Best Car: 2018 Honda Fit
The 2017 Best Subcompact Car for the Money enters the 2018 model year as a top-performing car in our rankings. The 2018 Honda Fit spent nearly the entire year in the No. 1 spot among subcompact cars. The redesigned 2018 Toyota Camry and 2018 Toyota Avalon enjoyed top billing in their respective categories as well, but the Fit held its No. 1 spot longer than either of Toyota's sedans. The Fit benefits from a few light updates this year, as well as a new Sport trim.
Best Car: 2018 Honda Fit
The Fit improved an already stellar package this year by adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, and the much-missed volume knob.
Honda didn't alter the killer feature of the Fit – its innovative Magic Seat. The Magic Seat system allows the back seats to flip up so you can carry various types of cargo. Fold down the seats and you have a giant 52.7-cubic-foot cargo hold. That is more space than you can find in some subcompact SUVs.
Are you already dreaming of what you can carry in your Fit? Check out this month's Honda deals to see all available financing and cash back deals. Don't forget to use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the Honda dealer in your area with the lowest available price.
Best Luxury Car: 2018 Audi A6
The Audi A6 has been jostling with the rival Mercedes-Benz E-Class all year atop our luxury midsize car rankings. While the E-Class, fresh off a redesign, ranked first for much of the early part of 2017, the A6 has occupied the top spot in every week since late August, giving Audi’s midsize sedan the victory in this category.
A perennial top performer, the A6 was named a finalist for the Best Luxury Midsize Car for Families award in 2017 and will likely be in the mix for more accolades in 2018, as its overall score of 9.0 is one of the highest among all vehicles in our rankings.
Best Luxury Car: 2018 Audi A6
As you would expect of an Audi, the A6 offers an admirable blend of luxury and performance. Whether you choose the 4-, 6-, or 8-cylinder engine, you’ll be rewarded with a potent powertrain. The A6’s planted agility through curves can inject some fun into your daily commute. It’s also relatively fuel-efficient for the segment, returning 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway with the base engine.
Audi is known for upmarket cabins, the A6 doesn’t disappoint, with opulent cabin materials, a tasteful design, spacious and comfy seats in both rows, and one of the most user-friendly infotainment systems on the market.
With all that it offers, the A6 is tough to pass up. If you’re ready to buy, check out this month’s Audi deals for all the best finance and lease offers. For the lowest price in your area and a stress-free experience at the dealership, use the U.S. News Best Price Program.
Best SUV: 2018 Honda CR-V
No stranger to accolades, the Honda CR-V is the SUV of the Year after occupying the top spot in our compact SUV rankings every single week in 2017. Even full redesigns from rivals like the GMC Terrain and Volkswagen Tiguan weren’t enough to knock the CR-V from the top spot.
The CR-V earned three other awards in 2017, including Best Compact SUV for the Money, Best Compact SUV for Families, and Best New Car for Teens. Although it doesn’t have any significant updates for 2018, the CR-V will likely be a prime contender for more honors in the coming year.
Best SUV: 2018 Honda CR-V
Safety and practicality are usually top priorities for SUV shoppers, and the Honda CR-V delivers in spades. For 2018, it boasts a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS. Inside, Honda’s compact SUV offers class-leading cargo space, as well as roomy and comfortable seating in both rows. Plus, after its redesign for 2017, the CR-V’s cabin materials are more premium than you may expect for the segment.
On the road, the CR-V offers a smooth ride and plenty of power in all common driving situations, which can help make long family road trips a little less stressful.
If all of these attributes are drawing you toward the CR-V, take a look at this month's Honda deals to see all available financing and cash back offers. For a haggle-free experience at the dealership, use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the Honda dealer in your area with the lowest available price.
Best Luxury SUV: 2018 Audi Q5
The redesigned 2018 Audi Q5 debuted at No. 1 in our luxury compact SUV rankings, luxury crossover SUV rankings, and luxury 2-row SUV rankings. The Q5 faced stiff competition from its popular and pricy cousin, the Porsche Macan, as well as the class newcomer, the Jaguar F-Pace. The Q5’s stellar reviews along with its top-notch safety scores combine for an overall score of 9.4. This is the highest score among all vehicles on our site, tied with the 2017 Tesla Model S and redesigned 2018 Honda Odyssey.
Best Luxury SUV: 2018 Audi Q5
The Q5's greatest strength lies with what’s tucked under the hood. Put the pedal to the metal and its base 252-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine will spirit you through the twists and turns of your morning commute with ease. Want even more excitement? Step up to the redesigned-for-2018 performance-tuned SQ5 and its 354-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6.
Check out this month's Audi deals to see all the best ways to save on this top luxury SUV. Then use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the Audi dealer in your area with the lowest available price.
Best Trucks: 2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Honda Ridgeline (tie)
Two trucks battled it out in our rankings for the best truck of 2018 title, and the contest ended in a tie. The 2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Honda Ridgeline tied for most weeks at No. 1 in their respective categories. Both also have an excellent overall score of 8.8.
The Ford F-150 was refreshed for the 2018 model year and gained a host of updates, including modern styling and a more efficient and powerful available engine option. One great feature that comes with all F-150s is the standard rearview camera with dynamic hitch assist. This allows you to line up the hitch of your truck with your trailer using the screen from inside the cab.
These updates and more are why the F-150 carried Ford to threepeat for our Best Truck Brand award. Ready to bring home one of the most capable and popular trucks on the road? Head over to our Ford deals page to see all current financing offers, as well as other ways to save. Find the lowest price in your area by using the U.S. News Best Price Program.
Best Trucks: 2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Honda Ridgeline (tie)
Honda reintroduced the Ridgeline for the 2017 model year, and the new version caters to truck buyers who are more concerned with practicality and day-to-day civility than prodigious towing or off-roading. While it’s not as rugged as some alternatives, it offers a smooth, carlike ride and excellent bed and in-cabin storage options. It’s also available with more active safety features than the norm for the segment, such as automatic braking and lane keep assist. All those attributes propel the Ridgeline to the top spot in our compact pickup truck rankings.
For the best finance and lease rates in your area this month, visit the Honda deals page. Before you go to the dealership, check out the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the lowest price near you.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
You can learn more about all of the vehicles from these award-winning brands, and most vehicles on the market, by using our new car rankings.
See our other award winners by checking out our Best Cars for the Money, Best Cars for Families, Best Cars for Teens, and Best CPO Programs awards.
When it comes time to buy, use our Best Price Program to find dealers with the best price near you. Shoppers who use our Best Price Program have saved an average of $3,279 off MSRP.
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Here Are the Top 2018 Vehicles in Our Rankings
New year, new car. If that is your motto for 2018, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve gone through our car, SUV, and truck rankings and found the best of the best for 2018.
To make this list, We tracked every vehicle throughout 2017 and tallied how many total weeks each spent at No. 1 in its respective segment. The models that spent the most weeks ranked at the head of their respective classes made the cut.
Our new car rankings are based on the consensus opinion of the automotive press, as well as third-party safety and reliability data. Five components make up a vehicle’s overall score: Performance, Interior, Critic's Rating, Safety, and Reliability. We combine these scores in a formula that is based on what new car shoppers say matters most to them in a new vehicle. The result is an overall score for each new car on a 1 to 10 scale. For more information on how we rank cars, visit our methodology page.
Click ahead to see the best cars, trucks, and SUVs to drive in 2018.