What Are The 10 Best Cars To Buy | Top Rated
What are the 10 best cars to buy you ask? Well buying a car has never been easy, and the health crisis in the world has just made it more difficult. The newest crisis to impede production and decrease availability of new vehicles and SUVs has been a scarcity of semiconductors, essential components necessary to regulate systems in modern cars. Transaction prices for new vehicles are rising as supply is reduced and demand is high.
Every new vehicle we drive seems to be both more powerful and more fuel-efficient than the one before it. More relaxed and enjoyable. More refined, yet at a similar pricing point.
Choosing a good car is easier than ever, but selecting the ideal car is becoming increasingly difficult. That’s why, few times a year, we compile a list of category standouts and staff favorites to make automobile shopping a little easier.
You don’t have to buy the cheapest automobile to save money, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a luxury car to get the features, performance, and comfort you desire. The Best Automobiles for the Money awards strike a mix between cars that emphasize value and those that offer exceptional ownership experiences.
The awards recognize the best combination of quality and value in 11 different automotive categories, with the winners having the highest combination of quality and value in their respective classes. They’re not just good cars, but they’re also good long-term investments. Here are the best cars to buy.
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Hyundai Accent – What Are The 10 Best Cars To Buy: This Is One
Just because a car is cheap doesn’t mean it has to look bad, and the 2022 Hyundai Accent, despite its bargain-basement pricing, has dignified appearance. A 120-hp four-cylinder engine with a continuously variable automatic transmission is standard on all variants (CVT).
It’s not flashy, but it gets the job done while saving money on gas. The cabin is uninspiring but efficient, with modern comforts and even a few extras. Heated seats, touchscreen infotainment, and push-button start are all included on the Limited variant, which costs less than $21,000.
The Accent’s appearance is adult and current regardless of trim, saving you the embarrassment of being exposed as a penny pincher.
The 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine in the Accent produces 120 horsepower and is connected to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
The SE grade is the most basic and lacks many of the extras that many car buyers consider vital, so we’d choose for the SEL, which adds fog lights, automatic headlights, aluminum wheels, heated exterior mirrors, a larger 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, and more.
Despite its sedan design and a smaller storage capacity with the rear seats folded down, the Accent offered more room for our carry-on luggage than the Rio’s more practical shape. In fact, when the back seats are folded, the Accent only holds two cases less than the Fit, which is particularly roomy.
Kia Forte
The Kia Forte is a good example of getting a great deal with much less. The Forte delivers style and equipment that is reminiscent of the Stinger sports sedan at a considerably more accessible price for car customers with similar mindset.
Unfortunately, the winning performance of the Stinger isn’t included in the bundle. Instead, the Forte boasts a 147-hp four-cylinder engine and a chassis that is geared more for comfort than for fast driving.
A lane-following assist system is now standard on all models, and the optional adaptive cruise control system now includes a feature that uses navigation data to modify speed based on stated speed limits and slows the car down in preparation for curves.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard, and the Forte’s center console has been redesigned to incorporate a new electronic parking brake with auto hold.
The Forte comes with two engine options: a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 201-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder.
The Forte, particularly ones with the less powerful engine and automatic transmission, will keep drivers speeding past petrol stations. This is where the Forte shines, with a highway efficiency of 40 mpg and a combined fuel economy of 33 mpg.
The combined fuel economy lowers to 30 mpg if you choose the GT with the dual-clutch transmission.
Toyota Camry
Although the Toyota Camry has the same name as previous versions, its extroverted appearance and performance model make it practically unrecognizable.
That’s because the current Camry is, without a doubt, the most appealing it’s ever been. The conventional four-cylinder engine is fuel-efficient and adequate for daily driving.
The conventional four-cylinder engine is paired with a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, but acceleration is lacking. The Camry hybrid is powered by a less powerful version of that engine, a battery, and two electric motors, and it’s no more fun to drive than the standard power train. The silky 301-hp V-6 featured on the XLE and XSE options, as well as the TRD design.
In the EPA’s tests, the entire Camry family fared admirably, and a four-cylinder model performed admirably in our real-world highway testing. The LE and SE with the four-cylinder engine are the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid Camry variants, with EPA estimates of 28 mpg city and 39 mpg highway.
