The Best Car Currently Sold by Every Manufacturer

For every new car manufacturer, there's that one vehicle that really stands out. The vehicle that dominates a segment, epitomizes the brand, and/or speaks to consumers. Below we've tried to identify that special vehicle for each new car brand, focusing on units on sale as of right now in 2026.

For some brands it's easy to single out that exception model line, while others it's a little bit more difficult. Below we've highlighted our picks, in alphabetical order.

Acura: Integra Type S

This may be one of the brand’s smaller selling units, but the Integra Type S is a phenomenal car to drive and still includes compact car usability, sleek styling and a premium interior. It's Acura's halo product since the demise of the NSX.

Alfa Romeo: Giulia

Sticking with sedans, the Giulia reminds us of what Alfa Romeo excelled at for decades, making fun-to-drive, stylish luxury cars. Even if the crazy Quadrifoglio is no more, the Giulia is still a response four-door.

Audi: Q5 / SQ5

Audi’s Q5 midsize SUV has been a staple for the brand for decades and the latest generation only improves on things. It encompasses luxury, style, and above average performance.

BMW: iX3

BMW is embarking on a new era, and the brand’s first product is a great first effort. All electric, priced competitively, and full of future technology, the iX3 shows what BMW can do when the manufacturer really tries.

Buick: Envista

Picking a brand’s entry-level model as the best may seem like an odd choice, but Buick has nailed the demographic with the Envista. With a premium SUV-coupe like shape, posh interior, and modern technology, the little upscale SUV feels far nicer, and pricier than its MSRP suggest.

Cadillac: CT5-V Blackwing

Cadillac set out a few decades ago to become a performance luxury division, one that could go toe-to-toe with the best from Germany, and the brand has succeeded. Nothing better encapsulates this than the CT5-V Blackwing. Luxurious cruiser, or monster track weapon, it can do it all.

Chevrolet: Corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette has evolved over the decades, especially over the past five years. But it still does what the Corvette has always done best. Outperform machinery far more expensive, with a sweet sounding V8 and full factory warranty. The New ZR1 and ZR1X redefine what performance cars can be.

Chrysler: Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid

Picking a vehicle that’s soon to die off may seem like an odd choice, but it makes sense here. The Pacifica is one of the poshest minivans still left on the market, and the pricing reflects that. So why not go all-in and get the fanciest of the fancy – the plug-in hybrid version?

Dodge: Charger Six-Pack

Dodge’s reborn Charger Daytona coupe and sedan are quite good all electric vehicles. But the Charger Six-Pack, with the turbocharged inline-six, are even better. All-wheel drive, 500+ horsepower and room for five adults, all while not breaking the bank.

Ferrari: 849 Testarossa

Every Ferrari is special and any of the brand’s current models could make this list. But we’re old and the nostalgic name and styling of the Testarossa speaks to us.

Ford: Maverick

We don’t know if we can say any more about how fantastic this small truck is. The choice is immense, with hybrid, sport truck, all-wheel drive, and even a stripped out work truck available. The LOBO though is the icing on the cake.

Genesis: Electrified GV70

Honestly, Genesis doesn’t produce any misses in the luxury manufacturer’s condensed lineup. Our top pick though is the Electrified GV70 for how seamlessly it converts the regular GV70 into a fully electric model that just makes it feel even more premium.

GMC: Yukon Denali

GMC is a maker of SUVs and trucks, so the brand’s truck-based Yukon SUV stealing the spotlight here makes sense. Specifically, we pick the premium Denali, which makes the Yukon feel like a luxury sport utility value.

Honda: Civic Hybrid

The Honda Civic is easily the best small car currently on sale today. In fact, it may be the best traditional car on sale period. The Hybrid only makes thing better with more power and better fuel efficiency.

Hyundai: Santa Fe

Like the Ford Maverick and Honda Civic, the Hyundai Santa Fe is one of our go-to recommendations for new car buyers. The combination of space, value, technology, and drivability has few equals in the mid-size SUV segment.

Infiniti: QX60

We could have picked the new Infiniti QX80 full-size SUV as the brand’s representative here as well, but we went with the more affordable, family-orientated QX60. The brand has really found a winning formula with this three-row SUV.

Jaguar: F-Pace

With an aging lineup and brand reinvention right around the corner, the pickings may be slim at Jaguar. But, despite its age, the F-Pace is still a really good luxury SUV. It’s been consistently updated with the latest technology and the styling has aged quite well.

Jeep: Wrangler

Is there a Jeep brand without the Wrangler? Probably not. Good thing the old-school off-roader still has plenty of panache and appeal with the go-anywhere crowd.

