Consumer Reports compiles a list of the top ten cars for sale each year based on a combination of performance, safety, reliability and owner satisfaction. Toyota usually dominates the list, so the fact that there are more Toyotas on this list than any other brand is not surprising. What’s surprising, however, is how many electrified cars make the list, especially given that two of CR’s most popular models — the Toyota Prius and Lexus RX350h — weren’t for sale when this list was made.
Instead of listing how many electrified cars there are on the 2023 CR list, it’s quicker to list the number of non-electrified cars. Of the ten best cars for 2023, only three are powered purely by piston engines. These three cars are the Toyota Corolla Cross, the Subaru Forester and the Kia Telluride. That leaves seven of the ten with hybrid or all-electric powertrains, demonstrating the shift towards electrification in the industry.
While both plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles made the list, the former dominated with five different models. Here’s the full list of CR’s top ten picks:
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid
- Toyota Corolla Cross
- Subaru Forester
- Ford Maverick Hybrid
- Toyota Camry hybrid
- Nissan Leaf
- Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
- Kia Telluride
- Lexus NX350h Hybrid
- Tesla model 3
Predictably, Toyota far outperformed every other automaker. It had three spots on the list (four if you count Lexus), compared to every other brand’s lone showing. Why Does Toyota Always Dominate CR’s Top Ten Pick Lists? According to CR, Toyotas always impress with “good all-round performance, fuel economy and reliability”.
This year’s seven electrified cars top last year’s list, which had just four. Much of that this time had to do with the increase in hybrid models for sale, with cars like the Maverick Hybrid and Corolla Hybrid being new to the market. But it’s still an interesting jump in electrified cars compared to last year.
It also shows the direction in which customers are moving, as owner satisfaction is a big part of CR criteria. More and more customers are buying hybrid and electric vehicles and enjoying them, according to this list. In the case of the Maverick, the hybrid reportedly accounted for about half of all Maverick sales.
Also, don’t expect electrified vehicles to slow down. Next year it’s entirely possible that every car on the list will have some sort of electric motor under its skin, especially with the return of the Prius and Lexus RX.
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