10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Kia Niro Gets the Best of Jeep Grand Cherokee
Nero’s Rome burned in the year 64, but in 2023, the Niro is fire. Cars.com editors weren’t fiddling around when they honored the redesigned 2023 Kia Niro with our most prestigious award, Best Car of 2023 — and in addition to said award, the Niro also anchors one of the most popular Cars.com news articles on this week’s countdown.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Even Tesla Got Affordable in January
Formidable model-year ‘23 finalists who ultimately couldn’t handle the Niro’s smoke were the Ford F-150 Lightning, Genesis G90, Honda CR-V, Land Rover Range Rover and Nissan Ariya. Of its three fuel-efficient powertrain variants, however, the “Best Of” title applies specifically to the hybrid version, which edges out the all-electric and plug-in-hybrid models for being the most affordable of the trio (starting under $28,000) — and for most car shoppers in this uncertain, inflation-plagued economy, affordability is a key factor. The hybrid’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine combines with a 32-kilowatt electric motor for a total of 139 horsepower and boasts an impressive EPA-estimated 53/54/53 mpg city/highway/combined. All models, meanwhile, benefit from smart styling upgrades to both the exterior and interior, as well as cabin materials that are not only eco-conscious, but comfort-conscious.
“There are no game-changing specs or headline-grabbing features here as the Niro simply coheres into an exceptionally likable and affordable overall package,” judges concluded.
For additional details on Cars.com’s Best Car of 2023 — including more on how the Niro cinched our highest honor — follow the link below to the No. 2 news story of the past week.
Elsewhere on the Best of the Year roster — but coming in just below the Niro on this week’s countdown — is the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which takes this year’s top SUV title. The mid-size Jeep SUV won over our judges with its abundance of configurations, offering seemingly endless options for affordability, off-road ability, towing prowess, fuel economy, interior luxury and family-friendliness. For the full rundown on how the 2023 Grand Cherokee triumphed over worthy competition to earn our Best SUV honor, follow the link below to the No. 3 news story of the week.
Meanwhile, Best of the Year coverage continues down the line if you’re interested in learning what won (and what lost) awards for 2023’s best luxury car, pickup truck, electric vehicle and family car, which can be found at Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively.
Beyond all that, we got headlines on the G90, Ford Maverick, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia Carnival, Subaru Crosstrek and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. 2023 Chicago Auto Show: Winners and Losers
6. Best Electric Vehicle of 2023
8. Driving 3 EVs in Zero-Degree Temps: What Could Go Wrong?
9. Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
10. 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Loads Up on Tech and Safety, Keeps $26,000 Price Tag
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
