Cars.com 2026 Best Of Award Winners

We recently shared the winners of MotorWeek's 2026 Drivers' Choice Awards. Now we bring you the winners of Cars.com's annual Best Of Awards. They recognize top-rated 2026 vehicles across six categories. Cars.com says its trusted experts chose winners that stand out for delivering real-world value, usability, and innovation.

“Each year, Cars.com editors carefully evaluate all new and redesigned vehicles to see how they measure up — our Best Of winners are those that truly exceed expectations,” said Mike Hanley, Cars.com senior road test editor. “Case in point, the Nissan Leaf is perhaps a surprising choice as the EV market recalibrates following the sunsetting of federal tax credits, but at a time when many shoppers assume affordable EVs are out of reach, the redesigned Leaf proves value, innovation and everyday usability can still coexist.”

The awards come as affordability remains top of mind for many car shoppers, while at the same time there are fewer budget-friendly models available. Across categories, Cars.com says this year's winner stand out for delivering long-term value without forcing major trade-offs in safety, space or usability.

Cars.com’s 2026 Best Of Award winners:

• Best Car: 2026 Nissan Leaf. Starting at $31,485,  the LEAF delivers up to an EPA-estimated 303 miles of range, strong efficiency and flexible charging, including access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. Cars.com says the model's intuitive tech, composed driving dynamics and generous standard features reinforce its value-forward appeal.

Car Pro 2026 Nissan LEAF review →

• Best SUV: 2026 Nissan Armada. Cars.com experts say a versatile lineup, strong twin-turbo V-6 power, up to 8,500 pounds of towing capacity and genuine three-row comfort make the Armada a compelling choice for large-SUV shoppers. (It was also recently named SUV of Texas by the Texas Auto Writers Association.)
  

Car Pro 2026 Nissan Armada Nismo review →

• Best Family Car: 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid. The Santa Fe offers three-row seating, easy access, flexible cargo space and an available hybrid drivetrain, all without the bulk or driving compromises of larger three-row vehicles.
• Best Pickup Truck: 2026 Ram 1500. From work-ready trims to luxury models — plus the return of the Hemi V-8 — Cars.com says the Ram 1500 delivers confident capability alongside class-leading comfort.
• Best EV: 2026 Kia EV9. With up to 305 miles of range, access to Tesla Superchargers and excellent family-friendly versatility, it addresses many of the common barriers to EV ownership.

Read the Car Pro  2026 EV9 GT review →

• Best Luxury Vehicle: 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ. Experts from Cars.com say this all-electric Cadillac redefines electric luxury with bold design; a technology-rich cabin; an estimated 465 miles of range; and refined, surprisingly agile driving dynamics.

Read the Car Pro 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ review →