The Best Cars and Trucks of 2024
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,Are you in the market for a new car or truck in 2024? Whether you’re looking for the most affordable compact car to zip down city streets, a luxury car that lets you soar down highways in style, or a hybrid car that saves you big bucks at the pump, you’ll have plenty of options for a new vehicle in 2024. Are you looking for a Jeep Gladiator, Chevy, Porsche, or Lexus?
There are so many options that finding the right car or truck for you – depending on your budget and needs – can prove challenging. Fortunately, we at Joy Wallet have researched for you, searching for the best vehicles touted by the biggest names in the motor vehicle press.
We then separated these vehicles into categories – such as best affordable vehicle, electric car, or luxury vehicle – so that you can find the best cars or trucks that best fit your budget, driving style, and needs.
In this article
Our methodology
Ready to find your new ride in 2024? Here are some vehicles that might be a perfect fit.
How do you find the right midsize truck or a sports car? It’s all about studying your own budget and needs. Struggling to find that right car or full-size truck? Your first step is to determine the price range that you can afford and the features that are most important to you.
Safety, of course, should be a priority for all drivers. That’s why this story only includes vehicles that have earned high safety ratings from the automotive press.
As in last year, we’ve also focused on fuel efficiency. This is important always, but especially so when gas prices are higher. You don’t want to spend a fortune commuting to work each day. A high-performance car might not seem as exciting if you’re draining your savings to keep its tank full.
Then there’s the fun part: performance. There’s nothing quite like driving a car that accelerates smoothly and brakes quickly. Design matters, too: We’ve only recommended cars with interior controls that are easy to understand and use. Driving shouldn’t feel like homework, after all.
Unless you have unlimited funds, you’re probably concerned about value, too. That’s why we’ve also focused on cars and trucks that give you the most bang for your dollar. Yes, a car with a low price tag might seem like a good value. But if it’s constantly in the shop for repairs, has low fuel efficiency or isn’t enjoyable to drive? You might not consider it much of a bargain. We, then, have focused on the combination of efficiency, price, performance, and aesthetics when determining whether a car or truck is of good or bad value.
We can share our opinions with you. But we can’t make your decision on a new truck or car for you. You’ll need to consider your own driving habits and budget when choosing a car or truck. If you live in a crowded city in which parking is a premium, you might seek out a compact car that’s easy to squeeze into tight spots. If you have a long commute to work each day? A more comfortable luxury vehicle might be the better choice. And if you have a young family? You might explore SUVs or mini-vans that provide room for toting your kids to soccer practice or swim lessons.
If you plan on using your vehicle for heavy-duty work, a rugged pick-up truck with plenty of room for hauling lumber, furniture, or construction materials might be the best choice.
Note that the price tags for the vehicles below are starting costs. Depending on the model you choose and the upgrades you add, the final price tag can be far higher.
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Best affordable cars and trucks for 2024
Don’t want to spend too much on a new car? You’re in luck: Automakers have introduced several quality, affordable cars, and trucks that don’t sacrifice performance or aesthetics for a lower price. If you’re on a budget, here are some options that won’t drain your savings.
2024 Nissan Versa
Price tag: $16,130
Kelley Blue Book refers to the 2024 Nissan Versa as the least-expensive new car in the United States. But what do you get for that price tag of just over $16,000? A solid, reliable vehicle that won’t bust your budget. The base model Versa S comes with a five-speed manual transmission. The Versa's S+ package comes with smartphone integration, aluminum alloy wheels, and a rear seat with split-folding.
If you spend a bit more – $17,800, according to Kelley Blue Book – for the Versa S CVT, you'll get a continuously variable automatic transmission, which makes for a smoother drive. Don't expect many other high-end features from this basic car, but if you're looking for a reliable ride for a low price? The 2024 Versa is hard to beat.
2024 Mazda 3
Price tag: $25,335
MotorTrend singles out the 2024 Mazda 3 for its style: As the publication says in its review, many five-passenger cars look as good as the Mazda 3 with a price tag under $26,000. MotorTrend also praises the car's driving experience, with its base model's 2.5-liter engine with 191 horsepower providing enough power to make this Mazda's ride an enjoyable one. That extra oomph is good for merging onto busy highways or making quick lane changes on busy city streets.
