Every year, Consumer Reports compiles a list of the ten best cars for sale, based on a combination of performance, safety, reliability and owner satisfaction. Toyota typically dominates the list, so it’s not surprising that there are more Toyotas on this list than any other brand. What is surprising, however, is how many electrified cars are on the list, especially if there are two CRs the most popular models – the Toyota Prius and Lexus RX350h – were not for sale when this list was made.
Instead of listing how many electrified cars are on the road CRs 2023 list, it is faster to list the number of non-electrified cars. Of the top ten cars for 2023, only three will be powered purely by piston engines. Those three cars are the Toyota Corolla Cross, Subaru Forester and Kia Telluride. That leaves seven out of ten with hybrid or all-electric powertrains, proving the industry’s shift to electrification.
While both plug-in hybrids and EVs made the list, it was the former that dominated, with five different models. Here’s the full list of them CRs ten toppers:
- 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 surpassed every other automaker. It had three spots on the list (four if you count Lexus), versus the only appearance of any other brand. Why does Toyota always dominate CRs ten top picks? According to CRToyotas always impress with “good all-round performance, fuel economy and reliability.”
This year’s seven electrified cars top last year’s list, which only had four. Much of that had to do with the proliferation of hybrid models on sale this time around, with cars like the Maverick Hybrid and Corolla Hybrid being new to the market. But it’s still an interesting jump in electrified cars from last year.
It also shows which direction customers are going as owner satisfaction is a big part CRs criteria. More and more customers are buying hybrid and electric vehicles and, according to this list, they are enjoying them. 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 kind of electric motor under its skin, especially after the return of the Prius and Lexus RX.
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