AutoGuide 2023 Car, Truck, SUV and EV of the Year Winners Announced

After 12 months of supply issues, we know how important it is for car buyers to feel confident about their upcoming purchases. Our team scored the 20 finalists on numerous attributes, including value, ease of use, space, safety, and curb appeal. Today’s quartet of winners are the best of the best, the cars we enjoyed most this year, and the ones we would recommend to our own family and friends.

Our team of judges included managing editor Mike Schlee, road test editor Kyle Patrick, and contributing writers Lee Bailie, Evan Williams, and Jeff Wilson. From far-flung new car launch events to extended test drives on their home turf, our judges drove hundreds of new cars, and it’s this expertise that informed their decisions.

This year’s awards categories have been streamlined, with four categories. The newly renamed Electric Vehicle of the Year signifies AutoGuide’s commitment to a zero-emissions future. Electric vehicles are eligible in the other three categories as well: Car, Utility Vehicle, and Truck of the Year.

One of the most common requests we hear from those looking to make the switch to EVs is that they want it to be “just like a regular car.” BMW seemingly heard these comments, as the i4 is, essentially, an electrified 4 Series. In making this change, however, BMW has made a car that’s anything but regular: it’s extraordinary.

The i4 sits on BMW’s highly adaptable CLAR platform, which was built to handle both internal combustion and electrification. Starting with the handsome and practical 4 Gran Coupe body, the i4 uses a floor-mounted, 81.5-kWh (usable) battery pack, and either a single (eDrive40) or dual (M50) electric motor setup. The EV setup not only lowers the center of gravity, but it also shifts the weight distribution rearward, ensuring this four-door still handles as a BMW should.

“There’s no other way to say it: the 2022 BMW i4 is the best everyday-driver 4 Series you can buy,” said road test editor Kyle Patrick in his i4 M50 review last May. “Those who want an added level of involvement and track capability should still seek out the basic, manual-transmission M4. For the rest of us, the i4 captures much of that car’s point-and-shoot prowess, and dollops added practicality and hush-hush highway manners on top. There aren’t a lot of fun-to-drive compact EV sedans out there on the market, but in this segment, the i4 sets the bar.”

The i4’s victory in the Car of the Year category was decisive: none of our judges scored it lower than second, with most putting it at the top of their lists. In either form, the i4 earned accolades for its engaging drive, its practical liftback shape, and its conservative official range figures.

“The i4 represents the perfect gateway drug for an enthusiast reticent about electric car ownership,” said contributing writer Jeff Wilson. “Whether the single motor eDrive40 or the sizzling-quick M50, the i4 is a genuinely fun car to drive, and exactly what enthusiasts hope for from BMW in this segment. Best of all, despite great range and fast-charging capability, it doesn’t look like partly melted confectionery, instead resembling the handsome 4 Series Gran Coupe platform on which it’s based.”

For 2023, North American buys will find an even more approachable i4 model, as the single-motor eDrive35 will slot in at the bottom of the model lineup.

For years now, the SUV has been the sales champ, overtaking the humble sedan as the family vehicle of choice. Everyone has an offering or four to choose from—and no segment is more competitive than the compact SUV scene. Kia has been a player for years now, and with the latest Sportage, it has claimed the crown.

All new for 2023, the Sportage has had a growth spurt, going from one of the smallest in the class to one of the largest. This stretch brings with it vastly more cabin and cargo space, not to mention dramatic new styling that ensures the Sportage stands out in a crowded segment. The cabin sees a major update, with a stylish dual-screen setup atop the dashboard, and Kia’s switchable infotainment/climate control system below. It isn’t without practical, family-focused touches too, like the smart second-row USB charger locations on the front seatbacks—or the positively enormous cargo area. This new model also introduces a range of X-badged models with a greater focus on off-roading.

For this fifth-generation model, Kia has covered the spread with no less than three available engines. The standard 2.5-liter gas engine does the job, but it’s the available hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that really impress. Both pair a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor and battery pack for improved fuel economy and near-silent urban driving. The plug-in adds a larger-capacity battery for increased electric-only range, totalling 34 miles (55 kilometers). More than its engines, the Sportage has a comfortable, well-damped ride that makes it great for road trips. Its good manners even make the Kia fun down the latest back-road or county trail.

