Vehicles at Consumer Reports' test track go through more than 50 tests and evaluations, and are driven thousands of kilometers. Then once a year, the Consumer Reports' annual auto issue unveils its top picks.
David Champion of Consumer Reports says a car has to do extremely well in testing to get top pick.
"It has to have average or better reliability, as we found from our owners' survey. And if it has been crash-tested by the government or the insurance industry, it has to have done well there, too," he said.
Consumer Reports also requires all top picks to have electronic stability control standard or easily available.
The Nissan Altima is the 2010 top pick for family sedan. It outscored the Honda Accord, which has held the top honor since 2003.
"The altima gives really good fuel economy. It has a very comfortable, roomy interior. And it just does everything really well," Champion said.
The Subaru Forester is the top pick for a small SUV, replacing the Toyota Rav4.
"the Subaru Forester is a really nice small SUV," Champion said.
"It's very easy to drive, has a very comfortable ride. The handling is very good. And it also gets very good fuel economy. And it scores about the same as the Rav4."
The Chevrolet Traverse is the top pick for midsized SUVs. It replaces the Toyota Highlander.
Consumer Reports also rates which cars offer the best values.
"When we're looking at value, we're trying to find what the cheapest cars are that are going to give you the best performance, the best fuel economy, and the best reliability for the price," Champion said.
This year, the Honda Fit tied the Toyota Prius as Consumer Reports' best value car. The Prius was once again the top green car.
Other top picks:
- Top small sedan: Hyundai Elantra
- Top family hauler: Mazda 5
- Top sporty car: Volkswagen GTI
- Top sports sedan: Infiniti G37
- Top pickup: Chevy Silverado
- Best overall vehicle: Lexus IS460
For a complete list of Consumer Reports' top picks click here
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
