Acquiring a new automobile can be costly and stressful, but with the right knowledge, it doesn’t have to be.

Each year, Consumer Reports tests and purchases approximately fifty new cars, evaluating factors such as fuel efficiency, performance, and ease of installation for child seats. With its yearly must-see list of the best new automobiles of the year, Consumer Reports is ready to assist if you’ve been putting off that big buy.

The auto testing team at Consumer Reports compares 250 models for dependability and owner happiness before putting every vehicle through more than 50 tests to identify the year’s Top Picks.

This year’s top ten includes cars with different powerplants. There is one electric vehicle (EV), three plug-in hybrid electric cars (PHEVs), and four hybrids. That’s important because it demonstrates the trend in the market toward electrification and validates the superiority of these cars over their gas-only counterparts.

The 2024 results:

All of the features that make the wildly successful Toyota RAV4 popular are also included in the Toyota RAV4 Prime, along with the added advantage of a plug-in hybrid that allows for 42 miles of electric driving before the gasoline engine kicks in. In comparison to the basic RAV4, CR discovered that the Prime is faster, smoother, and quieter. The Prime outperformed the gas-only model by a full 2 seconds from 0 to 60.

A Toyota SUV is another noteworthy vehicle. Important safety features, good expected reliability, and excellent fuel efficiency—35 mpg overall—are all included in the Highlander Hybrid, a three-row vehicle.

Top choices from Subaru are also the updated Crosstrek and Forester. Both offer a large number of active safety features, safe handling, and excellent fuel efficiency.

Along with improved performance and horsepower, the revamped Toyota Prius now offers all-wheel drive. Additionally, the plug-in Prius Prime offers 39 miles of fully electric driving and 43 mpg when the hybrid engine starts up.

The Ford Maverick and Maverick Hybrid offer many of the features of a pickup truck at a significantly lower price and size if you’re in the market for one. CR discovered that the Maverick’s crew cab interior is spacious and it offers excellent mobility in both variants.

And it’s difficult to find a better car than the Toyota Camry Hybrid if dependability is your main priority. It scored extremely high in our on-track evaluations for the road test, achieved 610 miles per gas tank, excelled in fuel efficiency tests, and garnered excellent ratings in CR’s dependability data.

The best luxury SUV options available in CR are the BMW X5 and X5 plug-in hybrid. Both models offer a first-rate driving experience and spotless interiors.

Furthermore, according to CR, the Mazda3 is a great option if you’re searching for a sporty vehicle that also offers good value. Its engine, which has 191 horsepower, is more powerful than that of most competitors, and the car’s interior is remarkably luxurious considering its cost.