If you're a car shopper having trouble deciding between new models, this list could come in handy. It's Autotrader's Best New Cars of 2026. The list is designed to help car shoppers narrow down their choices from hundreds of all-new, redesigned and updated vehicles for 2026. Only 10 vehicles make the cut out of hundreds of models driven and evaluated by Autotrader experts.
"The experts on our Autotrader editorial team drive all of the new and redesigned vehicles every year, pooling our collective evaluations, impressions and available data to determine the Best New Cars," said Jason Fogelson, managing editor for Autotrader. "The 2026 list features a mix of redesigned favorites along with new nameplates that car buyers should definitely check out during their shopping journey."
Autotrader's Best New Cars of 2026
(Listed in alphabetical order)
2026 Cadillac VISTIQ
2026 Ford Maverick Lobo
2026 Honda Passport
2026 Hyundai Palisade
2026 Lucid Gravity
2026 Mazda CX-5
2026 Nissan LEAF
2026 Subaru Outback
2026 Tesla Model Y
2026 Toyota RAV4
To determine the Best New Cars each year, Autotrader says its editors focus on vehicles that are groundbreaking or offer significant value. Because many vehicles are new or redesigned for 2026, the team only considered models available for purchase within the next nine months. To qualify, the base model of a vehicle must start below $100,000, although most cars on the list are thousands of dollars below that.
Photo: 2026 Hyundai Palisade. Credit: Hyundai.