WASHINGTON, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The ongoing increase in fuel prices has spurred a rising consumer interest in hybrid and electric vehicles. Just in time, U.S. News & World Report has announced its 2026 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars awards, highlighting top choices in these categories. This year’s awards expanded to include 15 categories, with 19 distinguished winners recognized for their excellence in quality, efficiency, and value.
“Customers feel stretched every time they fill up at the pump, and there are more electric and hybrid options than ever. The 2026 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars awards are designed to help consumers make informed choices and save money with vehicles they’ll like,” said Tony Markovich, U.S. News senior editor, Autos. “This year’s awards categories were expanded to better suit a broader set of buyers’ needs, and the winners stand out as leaders in sustainability, sophistication and value.”
The 2026 awards have been modified to break down existing categories by size, reflecting the diverse range of hybrid and electric vehicles now available. Consumers can find suitable options across subcompact, compact, and midsize hybrid SUVs, along with various sizes of electric vehicles and luxury models. In response to the growing demand for environmentally friendly family transportation, this year introduces the Best Hybrid Minivan class.
In terms of brand performance, Hyundai and Kia were prominent, each securing three awards. The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and Hyundai Ioniq 5 continued their winning streak as leaders in the Best Compact Hybrid SUV and Best Compact Electric SUV categories, respectively. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 was honored as the top Midsize Electric SUV.
Kia excelled in hybrid SUV categories with the Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid earning its second title as the Best Compact Plug-In Hybrid SUV. The Kia Niro won Best Subcompact Hybrid SUV for the fifth consecutive time. In addition, the revamped 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid received its first recognition in the Best Midsize Hybrid SUV category, praised for its superior interior and technology.
Other notable winners include the Nissan Leaf as Best Subcompact Electric SUV and the Mazda CX-90 PHEV as Best Midsize Plug-In Hybrid SUV.
The Toyota Sienna debuted as the winner of the Best Hybrid Minivan category, with high marks for its interior and fuel economy. Toyota also triumphed with the Toyota Camry, named Best Midsize Hybrid Car. In the compact segment, the Honda Civic Hybrid claimed its first victory as Best Compact Hybrid Car, recognized for its performance, spaciousness, fuel efficiency, and safety.
Returning award categories saw the Lucid Air winning Best Luxury Electric Car, while the Rivian R1T was awarded Best Electric Truck for the first time. The Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid was recognized as Best Luxury Hybrid SUV.
U.S. News evaluated 138 hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles, assessing them on gas mileage, range data from the EPA, pricing, and expert opinions from the automotive press. The winners were chosen for their quality, efficiency, and value. Read more about the ranking methodology here.
For further details on the Best Hybrid and Electric Cars, follow U.S. News on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok using #BestCars.
Original Story at www.cbtnews.com