On the downside? MotorTrend says that the Mazda 3's rear seating area is a bit cramped. The car's overall good looks and solid performance outweigh that negative.
2024 Kia Forte
Price tag: $20,915
MotorTrend says that the 2024 Kia Forte is the least-expensive new compact car you can find this year. Cheap doesn't mean low quality; as MotorTrend says, this smaller car is fun to drive.
Its smaller size also makes it a good choice for city drivers on a budget. It's easy to squeeze the Forte into the smaller parking spots of crowded urban neighborhoods. When listing this car's positives, MotorTrend points to the impressive fuel economy from its 2.0-liter engine. The Forte gets 30 miles per gallon in the city and 41 when motoring down the highway in its Forte LX version. This inexpensive car gives a solid performance, too. The Kia Forte GT version hits 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, according to MotorTrend.
2024 Hyundai Elantra
Price tag: $22,775
For a price tag under $23,000, the 2024 Hyundai Elantra brings plenty of style. That's the verdict from Car and Driver in its ranking of the best new affordable cars of the year. Car and Driver gives the 2024 Elantra a winning grade of 8.5 out of 10. Why such a high mark? The publication gives this car plenty of style points. It also cites the car's easy-to-understand infotainment system and spacious cabin.
On the negative side? Car and Driver says that the latest Elantra could use more "oomph" when on the road. The Elantra doesn't boast the more impressive handling offered by its main rivals, the Honda Civic and Mazda 3.
Still, with a price tag this low, the Elantra makes for a perfect city car, compact enough for narrow parking spaces and even tighter streets.
2024 Ford Maverick
Price tag: $25,410
Car and Driver rates no 2024 affordable truck higher than this year's Ford Maverick, awarding the vehicle a perfect score of 10/10 in its rankings. In its description, Car and Driver refers to the 2024 Maverick as a compact workhorse with an impressive payload capacity and surprising towing capability for the price. According to Car and Driver, the 2024 Maverick compares well with the company's Ranger and F-150 models.
Car and Driver is so impressed, it placed the 2024 Maverick on its list of the 10 Best Trucks and SUVs. That's not just the best affordable trucks, mind you. It is the best overall. According to Car and Driver, the Maverick can tow up to 4,000 pounds and handle as much as 1,500 pounds of payload in its bed. It also boasts a smart-looking cabin, while most models offer equipment that makes this truck feel more upscale than its lower price tag would suggest.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Price tag: $26,900
Edmunds, when praising the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, points to what it calls the truck's funky good looks and fun performance. It also cites the truck's long list of features. The Santa Cruz is a bit more expensive than its rival, the Ford Maverick, but offers some nice perks for the slightly higher price tag.
This includes an optional 10.25-inch center touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver's display. You can also order a Bose sound system that provides stellar sound quality. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both connect wirelessly, even in base models. Coming standard on the Santa Cruz are adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and forward-collision warning. Edmunds says the Santa Cruz offers a smooth ride, quietly absorbing road imperfections. The truck's comfortable front seats are a plus during long highway drives. And on cold mornings? You'll like that the front seats are heated on higher-priced models.
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Best luxury cars and trucks for 2024
Willing to spend extra for a more powerful ride? Want a car equipped with onboard entertainment systems and high-tech safety features? Automakers offer plenty of options for luxury cars and trucks this year.
2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Price tag: $118,450
It's certainly not cheap, but Car and Driver ranks the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as 2024's top full-size luxury car thanks to its comfortable ride, tech features and powerful performance. How powerful is this car? During testing, Car and Driver found that the S500 version of the Mercedes-Benz hit 60 MPH in just 4.5 seconds. The S580 version, powered by a V-8 engine, managed this in 3.9 seconds.
