Edmunds is sharing its list of its picks for the best cars on sale in 2026. It's the sixth year for its Edmunds Top Rated Awards that focus on vehicles that Edmunds' says deliver a strong value. Case in point, five of the six winning vehicles offer starting MSRPs below $40,000, including two below the $30,000 mark. This industry average is an MSRP of $50,858, according to Edmunds data.
Edmunds Top Rated Awards
Here's a look at the winners in seven categories including Top Rated Best of the Best 2026:
- Edmunds Top Rated Car 2026 — Honda Civic Hybrid. Edmunds describes the Civic Hybrid as delivering "comfort, refinement, a spacious interior and excellent fuel economy in an affordable package."
- Edmunds Top Rated Electric Car 2026 — Tesla Model 3. Edmunds says Tesla's Model 3 combines "improved build quality and ride comfort in a compelling mix of efficiency, performance and value."
- Edmunds Top Rated SUV 2026 — Hyundai Palisade Hybrid. Edmunds says the Palisade SUV showcases "a look and feel more premium than SUVs that cost twice as much, along with a hybrid system that's both powerful and efficient."
- Edmunds Top Rated Electric SUV 2026 — Hyundai Ioniq 5. Edmunds says the Ioniq EV offers "ample space for passengers and cargo, a novel interior design and standout technology."
- Edmunds Top Rated Truck 2026 — Ford Maverick. Edmunds describes the Maverick as "packing capability, practicality, and utility into a compact truck."
- Edmunds Top Rated Electric Truck 2026 — Rivian R1T. Edmunds says Rivian's R1T boasts "style, performance, innovative design and outstanding versatility."
- Edmunds Top Rated Best of the Best 2026 — Hyundai Palisade Hybrid. Edmunds says the Palisade raises "the bar for vehicles of all shapes and sizes."
Check out our CarPro reviews of some of the winning vehicles:
"The Edmunds Top Rated Awards are the gold standard in vehicle recognition, backed by rigorous independent testing," said Alistair Weaver, Edmunds' editor-in-chief. "In 2026, car shoppers are navigating higher purchase costs and are searching harder than ever for vehicles that truly deliver value. Our awards spotlight the cars, trucks and SUVs that excel not just in performance and quality, but in meeting a wide range of shopper needs and budgets. Put simply, these are the vehicles we'd recommend our family and friends to buy."
Grounded in real-world vehicle testing
Edmunds says its Top Rated Awards, presented annually since 2020, represent the standouts from its industry-leading vehicle testing program. Each year, the Edmunds editorial team tests 300-plus vehicles, driving more than 500,000 miles to deliver the definitive Edmunds Rating, the foundation of the Edmunds Top Rated Awards.
New scoring debuted: More rigorous ratings to reflect the evolving market
In 2025, Edmunds says it updated its 10-point ratings system to better reflect how Edmunds' testing experts evaluate and compare vehicles in today's market. As vehicles have become more complex, Edmunds says the updated approach applies more stringent scoring standards, grounded in unbiased testing to better differentiate performance, quality and value for car shoppers. Within this updated framework, Edmunds Ratings are based on Edmunds' industry-leading 227-point testing process, which relies on a combination of professional-grade satellite equipment, on-track measurements, and thousands of hours of real-world driving.
Edmunds Top Rated Best of the Best 2026
Also returning for 2026 is the Edmunds Top Rated Best of the Best award — recognizing the standout vehicle among Edmunds Top Rated winners with consideration given to the vehicle's impact, innovation, and relevance to car shoppers. The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid has earned Edmunds Top Rated Best of the Best honors for 2026 with an impressive fusion of style, power, and comfort.
Edmunds Top Rated Highly Recommended Vehicles 2026
Edmunds is also highlighting 11 additional vehicles as Highly Recommended. These distinguished models were finalists in each of Edmunds' Top Rated categories, typically topping their respective market segment.
The Edmunds Top Rated Highly Recommended vehicles for 2026 are:
- Toyota Camry (Car)
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class (Car)
- BMW i5 (Electric Car)
- Audi A6 Sportback E-tron (Electric Car)
- Ford Expedition (SUV)
- Hyundai Tucson Hybrid (SUV)
- Hyundai Ioniq 9 (Electric SUV)
- BMW iX (Electric SUV)
- Ford F-150 (Truck)
- Ford Ranger (Truck)
- GMC Sierra EV (Electric Truck)
Photo: Hyundai.
