Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
2024 Toyota Prius.
Improved body rigidity and handling haven't transformed the Prius into a sports car overnight, but it's no longer a numb embarrassment when pushed through a quick corner, either. More important, the Prius remains a fuel-efficiency champ and an aspirational target for hypermilers. With 49 to 57 mpg, the Prius is both a tech triumph and king of the commute. Recently redesigned with surprisingly stunning results, Toyota's original hybrid is again an aspirational car. Not a fast sports car or an adventurous off-roader, the 2024 Toyota Prius is nonetheless a car we want to drive again. For starters, it just looks better. Its sleek design sacrifices some interior room for sporty proportions that, with a long front end, low roof, and truncated rear quarters, looks more like something we'd expect from Mazda's house of zoom. The interior, too, feels more normal and not overly wrought with quirky tech design. Crossovers and SUVs are rapidly replacing sedans and hatchback-like sedans, leaving the Prius with few direct competitors. The Kia Niro hybrid, a small hatch with a bit more cargo space, comes close but falls a bit short in fuel economy. The Hyundai Elantra hybrid is about the same size as the Prius, costs less, and comes close in efficiency. Toyota’s own Corolla hybrid sedan is about the same size and costs less, but it can't match the Prius' liftback versatility, and the hatchback version isn't available as a hybrid.
2024 Hyundai Elantra.
The Hyundai Elantra was already a standout in the compact sedan segment for its features and value. And this year, the 2024 Elantra gets enhancements in infotainment, safety, and style that make it even more appealing. Hyundai discontinued its small Accent in 2022, leaving the Elantra as the entry-level gas-powered sedan in the Hyundai lineup, below the larger Sonata sedan. The Elantra has a surprisingly roomy interior for a compact sedan, with a wide range of trims that include everything from hybrids to the high-performance N for those who crave a more spirited driving experience.
2024 Kia Niro.
The five-seat Niro is Kia's smallest electrified SUV, slotting below the Sportage.
2025 Toyota Camry.
The 2025 Toyota Camry is officially being called the ninth generation of the popular sedan, but it's really more of a mild facelift than an all-new vehicle. With a starting price under $30,000, it's not any longer, wider, or taller than its predecessor, and it carries over many of the same features and options. Revised front and rear fascias give it a more modern appearance, and there are a few new color choices. The big news is that the 2025 Camry switches to an all-hybrid lineup. The base four-cylinder gas engine has been dropped, along with the optional V6. That leaves only one drivetrain: a hybrid setup that combines a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder gas engine with either a single electric motor on front-wheel-drive models, or two electric motors on all-wheel-drive models. Total output for the system is 225 horsepower (232 hp on AWD models),
2024 Toyota Corolla.
The Corolla gets nearly 40 mpg on the highway with its standard gas engine, and up to 50 mpg in hybrid form. The roomy interior is trimmed in high-quality materials, the infotainment system is more sophisticated than you'd expect for the price, and it comes with useful driver-oriented features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. It's also the only compact hybrid sedan with all-wheel drive, a combination that gives it a little extra performance boost. It's even available as a hatchback (reviewed separately). A staple of Toyota's lineup for nearly 60 years, the Corolla remains one of the best-selling compacts .
2024 Honda Accord.
After five decades and 11 generations of models, the Honda Accord remains the best-selling car in the U.S. The 2024 Accord lives up to the nameplate's legacy of excellence, as it's one of the best and most popular midsize sedans available. Honda gave the Accord a complete redesign just last year that has kept it at the top of its class with sleek new styling, a sophisticated interior, and the latest high-tech features, including a large touchscreen display and built-in Google. Rear seat headroom is a bit tight if you're over 6 feet tall, but the Accord has the most rear-seat legroom in this class and the largest trunk.
2024 Hyundai Sonata.
Some of that adventure carries over to the redesigned Sonata's interior, too. The resculpted dash and center console provide a cleaner look with more space and storage, while the top conversation piece is the dash-spanning widescreen gauges and infotainment display. It's an impressive look that cribs from a similar BMW design, but gives the Sonata a tech edge on its rivals. Hyundai wastes no time re-inventing the Sonata sedan. Although it's been in the automaker's portfolio for 34 years, the Sonata is constantly on the receiving end of styling trends and updates.