The Sportage impressed all our judges with its blend of cutting-edge tech, a well-appointed and spacious interior, and the sort of value buyers expect of the Kia brand. “The bigger Kia Sportage is a wonderful crossover, if you get the HEV or PHEV models,” said contributor writer Evan Williams. The Nova Scotia-based writer called out the Sportage for its “massive space” and “high quality materials.”

“We drove every variation of the Kia Sportage this year, and each one impressed us,” added road test editor Kyle Patrick. “Whether it’s the rough-and-tumble X-Line, the fuel-efficient HEV, or the powerful PHEV and its daily-commute silence, the Sportage offers an unbeatable blend of practicality, spaciousness, useful technology, and style.” Case in point: when AutoGuide brought together no less than 11 competitors in its 2022 Compact SUV Mega-Comparo, it was the Sportage HEV that earned the top spot.

“Is there a vehicle that’s more important this year than the all-electric Ford F-150?” asked managing editor Mike Schlee. “Taking America’s best-selling vehicle and giving it the full electric treatment, while still retaining most of its truck capabilities, is no small feat.”

Yet that’s exactly what Ford has done. Instead of a dramatic EV remodel of its full-sized truck, the Blue Oval gave the F-150 a subtle visual change: enough for those in the know to clock it, but otherwise the same proportions as the current fourteenth-generation pickup. It’s the same story inside, with an easy-to-use layout and thoughtful touches like the foldaway shifter.

True to its name, the F-150 Lightning is quick. That’s what 580 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque can do, especially when it’s instantly accessible. A change to an independent rear suspension ensures the big rig has smooth, composed road manners, too.

A truck needs to work, and the Lightning is up to the task here. The lack of an engine allows for the capacious Mega Power Frunk, a cargo space larger than that of some crossovers. Pro Power Onboard provides up to 9.6 kW of worksite-powering juice, while the available Intelligent Backup Power feature turns the F-150 into a home generator. It’s these practical solutions that earned the Lightning top scores from our judges.

“It wasn’t enough to be the first to bring an electric pickup to market, Ford also made sure the Lightning could deliver what a full-sized truck is expected to do with plenty of capability and clever solutions. Being insanely quick is just the icing on the cake,” said contributing writer Jeff Wilson.

Genesis continues to impress, and the GV60 is the latest in a string of hits for the Korean luxury brand. Funky and fresh, this compact EV had us asking the big questions. Is it an SUV? A hatchback? And how is it so good?

The E-GMP platform underpinning the GV60 is at least part of the answer. Those are good bones, as last year’s Green Vehicle of the Year, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, debuted the platform. You’d never know the shared genes from looking at the GV60, however. Genesis’ twin-line design motif and bold exterior paint palette gives the GV60 a style all its own. A long wheelbase makes for a spacious cabin that is all personality, with tactile delights like the rotating sphere shifter and joystick-grip side-mirror controls.

The GV60’s unique personality shines through on the road, too. Its low-mounted battery pack keeps the handling tidy and fun, while up to 429 horsepower ensures it’s quick, too. The Performance trim offers wheel-mounted boost button offers up 10 seconds of 483 horsepower for added grins.

“Genesis is making strides faster than any other manufacturer on the market,” said managing editor Mike Schlee. “Ten years ago, the brand didn’t exist as a standalone manufacturer. Now, it can go toe-to-toe with the best luxury brands around the world. The GV60 is a total package when it comes to EV SUVs. It’s stylish inside and out, comfortable, luxurious, powerful, and provides a decent amount of range.”

The GV60’s sharp styling is matched to a cutting-edge suite of tech. A fingerprint sensor, facial recognition, the ability to power appliances via its V2L tech—the GV60 shows how the electric future can benefit car owners.

Voting for this award was close, with both the BMW i4 and Ford F-150 Lightning also eligible. Contributing writer Evan Williams gave the GV60 his top vote, succinctly summing it up: “the i4 is a better car, but the GV60 is a better EV.”

“For every person who worries that the electric future will lack personality, the GV60 is the ultimate rebuttal” added road test editor Kyle Patrick. “Brimming with tech, performance, and feel-good features, this is an ultra-desirable car that just so happens to run on electrons. Genesis might be new to the luxury scene, but now it’s setting the bar.”

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