Honda has returned triumphantly and en masse to Consumer Reports' Top Picks with three models--the Accord, CR-V, and Odyssey--after not having a single model make the cut last year. For 2013, the Top Picks list has new winners in seven categories.
Roomy, well equipped, and fuel efficient, the Honda Accord earns the title for the midsized sedan category. The Honda CR-V is the Top Pick for Small SUV with a smooth ride and good fuel economy. (Previous Top Picks, the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester are newly redesigned, and because they have not yet been fully tested, they are ineligible this year.) The last Honda win goes to the comfortable and roomy Odyssey, which edged out the Toyota Sienna in the minivan category.
Other new additions to the list include two European models, the Audi A6 and BMW 328i. The sporty Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ twins share the award for best sporty cars, and the Hyundai Elantra returns after a one-year hiatus for best small car.
If you're looking for a new car, our Top Picks list is as close as it gets to "no-brainers" in the auto market. They're impressive all-around vehicles, chosen from more than 280 we've recently tested.
2013 Top Picks listed by category with prices as tested.
Midsized sedan: Honda Accord ($23,270-$30,860)
Sporty car: Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ (FR-S: $25,025; BRZ: $27,117)
Small SUV: Honda CR-V ($26,455)
Budget car: Hyundai Elantra ($18,445)
Minivan: Honda Odyssey ($36,830)
Sports sedan: BMW 328i ($43,195)
Green car: Toyota Prius ($26,750)
Luxury car: Audi A6 ($56,295)
Compact car: Subaru Impreza (sedan: $21,345; hatchback: $22,345)
Midsized SUV: Toyota Highlander ($38,578 to $47,255)
All Top Picks must meet Consumer Reports' stringent criteria in three areas: road test, reliability, and safety. They must rank at or near the top of their category on overall road test scores; they must have earned an average or better predicted-reliability Rating based on problems Consumer Reports subscribers reported on 1.2 million vehicles in our latest survey; and they must perform well if included in crash or rollover tests by the government or the insurance industry.
