CBS News
See the 10 cars that made Consumer Reports’ list of the best vehicles for 2024
Reliability is a key factor in Consumer Reports’ ranking of its top 10 vehicles for 2024, an increasingly important feature as car prices soar.
The magazine’s latest vehicle picks arrive as more automakers are rolling out electric cars, from EVs to plug-in hybrids, said Jake Fisher, senior director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports. Seven of this year’s top vehicles are either partially or fully electric, with the highest-rated made by automakers known for reliability, he added.
The average age of cars on U.S. roads reached a record 12.5 years in 2023, partly as Americans delayed new vehicle purchases due to inflation and higher interest rates, which has made it more expensive to finance car purchases. Since January 2020 — prior to the pandemic — new car prices have surged 21%, federal data shows.
“We ask consumers overall, what are the most important things you are looking for when buying a car, and it’s not steering feel or how well my pickup can do in a drag race — it’s really about reliability and safety,” Fisher told CBS MoneyWatch.
He added, “Because of the cost of the vehicles, it’s more important than ever that you’ll have something that is trouble-free and you won’t be stuck on the side of the road with trying to get things fixed.”
Best electric vehicles
The top 10 picks for 2024 also include several moderately priced cars with starting prices under $30,000, well below the average new car price of about $48,000. The list also includes seven electrified vehicles, including one EV, four hybrids and two plug-in hybrids.
“The market is changing quickly in terms of electrification — there are more hybrid options, more plug-in hybrid options,” Fisher noted.
Only three of this year’s top picks are carryovers from the publication’s 2023 winners: the Subaru Forester, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Maverick/Maverick Hybrid.
Consumer Reports also issued its brand report card for 2024, which ranks 34 automakers based on CR’s road-test scores, predicted reliability, and owner satisfaction data and safety for all of the tested models from each automaker. BMW ranked at the top with a score of 82, followed by Subaru and Porsche, tied in 2nd place with scores of 80 each. Jeep ranked at the bottom with a score of 46.
Below are Consumer Reports’ top picks for 2024 vehicles.
Subcompact SUV: Subaru Crosstrek
Starting at about $25,000, the Subaru Crosstrek is one of the least expensive cars on CR’s top 10 list.
Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“These are very fuel-efficient, very comfortable,” Fisher said. “They’re very nice vehicles overall at a reasonable price point — you have a four-wheel drive SUV that’s easy to drive, as well as comfortable and quiet.”
Compact SUV: Subaru Forester
Starting at about $27,000, the Subaru Forester is a larger vehicle than the Crosstrek, and one of the vehicles on the top picks list that starts under $30,000. The all-wheel drive vehicle was also among CR’s top picks for 2023.
Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“When you look at the drive, the comfort, Subaru is doing really well,” Fisher noted.
Hybrid/PHEV car: Toyota Prius/Prius Prime
The Toyota Prius, which starts at about $28,000, was first released in the U.S. in 2000, and while flashier and more fuel-efficient cars may now be available, it remains a reliable option for consumers, Fisher said.
“A lot of people bought the Prius because it’s very green, but it’s not the most green vehicle on the market anymore,” he noted.
Adam J. Dewey/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
But the Prius could appeal to consumers who want to drive on the battery charge while in the city, yet not have to worry about looking for a charging station during a longer trip.
“You can commute every day and never use a drop of fuel, but if you take a trip you don’t worry about charging anxiety,” Fisher said.
The Prius Prime is the plug-in hybrid version of the Prius, and it has a higher starting price than the Prius, at $32,350.
Small car: Mazda 3
Starting at about $24,000, the Mazda 3 sedan is one of the more affordable top picks for 2024.
Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
Mazda “is like the best kept secret in the auto industry,” Fisher said. “They drive nicely, they are comfortable, they are generally very sporty and fun to drive as well. They are the bargain-price BMW of today.”
Midsized car: Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Toyota Camry Hybrid, which starts at about $29,000, is one of CR’s top picks that also ranked on its 2023 list.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
“It’s reliable, comfortable, a smooth ride — that’s what the Camry has been known for for a long time,” Fisher said. But with the hybrid, you also get more fuel-efficiency, with Toyota billing the car as getting an estimated 52 miles per gallon.
Small pickup: Ford Maverick/Ford Maverick Hybrid
The Ford Maverick starts at about $24,000, providing a compact pickup vehicle in both gas-powered and hybrid versions.
Getty Images
“I personally really love this vehicle — it’s such a Swiss army knife of a vehicle,” Fisher noted.
Electric vehicle: Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y starts at about $44,000 and earned its spot on the list partly because of Tesla’s network of superchargers, which makes it easier for owners to find spots to power up their cars while traveling, Fisher said.
Cole Burston/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“It’s not the best EV you could buy — there is a lot of great competition,” he added. “The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a great vehicle, but the magic with the Tesla is the access to the superchargers.”
Midsized SUV: Toyota Highlander Hybrid
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid starts at about $41,000, making it pricier than some of CR’s other picks. With a third row of seats, the car can seat seven to 8 passengers, depending on the trim level.
Karim Jaafar/AFP via Getty Images
“It gets 35 miles per gallon out of a large three-row SUV — you really can’t beat that,” Fisher said. “It’s all-wheel drive, roomy and comfortable.”
Luxury SUV: BMW X5/X5 PHEV
On the higher priced end of CR’s picks is the BMW X5, which is also available in a plug-in hybrid version. The vehicle starts at about $62,000.
CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
The X5 plug-in hybrid can drive 45 miles using its electric drivetrain, while providing owners with peace of mind if they take it on the road for longer trips in terms of not needing to find a charging station. “If you have to take a trip, the plug-in hybrid is no stress,” Fisher said.
Plug-in hybrid SUV: Toyota RAV4 Prime
The all-wheel drive Toyota RAV4 Prime starts at about $44,000 and gets about 42 miles of driving range from its electric powertrain. Like the Camry, the RAV4 gets good ratings for comfort and reliability.
Cole Burston/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
A food company known for popular grocery store condiments has recalled a package of tortilla strips that may be contaminated with wheat, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday. The product is meant to be gluten-free.
Sugar Foods, a manufacturing and distribution corporation focused mainly on various toppings, artificial sweeteners and snacks, issued the recall for the “Santa Fe Style” version of tortilla strips sold by the brand Fresh Gourmet.
“People who have a wheat allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product,” said Sugar Foods in an announcement posted by the FDA.
Packages of these tortilla strips with an expiration date as late as June 20, 2025, could contain undeclared wheat, meaning the allergen is not listed as an ingredient on the label. The Fresh Gourmet product is marketed as gluten-free.
Sugar Foods said a customer informed the company on Nov. 19 that packages of the tortilla strips actually contained crispy onions, another Fresh Gourmet product normally sold in a similar container. The brand’s crispy onion product does contain wheat, and that allergen is noted on the label.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
No illnesses tied to the packaging mistake have been reported, according to the announcement from Sugar Foods. However, the company is still recalling the tortilla strips as a precaution. The contamination issue may have affected products distributed between Sept. 30 and Nov. 11 in 22 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
Sugar Foods has advised anyone with questions about the recall to contact the company’s consumer care department by email or phone.
CBS News reached out to Sugar Foods for more information but did not receive an immediate reply.
This is the latest in a series of food product recalls affected because of contamination issues, although the others involved harmful bacteria. Some recent, high-profile incidents include an E. coli outbreak from organic carrots that killed at least one person in California, and a listeria outbreak that left an infant dead in California and nine people hospitalized across four different states, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The E. coli outbreak is linked to multiple different food brands while the listeria outbreak stemmed from a line of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold by Yu-Shang Foods.
