Best Car of 2026
2026 Honda Passport: Finalist
- Starting price: $46,445
- Estimated combined fuel economy: 20-21 mpg
The redesigned 2026 Honda Passport is a rugged-looking two-row SUV that combines blocky throwback styling with interior and on-road comfort that are anything but old school. It may be a unibody SUV, but the Passport is very capable off-road and still comfortable getting you home from the trail.
The Passport’s power comes from a 3.5-liter V-6 that produces a healthy 285 hp and is paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Owners may never find the Passport quick but will appreciate the V-6’s smooth power delivery and refined operation.
We’re also huge fans of just how huge the Passport feels inside. Its interior is a relative masterpiece of space efficiency, with room for adults in the backseat as well as ample cargo space. This is a huge plus compared to a segment stalwart like the Toyota 4Runner that looks big but is cramped inside. Clever accessories include a hard cargo cover that transforms into a picnic table for use outside the SUV, as well as a full-size spare tire for trails that secures inside the cargo area and accompanies the underfloor space-saver tire for on-road use.
What sets the Passport apart from competitors is how easy it is to drive on pavement, too, even in its most aggressive TrailSport trim. Hardcore off-roaders often come with a built-in penalty of unpleasant on-pavement driving that can make commuting a tiring struggle. The Passport, however, is smooth and steady regardless of what’s under its tires, and that’s why it’s a finalist for our Best Car of 2026 award.
2026 Honda Passport Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Honda Passport Near You
2026 Hyundai Palisade, Palisade Hybrid: Finalist
- Starting price: $41,035; $45,760 (hybrid)
- Estimated combined fuel economy: 19-21 mpg; 29-34 mpg (hybrid)
The Hyundai Palisade’s ground-up redesign for 2026 brings more space, more features and more luxury to one of our favorite three-row SUVs, plus an available hybrid powertrain and enhanced off-road version.
It’s that all-new hybrid powerplant that really makes the 2026 Palisade a front-runner. A turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder is paired with two electric motors for a total output of 329 hp and 339 pounds-feet of torque, handily outclassing the standard 287-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 in both acceleration and fuel economy. The hybrid powertrain is also impressively smooth and quiet, befitting the new Palisade’s more upscale look and feel.
Hybrids are rarer among family-sized three-row SUVs than you might expect. Among the Palisade’s similarly spacious rivals, the Toyota Grand Highlander currently offers hybrid versions, as does the Palisade’s corporate cousin, the redesigned-for-2027 Kia Telluride.
Further enhancing the Palisade’s bona fides are the off-road-optimized XRT Pro and flagship Calligraphy trims. The former comes only with the gas engine and features a lifted suspension, an electronic rear limited-slip differential, all-terrain tires, and front and rear tow hooks. The latter elevates the Palisade’s ambiance and standard features enough to shame many premium-brand rivals and compare favorably to luxury SUVs that cost much more.
Though the Palisade got notably pricier with its redesign and the addition of the hybrid powertrain, it’s still an excellent value in terms of features for the money and overall high-quality feel. That earns it a spot on our Best Car of 2026 finalist list.
2026 Hyundai Palisade Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Hyundai Palisade Near You
2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Near You
2026 Lucid Gravity: Finalist
- Starting price: $81,550
- Estimated electric driving range: 337-450 miles
- Estimated combined fuel economy: 90-108 mpg-e
What makes the 2026 Lucid Gravity a finalist for Cars.com’s Best Car for 2026? The better question is what doesn’t make it the Best Car — and there are not many points to deduct. It’s a fabulously engineered and ingeniously packaged electric luxury three-row EV. Dual-electric motors are standard in your choice of either 560 hp or a stunning 828 hp, with EPA-rated ranges of 337 and 450 miles, respectively. A standard North American Charging System charge port gives you access to Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network and the Gravity’s heady 400-kilowatt peak DC fast-charge speed that Lucid claims adds 200 miles in less than 11 minutes (in ideal conditions).