The base LE hybrid was rated at 51 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway. The hybrid’s highest trims, on the other hand, sacrifice some efficiency for luxury, with versions powered by the V-6 earning 22 mpg city and up to 33 mpg highway.
With the rear seat folding, the Camry is a spacious sedan with ample of cargo capacity and interior storage in both the trunk and the cabin. It isn’t the best in every storage category, but it is quite competitive overall.
Toyota moved the Camry hybrid’s battery from the trunk to beneath the back seats, ensuring that hybrid owners don’t have to forego cargo space in exchange for higher fuel economy.
The Toyota Corolla Hybrid is a fuel-efficient compact vehicle that gets 52 miles per gallon. Even if you take the fuel-efficiency aspect out of the equation, it’s still a fantastic vehicle.
Yet here it is, with all of the normal Corolla qualities like high durability, low operating costs, a compact footprint, road-trip-worthy comfort, and predictable handling.
The hybrid battery has a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty, while the hybrid drive components have an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty.
A 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine produces 121 horsepower when combined with two electric motors powered by a lithium-ion battery. The front wheels are driven by an automatic transmission.
This is one of the drawbacks of hybrids. Keeping the battery charged is aided by capturing brake energy. Other manufacturers, on the other hand, have improved the smoothness of the movement. Toyota isn’t exactly a pioneer in the field of hybrid vehicles.
Soft-touch plastics and subtle metallic trim elements, with a splash of piano black thrown in for good measure, all contribute to the Corolla Hybrid’s cabin’s upmarket feel.
The Corolla Hybrid is comfortable and capacious for a tiny automobile, and it nails this essential feature. From the infotainment system to the seat adjustments, everything is designed to be user-friendly. Toyota has also kept the dashboard clean and uncluttered.
There aren’t many options with the Corolla Hybrid because it only comes in one trim. The majority of your decision will be based on which of the different packages you desire for your car.
Toyota Avalon
The Toyota Avalon is one of the best full-size sedans on the market. It stands out for its spacious and stylish cabin, plush seats, easy-to-use infotainment system, and a long list of standard safety features.
The Toyota Avalon offers two power train options: one that runs only on gas and another that runs on a fuel-efficient hybrid system. The basic engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 with 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. The front wheels are driven by an eight-speed automatic transmission.
According to our testing, the V-6 propels the Avalon from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors are standard in trim levels labeled hybrid.
Avalon Touring has its own distinct style, with gloss-black details for a clean, modern look. The minor elements, from the sport mesh front grille to the exhaust diffuser, hint to its aggressive side.
Limited and Touring models have intricately sculpted LED front headlights and rear taillights with sequential turn signals that highlight the Avalon’s luxury appeal.
The production of the Avalon will finish in August 2022, so if you want to park a new Avalon in your driveway, the clock is ticking. The previously optional all-wheel drive system will no longer be available for the Avalon’s final model year, and the sportier TRD model will also be removed.
The Nightshade aesthetic option is now standard on the Hybrid XSE, and all versions get a new rear-seat reminder feature.
Honda Civic
Honda’s famous Civic compact car undergoes a transformation, with a more mature appearance, additional features, and an improved interior design.
You can get a number of four-cylinder engines, these come in turbocharged front-wheel drive with 1.5-liter. Do not expect to see a four wheel drive option as there won;t be any.
Despite the fact that the new Civic has been completely revamped, Honda has decided to keep the power train options from the previous generation.
The base engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 158 horsepower, while the upgrade engine is a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower.
The new model comes in front-wheel-drive vehicle. From 2022 all manual transmissions will be halted and no longer available. This leaves only the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) as an option; a six-speed manual is still available on the hatchback model.
The mid-range EX is the most fuel-efficient Civic model, with ratings of 33 mpg city, 42 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined.
A broader center console than the outgoing model appears to be less congested, there is a compartment close to the gear shift where accessories can be stored like, keys, and such like.
Honda has made it clear, passenger space is nearly the same, while the cargo bay is larger.
Nissan Sentra
The Nissan Sentra is a handsome tiny car, but it lacks dynamism in the driver’s seat. Look elsewhere if you’re looking for a thrill behind the wheel.
The Sentra is a good choice for anyone looking for a sedan with a lot of standard active safety features and pleasant passenger arrangements that doesn’t look like it belongs in a rental fleet.
A 149-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive in every Sentra.
