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Shopping for a car? Your choices have never been more diverse. New vehicle categories are hitting the market even as the old ones remain — albeit with a declining number of models for some fading formats (think minivans, convertibles and big sedans).
Leading the additions are more shapes and sizes than ever of sport-utility vehicles, by far the biggest-selling car type in the U.S. And electric power — whether from batteries or a hybrid of gas and electrical energy — is zapping more areas of the market, creating such once-unthinkable options as battery-powered pickup trucks.
Award-winning automotive writer Jaclyn Trop had no trouble, then, in coming up with more than 100 recommended vehicles in the 25 categories listed below. Even so, not every car type is represented. We skipped convertibles, judging them to be a bit too specialized. For luxury vehicles and sports cars, we skipped Bentleys, Lamborghinis and their ilk to focus on affordable choices — and found satisfying picks at surprisingly low prices.
Appropriate to Money’s mission, value was a key consideration for choosing the best cars. So, of course, were their respective features and specifications, especially those related to safety. Finally, Jaclyn — who spends her life at the wheels of new vehicles — applied her experience in driving all of the cars. The observations from those test drives add depth and insight to make the recommendations all the more useful.
We list our top value in each category first, followed by the other picks in alphabetical order. Click on the category name for reviews of the vehicles.
Representing around half of all vehicles sold, the SUV has become America’s leading family car. The vehicles now come in a panoply of sizes and power sources. Some models still retain the attributes that put the S (for “sport”) into SUV, including all-wheel drive, high ground clearance and powerful V8 engines.
Kia Niro Hybrid Best Value Ford Escape Hybrid Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Toyota RAV4 Prime
The Best Sedans and Hatchbacks
- Money; Getty Images
Money; Getty Images
Edged out by the various flavors of SUV, sedans and hatchbacks occupy a lot less of the road than they once did. An ample selection remains, though, including choices for those who seek a luxurious ride or a reduced environmental impact.
Chevrolet Bolt Best Value BMW i4 Nissan Leaf Polestar 2 Tesla Model 3
The Best Pickup Trucks
- Money; Getty Images
Money; Getty Images
Though this vehicle class has traditionally been prized for utility and ruggedness, the pickup truck now offers entries that are plusher and more planet-friendly.
Ford F-150 Lightning Best Value Rivian R1T GMC Hummer EV
The Best Sports Cars
- Money; Getty Images
Money; Getty Images
The fanciest nameplates in this class come with price tags that rival those for homes in many places. We passed over the fancy brands in search of vehicles that delivered speed and style for less – and found five affordable sports cars:
Toyota GR86 Best Value Chevrolet Camaro Dodge Challenger Nissan Z Subaru BRZ
The Best Minivans
- Money; Getty Images
Money; Getty Images
The once-ubiquitous minivan arguably tops the list of America’s most endangered vehicles. But these people-and-cargo carriers can cost less than an SUV with similar capacity. Here are our picks for the best minivans:
Kia Carnival Best Value Chrysler Pacifica Honda Odyssey Toyota Sienna
How We Chose the Best Autos
We picked the recommended cars through a step-by-step process that involved writer Jaclyn Trop combining data analysis and personal insights. Key distinctions were assigned to the finalists — which numbered between three to five, depending on the category — with accolades typically awarded for best value, best for features, best handling, best for safety and best for technological sophistication. Here's more on our methodology.
