated Awards, saying the selections cover what it calls the best new cars, trucks and SUVs on sale. The site describes the awards as based on a scoring approach that places vehicles that rank at the top of their class after Edmunds’ independent testing at its test track and evaluation over many miles of real-world use.
For the 2026 Top Rated car category, Edmunds named the Honda Civic Hybrid, saying the model maintains its spot from the prior year. The site highlighted the Civic Hybrid’s available hybrid powertrain and said it can achieve up to an EPA-estimated 49 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Edmunds also said the Civic Hybrid offers quick acceleration, roomy seating and an upscale interior, and that it is available as either a sedan or a hatchback with extra cargo space.
Edmunds picked the Tesla Model 3 as its Top Rated electric car, citing updates made to the model last year as continuing to support what it calls a compelling choice. In its description, Edmunds focused on a starting price and on range testing, saying that in the Edmunds EV Range Test the Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive went 338 miles on a single charge. The site also pointed to charging convenience via Tesla’s Supercharger network and said Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) provides city street steering.
For SUVs, Edmunds named the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid as its Top Rated SUV for 2026, saying the midsize three-row SUV was fully redesigned and that it has seating for up to eight passengers. Edmunds said the Palisade comes with either gas or hybrid powertrains and that it looks like a luxury SUV, while emphasizing interior comfort and features such as power-operated second-row seats. The site said Edmunds prefers the Palisade Hybrid, describing it as more powerful and quicker than the standard gasoline version and citing EPA-estimated 34 mpg combined fuel economy for the hybrid.
Edmunds also named the Hyundai Ioniq 5 as its Top Rated electric SUV, describing it as an affordable five-seat EV that it says appeals to a broad range of shoppers. The awards write-up said the Ioniq 5’s lineup spans “budget-friendly entry-level trims” to the high-performance N and off-road XRT. Edmunds said the Ioniq 5’s interior provides a high-tech feel and room for passengers, and it highlighted fast public charging as a way to spend less time at charging stations.
Edmunds’ Top Rated truck pick for 2026 is the Ford Maverick, the site said is again taking the award—this time as the compact truck winner. Edmunds wrote that the Maverick is easier to maneuver around town than a full-size or midsize truck and that shoppers can choose between a hybrid powertrain or a turbocharged engine. It also said the Maverick offers a small but useful cargo bed and a maximum towing capacity of 4,000 pounds, with all-wheel drive available and specialty versions including Tremor and Lobo.
For electric trucks, Edmunds named the Rivian R1T as its Top Rated electric truck, saying changes made last year keep the model at the top of its list. Edmunds described the truck’s styling, its handling and rapid acceleration, and said that in the independent Edmunds EV Range Test a dual-motor R1T with a Max battery went 390 miles on a charge. The write-up also pointed to what it called off-road-ready capabilities, including an all-wheel-drive system, and cited a maximum towing capacity of 11,000 pounds along with storage features between the cab and bed.
Edmunds said the starting prices it lists include destination charges. In this reporting, Keith Buglewicz is identified as a contributor at Edmunds, and Edmunds said the story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website.