The Gravity — and its Air sedan sibling — are software-defined vehicles to the nth degree, and the new-ish automaker revamped its complex digital architecture for its sophomore effort. Standard vehicle functions are handled by the center 12.6-inch LED touchscreen, but the sprawling 34-inch dashtop display is the party piece housing navigation, info displays, and a number of menus and settings accessed via touchpads mounted on the steering wheel. Although, sometimes you can’t help but feel some of its purposeful complexity and gee-whizz features might be a bit overkill for both the segment and the price.
That’s just the digital stuff. The cabin is finely appointed in Lucid’s signature modernist-minimalist design language that feels more modern luxury office than car. You can certainly stretch out as you would in a conference room, with excellent passenger space in any seat, including the flat-floored third-row. And with up to 120 cubic feet of cargo space (including frunk space), you can haul a full house of luggage, too.
The 2026 Gravity is one of the most impressive vehicles on sale today regardless of segment, which is why it’s a finalist for our Best Car of 2026 award.
2026 Lucid Gravity Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Lucid Gravity Near You
2026 Nissan Armada: Finalist
- Starting price: $61,030
- Estimated combined fuel economy: 16-18 mpg
Nissan has gone through multiple generations of its Armada full-sized SUV, and we think it finally has the formula right with its latest redesign.
The Armada is big enough without being gargantuan like the American-brand full-size SUVs, and it’s plenty powerful thanks to its standard 425-hp, twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6, which is able to tow a very respectable 8,500 pounds with its robust nine-speed automatic transmission. The Armada offers rear- or all-wheel drive, and its Pro-4X model has legit off-road capability, so it ticks a lot of boxes for big SUV owners looking for different kinds of capability — towing as well as off-road.
There’s plenty of room to seat up to eight occupants across its standard three rows, depending on seating configurations, with adjustability between rows that allows for plenty of legroom for everyone. But the Armada goes a step further with a genuinely luxurious interior, with outstanding material quality, especially on top luxury trim levels.
The twin 14.3-inch display screens combine for a stunning off-road camera view, too. What makes the Armada a winner in our book is that it demonstrates Nissan’s excellent understanding of a proper mix between what should be in a touchscreen and what should be a dedicated button — the interior is a practically perfect combination of both, and in our opinion, elevates it above even its own luxury sister ship, the Infiniti QX80.
It’s the 2026 Armada’s combination of usable technology, capability and luxury that combines with reasonable pricing that makes it a finalist for Cars.com’s Best Car of 2026 award.
2026 Nissan Armada Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Nissan Armada Near You
2026 Volkswagen Tiguan: Finalist
- Starting price: $32,280
- Estimated combined fuel economy: 25-29 mpg
The best compact SUVs are jacks-of-all-trades that hit a just-right mix of passenger and cargo room, comfort, performance and amenities in an easy-to-drive package. Volkswagen’s Tiguan is one of those; it received an excellent redesign for 2025 that enhanced its well-roundedness, and its already-impressive flagship version gets a bit sweeter for 2026.
The Tiguan’s standard 201-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine provides respectable (but not particularly zingy) acceleration. For 2026, VW turned the top-line SEL R-Line trim into the SEL R-Line Turbo by adding a spicier 268-hp version of that base engine. Laudably, this horsepower infusion does not come with a penalty to its EPA ratings: The R-Line Turbo is rated at 25 mpg combined, the same as other AWD Tiguans. Bonus: The more powerful engine doesn’t require premium gasoline for its maximum power or efficiency.
The Tiguan shines beyond its engine, too. The cabin is quiet, the ride is comfortable, occupant space is generous, and the cargo room is comparable to the best in the compact SUV class. All Tiguans are nicely trimmed and equipped for their respective prices, but the SEL R-Line Turbo is surprisingly luxurious thanks to standard upscale features like quilted leather upholstery, real-wood dashboard trim, massaging front seats, upgraded ambient interior lighting and a 15-inch infotainment touchscreen in place of the standard 12.9-inch display.
We’re not fans of the Tiguan’s finicky touchscreen climate controls, and unlike most class rivals, there’s no hybrid powertrain available, but the Tiguan’s all-around goodness comes at highly competitive, value-conscious prices. That’s why it’s a finalist for our Best Car of 2026 award.
2026 Volkswagen Tiguan Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan Near You