2024 Toyota Prius.
Improved body rigidity and handling haven't transformed the Prius into a sports car overnight, but it's no longer a numb embarrassment when pushed through a quick corner, either. More important, the Prius remains a fuel-efficiency champ and an aspirational target for hypermilers. With 49 to 57 mpg, the Prius is both a tech triumph and king of the commute. Recently redesigned with surprisingly stunning results, Toyota's original hybrid is again an aspirational car. Not a fast sports car or an adventurous off-roader, the 2024 Toyota Prius is nonetheless a car we want to drive again. For starters, it just looks better. Its sleek design sacrifices some interior room for sporty proportions that, with a long front end, low roof, and truncated rear quarters, looks more like something we'd expect from Mazda's house of zoom. The interior, too, feels more normal and not overly wrought with quirky tech design. Crossovers and SUVs are rapidly replacing sedans and hatchback-like sedans, leaving the Prius with few direct competitors. The Kia Niro hybrid, a small hatch with a bit more cargo space, comes close but falls a bit short in fuel economy. The Hyundai Elantra hybrid is about the same size as the Prius, costs less, and comes close in efficiency. Toyota’s own Corolla hybrid sedan is about the same size and costs less, but it can't match the Prius' liftback versatility, and the hatchback version isn't available as a hybrid.
2024 Hyundai Elantra.
The Hyundai Elantra was already a standout in the compact sedan segment for its features and value. And this year, the 2024 Elantra gets enhancements in infotainment, safety, and style that make it even more appealing. Hyundai discontinued its small Accent in 2022, leaving the Elantra as the entry-level gas-powered sedan in the Hyundai lineup, below the larger Sonata sedan. The Elantra has a surprisingly roomy interior for a compact sedan, with a wide range of trims that include everything from hybrids to the high-performance N for those who crave a more spirited driving experience.
2024 Kia Niro.
The five-seat Niro is Kia's smallest electrified SUV, slotting below the Sportage.
2025 Toyota Camry.
The 2025 Toyota Camry is officially being called the ninth generation of the popular sedan, but it's really more of a mild facelift than an all-new vehicle. With a starting price under $30,000, it's not any longer, wider, or taller than its predecessor, and it carries over many of the same features and options. Revised front and rear fascias give it a more modern appearance, and there are a few new color choices. The big news is that the 2025 Camry switches to an all-hybrid lineup. The base four-cylinder gas engine has been dropped, along with the optional V6. That leaves only one drivetrain: a hybrid setup that combines a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder gas engine with either a single electric motor on front-wheel-drive models, or two electric motors on all-wheel-drive models. Total output for the system is 225 horsepower (232 hp on AWD models),
2024 Toyota Corolla.
The Corolla gets nearly 40 mpg on the highway with its standard gas engine, and up to 50 mpg in hybrid form. The roomy interior is trimmed in high-quality materials, the infotainment system is more sophisticated than you'd expect for the price, and it comes with useful driver-oriented features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. It's also the only compact hybrid sedan with all-wheel drive, a combination that gives it a little extra performance boost. It's even available as a hatchback (reviewed separately). A staple of Toyota's lineup for nearly 60 years, the Corolla remains one of the best-selling compacts .
2024 Honda Accord.
After five decades and 11 generations of models, the Honda Accord remains the best-selling car in the U.S. The 2024 Accord lives up to the nameplate's legacy of excellence, as it's one of the best and most popular midsize sedans available. Honda gave the Accord a complete redesign just last year that has kept it at the top of its class with sleek new styling, a sophisticated interior, and the latest high-tech features, including a large touchscreen display and built-in Google. Rear seat headroom is a bit tight if you're over 6 feet tall, but the Accord has the most rear-seat legroom in this class and the largest trunk.
2024 Hyundai Sonata.
Some of that adventure carries over to the redesigned Sonata's interior, too. The resculpted dash and center console provide a cleaner look with more space and storage, while the top conversation piece is the dash-spanning widescreen gauges and infotainment display. It's an impressive look that cribs from a similar BMW design, but gives the Sonata a tech edge on its rivals. Hyundai wastes no time re-inventing the Sonata sedan. Although it's been in the automaker's portfolio for 34 years, the Sonata is constantly on the receiving end of styling trends and updates.
