Hyundai led the pack in Edmunds Top Rated Awards for 2026 with three models in the ranking, including the Best of the Best award going to the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid.

In its sixth year, the awards recognize the best new vehicles on sale based on a 227-point testing process relying on a combination of “professional-grade satellite equipment, on-track measurements and thousands of hours of real-world driving,” Edmunds said. 

The winners are as follows:

• Top Rated Car: Honda Civic Hybrid

• Top Rated Electric Car: Tesla Model 3

• Top Rated SUV: Hyundai Palisade hybrid

• Top Rated Electric SUV: Hyundai Ioniq 5

• Top Rated Truck: Ford Maverick

• Top Rated Electric Truck: Rivian R1T

• Top Rated Best of the Best: Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

Edmunds acknowledged the importance of affordability in today’s market, and the winners reflect this with five of the six top-rated vehicles having a starting MSRP below $40,000, including two below $30,000 – a considerable difference from the industry average MSRP of $50,858.

“The Edmunds Top Rated Awards are the gold standard in vehicle recognition, backed by rigorous independent testing," said Alistair Weaver, Edmunds' editor-in-chief. “Put simply, these are the vehicles we'd recommend our family and friends to buy."

Winners were selected from finalists that Edmunds considered the highest-ranked eligible new vehicles as of October 31, 2025. They must have gone through the full testing process as of that date and be available for sale as new on January 1, 2026. Test ratings were based on performance, comfort, technology, fuel economy and value.

The Best of the Best award recognizes the standout vehicle from the Top-Rated list with consideration given to the vehicle’s impact, innovation and relevance to car shoppers. The winner, the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, has “an impressive fusion of style, power and comfort,” according to Edmunds.