The Nissan has an independent rear suspension with wheels ranging from 16 to 18 inches in diameter. The version we tested was equipped with the largest pair of wheels, which resulted in a rough ride and a lot of road noise.
Despite this, the Sentra remains a pleasant and accommodating vehicle for daily commuting and weekend excursions.
The Sentra is expected to get up to 29 miles per gallon in the city and 39 miles per gallon on the highway. On the sportier SR version, those values drop to 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. Despite this, the Nissan is just as efficient as some competitors with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT.
On all bar the base model, the driver sees a set of modest analog gauges sandwiching a 7.0-inch display. A trio of circular air vents sit atop strong climate controls in the dashboard’s center.
The base model has a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the others have an 8.0-inch touchscreen with USB ports in the front and back seats.
Subaru Imprezza: Another What Are The 10 Best Cars To Buy Option
The Subaru Impreza 2022 is a competent, though unremarkable, compact automobile. Subaru’s smallest car is available in sedan and hatchback body styles, with manual or continuously variable automatic transmission options (CVT).
Regardless of the gearbox, the Impreza’s flat-four engine gives sluggish acceleration, but the stick shift is imprecise and not one we recommend. Both the sedan and hatch have a sensible interior and an easy-to-use entertainment system.
With a four-cylinder engine that produces 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, the Impreza is a tortoise in a class of hares. Of course, all-wheel drive is standard. The sedan and hatchback both take a lot of prodding to keep the engine where it needs to be to create power, thanks to their lack of low-end punch.
You’ll be impressed with the fuel efficiency of any Impreza equipped with the CVT. If you choose the manual transmission, though, you’ll be visiting the petrol station more regularly. According to the EPA, the most fuel-efficient Impreza gets 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the interstate.
The cargo areas of both the sedan and hatchback Imprezas are on the tiny side of the class, and there aren’t many places to keep small personal items in the cabin, but the 60/40 split-folding rear seat can be folded down for additional cargo capacity when needed.
Mazda 3
The Mazda 3 offers a luxury package at a reasonable price for a little car. It’s available as a sedan or a hatchback, with all-wheel drive and a powerful turbo engine as options.
Both the sedan and hatchback are available with the Carbon Edition option, which includes Poly-metal Gray paint, red leather seats, and a number of black exterior components such as the grille surround, wheels, and side mirror caps.
The is a 12-speaker Bose sound system, and middle-range Preferred trim material, also included in this Edition.
The Mazda 3 is available with three different four-cylinder engines, starting with a 2.0-liter in the base sedan. It has a 155-horsepower engine and is exclusively available in front-wheel drive.
The optional all-wheel-drive system is unlocked by upgrading to the 186-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder, but we’re most enthused about the 250-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter. A six-speed manual transmission is available, but only with front-wheel drive.
The Mazda 3 car with the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine gets 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, according to the EPA; upgrading to the more powerful turbo-less 2.5-liter engine decreases those statistics to 26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, but only marginally.
Volkswagen Jetta
The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta is a surprisingly elegant and roomy small car, despite its compact designation.
A 158-hp 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine replaces the Jetta’s original 147-hp 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The R-Line trim has been replaced by a sportier Sport model in the lineup.
The 158-hp turbo four isn’t particularly exciting, but it can be combined with a manual transmission for added engagement.
The basic Jetta comes with a long list of popular infotainment and active safety systems, but the most desirable content comes at a cost. Although the 2022 Jetta may not be the enthusiast’s first option, it should please the majority of buyers.
The base model comes with a six-speed manual transmission, while an eight-speed automatic transmission is available as an option. We haven’t gotten the chance to test the upgraded Jetta engine yet, but if we do, we’ll be able to compare its acceleration times to those of the previous model.
While the sedan provides a smooth and quiet ride, the light steering is simple to operate but lacks precision.
Although the available features improve with each higher trim level, every interior is designed with the driver in mind and offers superb outward sight. The most expensive variants come with premium features including configurable ambient inside lighting, wireless device charging, and ventilated front seats.
Final Thoughts
So if anyone asked what are the 10 best cars to buy? It shouldn’t be difficult to decide as you have ten to choose from. Cars change every year and often the model that may have been the best last year may prove to be less reliable the next. So when choosing the best car to buy, be sure to take that into account and continue to follow the trending information that help make these decisions.