These Awesome Automobiles Were The Best Of The Year—According To Car Testers

These Awesome Automobiles Were The Best Of The Year—According To Car Testers

Do you know which 2024 car was voted best-in-class by expert car testers? The amazing folks over at Edmunds get to test almost every new car that comes onto the market—so for them to name something as the best, it's got to pass some serious muster. See if your 2024 ride made the list of these awesome automobiles that were declared best-in-class by those who drove them first.

2024's Best Electric Trucks

2023 may have seen the rise of electric cars and hybrids of all types, as Tesla and others seemed to gain huge popularity, but 2024 saw EV competition explode—suddenly, everyone was released electric vehicles or hybrids, including famous truck manufacturers like Ford, Chevrolet, and some new kids that entered the block. Here are the best electric trucks of 2024.

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GMC Hummer EV

The 2024 GMC Hummer received an honorable mention from Edmunds. Although it couldn't best the F-150 Lightning, it staggered Edmunds testers with its 1,000 horsepower—for an EV, that's an incredible amount of power. It could also do 0 to 60 in just 3.3 seconds—faster than a Corvette—yes, really. Removable roof panels come with the Hummer and Edmunds tested its range at 390 miles. It's got a 212kWh battery that weighs as much as a Honda Civic. The Hummer EV won points in performance but lost out to the Ford in overall efficiency.

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Rivian R1T

The Rivian R1T was another finalist, designed by Rivian—a Florida-based EV company that's been in business since 2009, but that you've probably never heard of. The R1T was their first serious market contender in the EV world. Boasting a more efficient powertrain and quicker acceleration than the F-150 Lightning, the Rivian was a worthy contender for top spot. It offers similar performance to both the Ford and the Hummer EV at a lower price point.

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And The Winner Is... The Ford F-150 Lightning

According to Edmunds, this was their favorite electric truck released this year. It's no wonder, either—the Ford F-150 Lightning combined the best elements of being a truck: power, versatility and a tow capacity of 10,000 pounds and a cargo capacity of 2,235 pounds. It also had all the benefits of electric power: a front trunk to add storage capability and an onboard generator that will literally power your house. Its range on a single charge is about 345 miles, according to Edmunds' range testing.

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2024's Best Trucks

For those who may still scoff at the thought of an electric truck, or simply aren't in a position to purchase an electric version of your favorite truck yet, here are Edmunds' best picks of 2024 for the do-it-all trucks of this year.

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Honda Ridgeline

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is a surprising entrant into the top three of 2024's best trucks: mostly because it's a smaller truck. Officially a "mid-size" truck, Honda takes full advantage of the smaller size to provide an easy-to-handle, nimble truck that provides a car-like driving experience. If you need the versatility of a truck, but don't want to make a leap into something oversized, then the Ridgeline might be perfect for you.

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Toyota Tacoma

The old 2023 model was powered by a V6 engine, but the 2024 upgrade to the Tacoma does away with that and replaces it with 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engines offering varying outputs that begin at 278 horsepower and increase to a whopping 326-horsepower hybrid option. The Tacoma also boasts a redesigned rear suspension that makes it a more comfortable ride than its predecessor. 

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And The Winner Is... The Chevrolet Colorado

The Chevrolet Colorado is one of the best-selling pickups in America, outperforming some full-size trucks! This model offers a four-door cab and five-foot bed with a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds and can haul 1,685 pounds in the back. It also offers a small outlet to power small appliances from your home. The sleek Colorado offers between 237 and 310 horsepower from a turbocharged engine. There's a trim design for everyone, including a Bison off-road trim. The Colorado is the perfect mid-size pickup for everyone, which it's one of America's most popular pickups.

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2024's Best Cars

2024 was another year of electrical innovation in the car world, too. While the frontrunner may surprise you, it's no surprise that some of 2024's best cars were both classic everyday drivers and nimble machines made for speed. Here are Edmunds' well-tested best cars of 2024.

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Honda Civic Type R

Honda Civics are some of the most popular cars in the United States, and the 2024 Honda Civic Type R is no exception. It was a serious contender for best car of the year. The driving experience is probably one of the best Edmunds' testers have ever had: "a Porsche-like symbiosis", according to them. It offers a massive 24.5 cubic feet of storage space, and will do 24 MPG from a 2.0L inline-four engine producing 315 horsepower. The Civic Type R is "one of the best performance hatchbacks ever made", according to Edmunds.

