Last week we named four Green Car Reports Finalists for Best Car to Buy 2024.
Between the Hyundai Ioniq 6, Kia EV9, Nissan Ariya and Toyota Prius Prime, one will receive the annual award.
While we’ll delve deeper into why these models are on our shortlist in the coming days, it’s first worth taking a look at what’s coming to market this year that isn’t on this list, and why.
The “Best Car To Buy” award is given for new products. It was always limited to those models that were fully redesigned as all-new or substantially redesigned in the calendar year prior to the award and were scheduled to be generally available in the calendar year following the award.
Last year we dismissed plug-in hybrids due to a simple lack of competitors who valued the long range of electric vehicles and backed this up with high fuel consumption, which is in short supply as hybrids. This year that has changed in one particular case: the Prius Prime, which travels up to 45 miles on electric power and achieves combined fuel consumption of up to 52 mpg as a hybrid.
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid
A few other convincing plug-in hybrid options were added, but they didn’t quite catch on. One of them was this Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid, a model we found charming, sophisticated and suitable for family use – with easy off-road capability and a small third-row seat. While its 38 all-electric miles are impressive, its 26 mpg figure as a hybrid was hard to beat when picking the best.
2024 Mazda CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid
Another new and notable plug-in hybrid entry in the past year is the Mazda CX-90 plug-in hybridbut with 26 electric miles and 25 mpg combined, it doesn’t offer enough zero-emission miles for commuting nor gas mileage to compete with three-row hybrid SUVs like the 34 mpg Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid.
2024 Hyundai Kona Electric
We decided not to include that Hyundai Kona Electric alongside the Ioniq 6 as the year’s top contender, as those of our staff who drove this latest model found it to be slightly improved but not transformative. And since Kona EVs are built overseas for the U.S., Hyundai doesn’t seem to have any big plans for sales volume and availability.
2023 Genesis Electrified GV70
For various reasons it was made in the USA Genesis electrified GV70 didn’t make it into our shortlist. Although it’s an excellent luxury vehicle with excellent ride and handling and a super-quiet interior, it doesn’t break any new ground in terms of efficiency, range or sustainability. Hyundai and Genesis have already set such a high bar for themselves.
2023 Vinfast VF 8 City Edition
Based on a disappointing first experience with the Vinfast VF 8We have to assume that it won’t be one of the big players of the year – although we look forward to following it and the larger VF 9 at some point in the near future.
2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV
Deliveries of the Chevrolet Blazer EV and that Chevy Silverado EV Electric pickup work has begun (albeit only in WT form for the Silverado EV), but by the time we’ve picked a winner there won’t have been enough people in one of these models. By the end of the year, our access in both electric Chevys will be limited to one employee. The same applies to them Fisker Ocean.
2025 Volvo EX30
We sting in the same way Volvo EX30 until next year. Coming to market in early 2024, it will prove to be one of the year’s most notable electric vehicles due to its focus on simplicity and sustainability, as well as its affordable price – from $36,245 to start and $47,895 in the top-of-the-line Performance Ultra trim prove. In a market seemingly devoid of small cars (not small SUVs), it’s a welcome addition to the market.
2025 Tesla Cybertruck – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
And finally: Yes, we know. Technically, Tesla Cybertruck Deliveries have started.
Cybertruck drivers, would you like our employees to put your truck through its paces in the next few weeks? Otherwise, we’re aiming to include the Cybertruck – along with the redesigned Tesla Model 3, scheduled to launch in the US in 2024 – in next year’s competition.
