Automotive: What Are the Top Rated Vehicles for 2024?

Modern shopping is full of conveniences that were unheard of just a few years ago! However, there’s still no shortcut when it comes to buying a car. That takes research. While dealers have made browsing easier than ever, shoppers still need to put time into finding the right cars. This snapshot of the best vehicles for 2024 is a great starting point.

Top-rated Vehicles for 2024

No list takes the pulse of the current vehicle market like the Edmunds Top Rated Awards list! For 2024, the company looked at 500 vehicles to identify the cars offering the best performance and value. Here’s a look at the winners by category:

• Best of the Best: 2024 Kia EV9
• Top Car: 2024 Toyota Prius
• Top Electric Car: 2024 BMI i5
• Top SUV: 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid
• Top Electric SUV: 2024 Kia EV
• Top Truck: 2024 Chevrolet Colorado
• Top Electric Truck: 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning

This list represents the strongest picks for cars, trucks, and SUVs that customers can buy today. However, the casual observer might also notice that there’s a lot of range between these vehicles. Working your way backward by starting with the features that are the most important is a good way to narrow down the winners in your own personal category.

What Features Are Most Important?

Bells and whistles can certainly create an inspiring driving experience! However, safety remains the most important feature for most car buyers today. Consumers are increasingly seeking out high-tech features that help to increase visibility and awareness of the road. For example, new automatic emergency braking systems that prevent collisions when other vehicles are sensed can help to either prevent or reduce impact on the road. Similar systems can also detect pedestrians. Warning alert systems for blind spots are also making the must-have list for many shoppers. While rear-facing cameras have been around for a while, car buyers are increasingly looking for 360-degree surround-view camera systems that give the driver the ability to see the vehicle from a bird’s-eye view. This feature delivers unprecedented visibility to help drivers avoid hitting objects or people when backing up or parking.

Some must-have features for 2024 carry over from previous years. For instance, drivers still rely on built-in navigation systems for the safety and convenience they offer. Keyless entry and zoned climate systems are also holding steady as highly desirable features.

How to Get the Best Deal When Purchasing a New Vehicle

The best way to avoid overpaying for a new vehicle is to show up at the dealership knowing exactly what you want. After carefully researching the vehicle you want, narrow down the trim level and features that are right for you. You can use this information to set the price that you’re ready to pay for your new car. While a buyer’s ability to negotiate purchase price varies by dealer, all dealers base asking price on a vehicle’s Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). Knowing the MSRP of the model you want to test drive allows you to avoid the time and hassle of a dealer “upselling” a pricier model.

The area where the buyer has the most control over a vehicle’s price is interest rate. If you’ll be financing a car, make sure you know your credit score ahead of time to gauge the types of rates that could be available to you. Like homebuyers, vehicle buyers are free to shop around for rates from different lenders when purchasing cars.

Finally, trading in a current vehicle can be a way to slash the price of a new vehicle. It’s important to go in with an understanding of the current value of your vehicle. Be sure to base your assessment on actual market data instead of making assumptions stemming from your personal attachment to a vehicle. Many shoppers go in with inflated hopes about how much they will get for a trade-in vehicle because they aren’t taking an objective, market-based view.

Electric or Gas Powered: Which Type of Vehicle Is Best for You?

The question of electric versus gas is becoming increasingly relevant for new car buyers. A driver’s lifestyle is often the biggest factor when determining which choice is best. When making the decision, it’s important to weigh your long-term financial and sustainability goals against what is feasible in terms of both budget and mileage capacity.

Electric and hybrid vehicles offer eco-friendly driving that can help drivers to ditch high gas prices. However, shoppers can’t ignore the fact that shorter ranges, long charging times, and higher initial expenses can put these high-tech vehicles out of reach for someone who simply needs a daily commuting vehicle that won’t break the bank. A traditional gas-powered car allows drivers to fill up easily without any anxiety about long ranges. Of course, this familiar choice comes with the burden of high fuel costs. Some drivers are also eager to get away from dependence on oil for environmental reasons.