Kia: EV4

Ha, bet you didn’t see this one coming. Sure, it might just be us up north rubbing salt in the wound for American consumers who won’t be getting this model, but the Canada-only EV4 should be an affordable, mainstream all-electric sales hit. Let’s hope Kia USA changes their mind if the tariff situation gets better.

Lamborghini: Revuelto

The new Lamborghini Temerario is a technological wonder and costs half the price of the Revuelto with nearly identical performance. But there’s nothing that can match the sound and feel of a Lamborghini naturally aspirated V12, which the sleek Revuelto still continues to offer.

Land Rover: Defender

Any easy choice, the Defender is the do-anything vehicle for Land Rover. Available in three-body sizes, with multiple drivetrain configurations, there is virtually a Defender option for everyone. The biggest surprise is how useful the Defender 130’s third row is even for adults.

Lexus: RX Hybrid

Although we absolutely adore the Lexus LC, it’s really the mid-size RX that has been the brand’s sales darling for decades, and for good reason. It’s like Goldilocks’ porridge. There's just the right combination of everything luxury family SUV buyers are looking for.

Lincoln: Nautilus

The Lincoln Nautilus plays in the same segment as the Lexus RX and is appealing for plenty of the same reasons. There are multiple drivetrain options, including a plug-in hybrid, and ample space inside. Lincoln’s massive full-length digital dashboard is a nice technological, premium touch.

Mazda: CX-50 (until the CX-5 arrives)

The Mazda CX-50 stands out in the world of mainstream compactish SUVs, offering more power and style in a still very functional vehicle. With the recent updates, it’s really come into its own, but we feel the about-to-be-released redesigned CX-5 may steal its thunder.

McLaren: W1

When something is the successor to the legendary McLaren F1 and P1 hypercars, we take notice. It looks like this latest edition, the McLaren W1, lives up to the hype.

Mercedes-Benz: AMG E 53 HYBRID Wagon

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class and GLE-Class platforms are both so good. They’re everything a luxury vehicle should be. So, we’re being a bit selfish here and picking our beloved car-nerd choice within the family, the AMG E 53 HYBRID Wagon. Speed, style, luxury, handling, and practicality. Sign us up.

MINI: Cooper S 2-Door

MINI’s models may have matured over the years, but the most MINI-like driving experience is still found in the smallest, most spunky family member, the Cooper S 2-Door. The S model is the just-right formula of sportiness and usability without costing too much.

Mitsubishi: Outlander PHEV

Mitsubishi was one of the pioneers to bring a plug-in hybrid version of the brand’s mid-size SUV to market, and it’s easily still the manufacturer’s best product. With three rows, high-occupancy lane access, and all electric drivability, it’s a great all around family SUV.

Nissan: LEAF

Arguably the originator of the mainstream all-electric car, the latest Nissan LEAF may be considered a crossover now, but it still offers all the greatness of a small EV hatchback. Increased range, power, and technology all make the car more competitive in an ever changing landscape.

Polestar: 3

It would be easy for us to pick the sleek, high-performance Polestar 4 here, but we feel the Polestar 3 resonates better with more consumers and it’s still a really good vehicle.

Porsche: 911

The 911 may not be the volume seller for the brand, but c’mon. Is there even a Porsche without the 911? Not in a world we want to be in. The brand thankfully agrees with us and keeps improving the rear-engine wonder.

Ram: 1500 RHO

The Ram 1500 RHO is a best of both worlds’ situation. It combines plenty of the widebody, offroad bits from the TRX, with the more sensible, yet still powerful Hurricane inline-6 turbo engine.

Rivian:

The Rivian R3 is basically a hot hatch that just happens to have an electric drivetrain (A really powerful one at that). What’s not to love?

Subaru: Crosstrek

This is another entry where a brand sort of created a segment, yet is still one of the key players. We can’t count how many times we’ve uttered the phrase “that’s a brand’s new Subaru Crosstrek competitor”. Oh, and there’s a new hybrid version of the Crosstrek this year too, only adding to the appeal.

Tesla: Model Y

Tesla’s right-sized, long-range Model Y has been highly successful around the world. With the demise of the Model S and X on the horizon, it should only bolster the Model Y’s position.

Toyota: Prius

The Toyota Prius has always been well respected as a highly efficient, mainstream car that seems to last forever. Last year, Toyota upped the car’s game, making it incredibly stylish, giving it more power, and increasing the driving feel. Oh, all while improving efficiency and keeping the price in check.

Volkswagen: GTI

The Volkswagen GTI continues to be the car all front-wheel drive performance vehicles are compared to and for good reason. It just keeps getting better.

Volvo: EX30