Ford, Subaru and Toyota each placed two vehicles on Consumer Reports' 2026 list of the Top 10 Vehicles, the magazine announced Feb. 3. The influential list is based on the magazine's road tests, reliability rankings and owner surveys. Tesla joined Ford as the only U.S.-based brands among the 10 best vehicles this year. Honda, Lexus and BMW each also placed a vehicle on the list. Reflecting the high emphasis CR puts on fuel economy, automakers with broad multi-energy strategies that include gasoline, hybrid and electric powertrains fared well. The electric-only Tesla Y is the only vehicle on the list that doesn’t offer at least two of the three choices. Separately, Mazda led Consumer Reports’ new Safety Verdict award, which rates brands by the extent of safety features on their vehicles. Consumer Reports 2026 Top 10 vehicles Small car: Honda CivicMidsize car: Toyota CamrySubcompact SUV: Subaru CrosstrekCompact SUV: Subaru ForesterMidsize SUV: Toyota Grand HighlanderLuxury compact SUV: Lexus NXSmall pickup: Ford MaverickLuxury midsize SUV: BMW X5Electric vehicle: Tesla YFull-size pickup: Ford F-150 Source: Consumer Reports Consumer Reports director of automotive testing Alex knizek at the wheel of a Tesla Cybertruck, which is not one of the Magazine's top 10 vehicles. Ford F-150 ‘was a no-brainer’ The Ford F-150 is the first full-size pickup to be named one of CR’s Top 10 since 2019. That’s because there’s not a vehicle in every category that meets CR’s standards, CR director of auto test development Alex Knizek said. “The F-series is a huge seller,” Knizek said. “When we saw the F-series quality was on the list, it was a no-brainer to include it.” Not every category of vehicle is represented. There are no Top 10 picks for full-size SUVs, midsize pickups, minivans or sports cars for instance. That makes the award in some ways more noteworthy than others that include a winner in every category. “It gives consumers a third-party touchpoint if they’re considering vehicles,” S&P Global Mobility principal analyst Stephanie Brinley said . The honor applies to every trim level in each vehicle’s lineup, except the Subaru Crosstrek hybrid, which went on sale too recently for CR to evaluate. It’d be a surprise if the hybrid’s not on par with other Crosstreks, though. Every winner has standard automatic emergency braking at neighborhood and highway speeds with pedestrian detection. Highlights of the Top 10 “Reliability and fuel economy come to the top time and again,” Knizek said. Usability, defined as vehicles with controls that are easy to use and minimize time the driver’s eyes aren’t on the road, ranks high, too. “The user experience with controls is becoming more important,” Knizek said. “What features do they use every day? How distracting are they?” Potentially troublesome features include climate controls that require the driver to go two menus deep to adjust temperature, and idiosyncratic gear selectors. 2025 Honda Civic From CR’s evaluation of each winner: Honda Civic: “The Honda Civic is an excellent sedan, and the hybrid is the best version.”Toyota Camry: “A pleasing balance between ride comfort and capable handling … practical interior space … user-friendly controls that effectively utilize physical knobs and switches.”Subaru Crosstrek: “The Crosstrek returns to the Top Picks list again this year with even more positive attributes.”Subaru Forester: “Unlike most other small hybrid SUVS, which only offer limited all-wheel drive, the Forester hybrid has a mechanical, full-time AWD system.”Toyota Grand Highlander: “It’s rare to find a three-row SUV that’s roomy enough to accommodate an adult in every seat and still have space for cargo. ... A near-perfect people-mover.”Lexus NX: “This repeat winner combines elegance, efficiency and reliability.”Ford Maverick: “A great choice for a weekday commuter or a weekend plaything.”BMW X5: “The X5 remains one of the best luxury SUVs Consumer Reports has ever tested.”Tesla Y: “Reliability continues to improve, making it more enticing than ever.”Ford F-150: “Stands out for its strong powertrains, roomy cabin and simple controls.” Rating the top brands for vehicle safety Consumer Reports has begun rating brands by the extent of safety features they offer on all their vehicles. It’s not uncommon for a brand’s latest vehicles to have more safety features than those that have been on the market for a few years. The new Safety Verdict tries to filter that factor out, praising brands with the most safety features on the greatest number of vehicles. “It consolidates a lot of information into a single rating,” Knizek said. In addition to a checklist of features, the rating incorporates elements from CR road tests: braking distance and double lane change obstacle avoidance maneuvers. The Safety Verdict has three levels: Basic – Every vehicle has all required safety features.Better – Basic, plus average or better scores in CR’s tests — braking, handling and rollaway prevention. Automatic emergency protection with pedestrian detection standard on all models. Vehicles must weigh more than 2,500 pounds, because “a lightweight car is at a disadvantage in a crash with a heavier car.” Good or acceptable rating in IIHS side crash tests.Best – Better, plus vehicle cannot have lowest score in CR’s usability test; standard all-speed automatic emergency braking, blind spot and cross traffic alerts; good rating in IIHS side crash; acceptable of better test in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test. Lincoln was the only U.S.-based brand in the Top 10. It placed fourth. Consumer Reports Safety Verdict top 10 brands MazdaGenesisAcuraLincolnHyundaiHondaNissanAudiSubaruKia Source: Consumer Reports Consumer Reports director of automotive testing Alex knizek at the wheel of a Tesla Cybertruck, which is not one of the Magazine's top 10 vehicles. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford, Tesla only U.S.-based brands to make influential CR Top 10 list