The best cars of the year: The 10 best options of 2022

If you’re looking for the perfect car for you and your family, there’s an overwhelming array of options. To help you zero in on the best picks, Consumer Reports presents the annual Top 10 Picks: the best cars, SUVs and trucks our experts recommend without hesitation.

To be in this group, a vehicle must have an overall score among the highest in its category, taking into account road tests, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction and safety. The best options should also come from the factory on all trims with Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) with Pedestrian Detection, both of which are safety features we consider critical because they’ve been proven to save lives.

See the vehicles that made Consumer Reports’ annual Best Choices list in the last 10 years: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

New this year: We require the best options to have AEB for highway speeds. We now also add 2 points to a vehicle’s overall score if it has an active driver assistance system that includes a proper driver monitoring system. The Ford Mustang Mach-E is the only one of our top picks this year to receive the extra points because its active driver assistance system has effective driver monitoring that sends appropriate warnings when the driver takes their eyes off the road for too long. weather.

Several high-scoring vehicles, including the BMW X5 and Hyundai Tucson, were not selected this year because they do not have AEB for highway speed as standard equipment on all trim levels. This year’s top picks don’t include full-size trucks because they lack key safety features in the base models or have below-average reliability.

Check out the complete guide to featured cars of 2022.

Small car: Nissan Sentra

The sleek-looking Sentra is a low-cost, high-value sedan that feels more premium than its rivals, particularly when compared to higher trim models. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes the car enjoyable to drive, aided by a fairly refined continuously variable transmission. Acceleration is among the best in its class, and the power kicks in smoothly. In addition, the Sentra has a comfortable and agile ride. The cabin is well-appointed for the price, with a more luxurious appearance than most competitors. The infotainment and climate controls are a model of simplicity, and all versions come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities.

SUV subcompacto: Nissan Rogue Sport

Good things truly can come in small packages, as the Rogue Sport proves. It feels more mature and solid than most of the subcompact SUVs it competes with, thanks to a calm ride and a quiet cabin for its class. Front access is a breeze and the driver enjoys a raised seat height that improves visibility and offers plenty of headroom. The powertrain doesn’t live up to the “Sport” moniker, but it gets the job done. Admirable predicted reliability adds to the appeal. Plus, despite the low purchase price, the Rogue Sport has a list of safety equipment that puts more expensive models to shame. Beyond FCW and AEB, the Rogue Sport includes a full suite of safety features, including rear automatic braking,

Small SUV: Subaru Forester

Making its ninth consecutive Top Pick appearance, the Forester received a minor facelift for the 2022 model year, updating its appearance and adding a more adventurous Wilderness trim. The secret to the Forester’s success has been its efficient and spacious design, strong fuel economy, focus on safety, great road test performance and solid reliability record. It’s hard to overstate the importance of design. Forester’s upright shape provides more access, cabin space and cargo space than its competitors. The high roof and large windows make outward visibility fishbowl-like, providing a wide view of the road and surroundings. Plus, responsive handling and a smooth ride further enhance the experience.

Midsize sedan: Honda Accord

The Accord is the ultimate family sedan, with generous interior space, a pleasurable drive, ample power and impressive efficiency. It has 3 powertrains, covering economical transportation, a prudent alternative and even a luxury car, equipped with leather and all the finishes. Most impressive is the hybrid feature that offers 47 mpg overall without sacrificing acceleration. The Accord balances ride comfort and handling acuity, making it as enjoyable to drive as it is to recline in the passenger seat. The cabin is spacious and well-finished with nice touches like soft surfaces and faux-wood finishes that enhance the ambience. Plus, it includes all the key safety features, along with adaptive cruise control.

Hybrid: Toyota Prius and Prius Prime

One of the perennial best options, the streamlined Prius continues to set the standard for fuel-efficient transportation. Not only does it achieve an incredible 52 mpg overall in our tests, it also stands out for its consistent reliability and owner satisfaction. If you want a more electric drive, the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid has a larger battery that provides an electric range of 25 miles before switching to normal hybrid operation. The regular and plug-in versions offer an epic range of 590 miles between fill-ups. Both versions are enjoyable to drive, with a comfortable, stable ride and confident handling. The cockpits have a high-tech feel, particularly when equipped with the large 11.6-inch central screen.

SUV de 2 filas: Toyota RAV4 Prime

The RAV4 Prime transforms the laudable RAV4, giving it more power, greater efficiency, a comfortable ride and a little more indulgence in the cabin. This plug-in hybrid boasts 302 hp, far more than any other conventional small SUV, and can accelerate to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Plus, it has an impressive 42-mile electric range, which means local errands and trips to work can be done without turning on the gas engine. On gas alone, the RAV4 Prime still gets 34 mpg overall, 3 mpg less than a regular RAV4 Hybrid. Other enhancements throughout the vehicle, including a more agile ride and soft-touch interior materials, give the RAV4 Prime a more premium feel than a regular RAV4. Yes, the RAV4 Prime is priced higher than other RAV4s,

3-Row Midsize SUV: Kia Telluride

The Telluride has set the standard for the popular 3-row midsize SUV market since it burst onto the scene for the 2020 model year. In fact, it was a top choice in each of its 3 years on the market. The Kia does everything right: Its road test score of 97 is near perfect, and it received top marks for expected reliability and owner satisfaction. It is a spacious SUV with a comfortable ride; it is easily accessible and pleasant to drive. It uses a V6 engine that delivers strong, linear power through a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. The square shape guarantees plenty of space for the driver, passengers and cargo. Controls are simple and storage is plentiful. In an era plagued with gadgets,

Compact Truck: Honda Ridgeline

The Ridgeline is the Swiss Army Knife of trucks. It’s designed more like a modern crossover SUV than a traditional old-school truck with a separate body and frame. As a result, the Ridgeline offers unique refinement in a truck body style, with a ride, handling and interior comfort more akin to the Honda Pilot than a typical work truck. It uses a smooth 280-hp V6 engine and a 9-speed automatic transmission, enhancing the refined driving experience. Plus, it has some nifty tricks, like a rear door that can be folded down or swiveled to the side, allowing easy access to a large, lockable storage box under the frame. This American-made truck has redefined what a truck can be. It’s ideal for the commuter, family driver and weekend warrior, as well as the active lifestyle driver who embraces all of those options.

Electric vehicle: Ford Mustang Mach-E

The Mustang Mach-E borrows styling cues from the revered Mustang sports car and applies them to a versatile electric crossover with 4 doors, a convenient hatchback, raised ride height and 4-wheel drive. The Mach-E stands out in this emerging category for being enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration, nimble handling and smooth handling. The stable Mach-E goes from a tame pony at 266 hp to a wild stallion at 480 hp. Our extended-range Mach-E Premium galloped from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds and has a range of 270 miles. Other configurations are even faster or their range can be extended to more than 300 miles.

Luxury Midsize SUV: Lexus RX

The RX pioneered luxury midsize SUVs in the late 1990s and remains the gold standard for this popular segment. The winning formula is its combination of comfort, performance, safety and reliability. These virtues are wrapped in a chiseled bodywork that continues to look modern, despite being on the market for 6 years with few design changes. Continued improvements, including those made to the suspension and infotainment system, keep the RX lineup fresh. Behind the striking trapezoidal grille is a 3.5-liter V6 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission on the RX 350. This powertrain delivers the quiet, effortless performance expected from a premium SUV. The hybrid RX 450h feels quicker, with plenty of torque coming from its electric motors; what’s more, it returned 7 mpg more overall in our tests, allowing it to be as fuel efficient as a small SUV. It’s easy to see why the RX is the most popular Lexus model.