[MUSIC PLAYING] ALISTAIR WEAVER: We're here to crown Edmund's best of the best for 2023. We're honoring the car, truck, or SUV that's not just top rated in its segment, but a standout vehicle on sale today. The best of the best award debuts this year and it's given at the discretion of Edmund's award-winning editorial team, which now numbers over 40 people.
In common with all our ratings, the judging was informed by our industry leading testing process. But for this special award, we went beyond the metrics to consider the model's impact, innovation, and relevance to car shoppers. And we considered every vehicle on sale today, whether they're fueled by a plug or by a pump. So, let's start with the short list.
This year we've named Edmunds top rated winners in six categories. In SUVs, the stylish, efficient, and surprisingly affordable new Kia Sportage hybrid beat back a crowded fleet of talented rivals.
RYAN ZUMMALLEN: The Sportage hybrid has more power than the non-hybrid, plus way better fuel economy. And the price is so good that we wouldn't even bother with the non-hybrid.
EMME HALL: When you're in a Kia Sportage hybrid, people know it, because it looks like nothing else on the road and nothing else in that class.
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ALISTAIR WEAVER: In cars, the versatile, affordable, and surprisingly refined Honda Civic won the day. That's two years in a row.
EMME HALL: What I also like about the Civic is that everything is so intuitive, right? The infotainment is super intuitive. There's not a lot of menus and submenus. So you can really get in the vehicle and say, OK, here's my setting. Here's my presets. I'm in gear. All right, I'm ready to go.
And there's just not a huge learning curve with the Civic.
RYAN ZUMMALLEN: The Civic, in three words to me, is practical, fun, and affordable. That says it all.
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ALISTAIR WEAVER: In trucks, boasting everything from an available hybrid to an onboard generator, the powerhouse Ford F-150 pickup took home the honors. Also, a repeat top-rated performer.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: So Pro Power Onboard is an amazing feature for the F-150. It essentially turns a truck into a portable generator. And not just like a small generator that might power a mini fridge. Although, it can do that as well. What that means is it can power pretty much any power tool, any appliance that you can think to plug-in.
I think you can even plug a washer/dryer in and run it off of that. A refrigerator.
RYAN ZUMMALLEN: This is the standard bearer for how a full-sized pickup should feel on the road.
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ALISTAIR WEAVER: In our electric cars category, the value-laden, spacious, and easy to drive Chevrolet Bolt EV took a surprise win, beating out established favorites like the Tesla Model 3.
RYAN ZUMMALLEN: The amount of range that you get for the price is insane.
LAUREN MCCAY: The Bolt EV is a nice car. But given the price, it makes it an amazing car.
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ALISTAIR WEAVER: In America's nascent electric truck category, it was another F-150, the Lightning, that hauled away our honors thanks to its long range, excellent power, and clever tech.
RYAN ZUMMALLEN: The Lightning is wild. It's an F-150, but to the max. I mean, this is the most torque you can get in any F-150. And it's not close. So on top of all that, it's got really strong payload ratings.
EMME HALL: So you'll get into it and you'll think, oh, this is just like my regular truck. Then you'll drive it and you'll go, whoa, this is way better than my regular truck.
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ALISTAIR WEAVER: And in our fast growing electric SUVs category, the winner was Hyundai's dynamic and uniquely stylish Ioniq 5.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: So, Ioniq 5 comes with an 800 volt architecture and allows you to charge super quick. And it's something that only much more expensive EVs have.
LAUREN MCCAY: It's like a "Stranger Things" vehicle. It's like in the '80s, but also sci-fi all at the same time. Ooh, I'm liking it even more as I'm talking about it.
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ALISTAIR WEAVER: As you can see, it's a hugely talented list. But which of these standout models reigns supreme? While we've been particularly impressed with Kia's Sportage hybrid and Hyundai's Ioniq 5, in the final analysis, it's the Ford F-150 Lightning that hauls away our Best of the Best Award for 2023. Ford's F-series is America's best-selling vehicle full stop. And this Lightning might just be the best version for most people.
Sure, if you tow regularly, we'd recommend the hybrid. But for almost everybody else, the Lightning is the better choice, especially if you can charge at home. Yes, an electric truck really is Edmunds Best of the Best.
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