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Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Another finalist, but somehow, not the winner is the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. It's even equipped with the most powerful naturally-aspirated V8 engine ever made, delivering 670 horsepower and a top speed of 195 MPH, this brand new Z06 from Chev is a supercar to rival Lamborghinis and Ferraris. It also has two trunks, if you need the storage. 

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And The Winner Is... The Toyota Prius

If you think the Prius is still an ugly-looking hatchback and that the only thing going for it is fuel efficiency because it's a hybrid, you haven't met the all-new 2024 Toyota Prius. Toyota have redesigned the Prius to give it a sleek, sexy new look, improving proportionality, lines and generally making it more fashionable and easier to look at. Under all that bodywork is a PHEV with more power—a 2L, four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine producing 196 horsepower. It offers a stunning combined fuel efficiency of 52.3 MPG. Great looks, great ride, environmentally-friendly? That's a winner in Edmunds' book.

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2024's Best Electric Cars

2024 was definitely the year when every car manufacturer and their brother got onboard with electric vehicles—some were fully electric, others were variants of a hybrid. Attempting to offer some competition to the OG of Tesla didn't prove as difficult as some might expect, and here are the results: 2024's best electric cars.

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BMW i7

The BMW i7 is a class-above most of its competitors in the high-end luxury vehicle sector. It offers excellent functionality and luxury that include rear massaging seats and an interesting front-facing camera that scans the road for bumps and uneven surfaces, adjusting the suspension to compensate. It's definitely an executive car, but—frankly—it looks terrible. For its looks alone, it doesn't make the top spot.

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Hyundai Ioniq 6

The Ioniq 6 is a serious upgrade to the Ioniq 5 that proves Hyundai's line of EV cars is here to stay. It's got a sleek, curvaceous design and is extremely aerodynamic and lightweight for an EV. It will charge faster than any other EV on the market, it adds 868 miles of range per charging hour and comes with a huge battery that's capable of 361 miles on a single charge. 

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And The Winner Is... The BMW i5

So, why the BMW i5, but not the i7, you ask? We get it. Mostly, the BMW i5 comes out on top because it doesn't have those weird thin headlights or that huge front grille that just seems unnecessary. But, mostly the i5 wins the day because it's simple, but effective. It offers 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds and its engine produces an equivalent of 335 horsepower. Its range is an incredibly impressive 321 miles. It's managed to do all that while maintaining classic BMW looks and superb engineering. It's simply the best-in-class EV car of 2024.

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2024's Best SUVs

SUVs made a resurgence in 2024 in terms of popularity, with EV and hybrid models once again claiming the high ground over their gasoline counterparts—but who among them stood out for the Edmunds' crew?

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Kia Telluride

The 2024 Kia Telluride was almost best-in-class for Edmunds' drivers. The Telluride is one of the more spacious SUVs on the market, offering 21 cubic feet of cargo capacity and enough seating for eight people. The Telluride also offers bountiful driver-assistance features that are becoming commonplace on cars these days, making it easy to go longer distances. At just $35,990 MSRP, this 3.8L V6 engine is excellent value for money. 

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Mercedes-Benz GLS

The Mercedes-Benz GLS is the granddaddy of luxury SUVs on the market. The thing that separates it from other luxury SUVs on the market is the smoothest ride of your life. Despite having a V8 engine that produces 603 horsepower, you wouldn't know it when riding in this thing. It also offers premium build quality and a whole host of features, including an array of driver-assistance technologies. If you want to travel in style, the GLS is the best choice.

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And The Winner Is... The Kia Sportage Hybrid 

The KIA Sportage wins best-in-class for SUVs this year. It's roomy, functional, and excellent value for money at just $28,290 - $37,190 MSRP. With a sleek look and an excellent fuel economy of 34.5 MPG, the Sportage Hybrid will get you and your family wherever you need to go, without breaking the bank. 

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But What Was The Best Car Of The Year?

According to Edmunds, the best car of the year was the 2024 KIA EV9. As you've seen, it faced some pretty stiff competition for best-of-the-year car, but it's a worthy winner. It features three rows of seating, a massage-function driver's seat, and an easy-to-use touchscreen infotainment system. Its price point, $56,396 MSRP, is much more accessible for most people than any other three-row vehicle of this size. It will do 0 to 60 in just 4.7 seconds and boasts a smooth ride, without compromising on power.

The KIA EV9 was the best car of the year, in any class. Do you agree with Edmunds' best-in-class assessments? Do you own any of these cars? What would you change, if anything, about your 2024 vehicle? Let us know in the comments below!

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