Experts Narrow Expansive List of New Vehicles to Top 10 Contenders for Buyers' Consideration

ATLANTA, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Car shoppers are inundated with hundreds of all-new, redesigned and updated vehicles from which to choose, oftentimes making it challenging for them to know where to start as they consider their next ride. Each new year brings advances in technology along with updated styles, features and options, offering car shoppers what can feel like endless possibilities. To help buyers narrow the focus of their new-car shopping, the experts at Autotrader have driven and evaluated hundreds of models, culling the list to 10 standout vehicles worthy of buyers' attention to determine the Best New Cars of 2026.

"The experts on our Autotrader editorial team drive all of the new and redesigned vehicles every year, pooling our collective evaluations, impressions and available data to determine the Best New Cars," said Jason Fogelson, managing editor for Autotrader. "The 2026 list features a mix of redesigned favorites along with new nameplates that car buyers should definitely check out during their shopping journey."

Autotrader's Best New Cars of 2026
(Listed in alphabetical order)

2026 Cadillac VISTIQ
2026 Ford Maverick Lobo
2026 Honda Passport
2026 Hyundai Palisade
2026 Lucid Gravity
2026 Mazda CX-5
2026 Nissan LEAF
2026 Subaru Outback
2026 Tesla Model Y
2026 Toyota RAV4

When determining the Best New Cars each year, the editors focus on vehicles that are groundbreaking or offer significant value. Because many vehicles are new or redesigned for 2026, the team only considered models available for purchase within the next nine months. To qualify, the base model of a vehicle must start below $100,000, although most cars on the list are thousands of dollars below that.

To learn more about the Best New Cars of 2026 from Autotrader, including photos, detailed vehicle information and available inventory, visit https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/best-new-cars-of-2026.

About Autotrader
Autotrader is the most recognized third-party car listings brand, with the most engaged audience of in-market car shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today's empowered car shopper looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or Certified Pre-Owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader's comprehensive marketing and retailing solutions allow consumers to build their deal online, and guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience. Autotrader is a Cox Automotive™ brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive is the world's largest automotive services and technology provider. Cox Automotive powers industry-leading solutions for car shoppers, auto manufacturers, dealers, lenders and fleets through proprietary technology and insights derived from billions of annual online interactions. The company has 29,000+ employees on five continents and a portfolio of industry-leading brands that include Autotrader^®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim^®, vAuto^®, Dealertrack^®, NextGear Capital™, CentralDispatch^® and Cox Fleet^®. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately owned, Atlanta-based company with $23 billion in annual revenue. Cox Automotive has been included on Glassdoor's Best Companies in Tech & AI 2026 and Best Place to Work in 2026 lists. Visit coxautoinc.com or connect via @CoxAutomotive on X, CoxAutoInc on Facebook or Cox-Automotive-Inc on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Autotrader