If you like tech, this car is for you. The S-class sedan can include up to five interior screens, including a large center screen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge screen. The car's rear-seat area offers increased headroom and legroom. You can also upgrade to reclining seats that boast massage functions and heat. You can add an optional rear-seat entertainment system with two 11.6-inch screens.
S-class vehicles come with driver-assistance technology that will park your car for you and take preventative measures to protect passengers if it senses an oncoming collision. The sedan comes with rear-seat airbags and an active suspension that lifts the car to reduce the damage during a crash.
2024 Audi A7
Price tag: $71,200
Looking for a high-end midsize car? The 2024 Audi A7 might be the choice if you want a smooth ride, plenty of power and good looks. Kelley Blue Book ranks the A7 as one of its top luxury midsize vehicles of 2024. It's easy to see why: The base model A7 comes with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with 335 horsepower. You can get to 60 MPH in just 5.2 seconds.
Kelley Blue Book says the A7 also boasts a smooth ride, perfect for highway driving and city streets. It offers solid fuel economy, too, with the EPA saying that the A7 gets 21 miles per gallon during city driving and 30 on the highway. Luxury touches include optional ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, heated rear seats, and quad-zone climate control. The A7 also offers a heads-up display that projects important information on its windshield and a virtual cockpit digital driver information display.
2024 BMW 5 Series
Price tag: $58,895
What's important to you? Speed? Fuel economy? Tech? Whatever it is, the 2024 BMW 5 Series has it. TrueCar ranked the 5 Series as its top group of luxury sedans for 2024. Why? Start with performance. TrueCar says that 5 Series vehicles are a pleasure to drive. Their ride is smooth, and the car's 4- and 6-cylinder engines pack plenty of power for quick acceleration. TrueCar also praises the interiors of the 5 Series models. The vehicle is larger this year -- 3 inches longer and nearly 1.5 inches taller and wider -- and provides plenty of headroom and legroom in its interior.
There's some nifty tech, too. An automatic lane-change feature lets drivers change lanes when they look at a side mirror. There's also a gaming system with an infotainment system that lets passengers play games on a 14.9-inch screen. This feature only works, thankfully, when the car is stationary, something passengers can enjoy when the driver is fueling up or charging the vehicle.
2024 Ford F-Series Super Duty
Price tag: $46,965
Cars.com named the Ford F-Series Super Duty as its best pickup truck of 2024. Why? Cars.com points first to power: The Super Duty's base gas engine provides 405 horsepower and 445 pounds-feet of torque. Higher-end versions of the Super Duty boast a 40,000-pound maximum towing capacity. But it's not just about power. Cars.com says the Super Duty handles well with a smooth ride that easily absorbs bumps.
On the tech side, the Super Duty features Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, which automatically backs the truck perfectly to a trailer's coupler thanks to cameras, sensors, and onboard AI. Cars.com says this tech makes it easy for even inexperienced drivers to hook up a trailer. Then there's Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which lets drivers steer a trailer from a knob on the dash as they back up using cameras. There's a reason why Cars.com refers to the Super Duty as "the best towing rig in the land."
2024 Ram 1500
Price tag: $39,420
There's a reason why the Ram 1500 is one of the more popular pickup trucks in the country. As MotorTrend says in its review, the Ram 1500 shatters the myth that trucks only need to be practical. The Ram 1500 is that, of course. But it's also stylish and offers a smooth, comfortable ride.
The Ram 1500 doesn't skimp on the tech, either. Drivers can equip their trucks with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic monitoring technology. Motorists can also add adaptive cruise control to some models, while others feature parking sensors and a head-up display.
Drivers can also choose from 5-, 8.4, or 12-inch central display screens, with the larger screens coming standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. They can also select from sound systems in six-, 10- or 19-speaker combinations.
With all this tech, combined with the truck's good looks and comfortable ride, it's little wonder that MotorTrend gave the Ram 1500 a score of 8.4 out of 10.
Related: Car Insurance 101
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Best electric cars and trucks for 2024
Ready to ditch high gas prices? It might be time to invest in an electric car or truck. Fortunately, manufacturers offer plenty of highly rated EVs today.
2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Price tag: $41,800
U.S. News & World Report says that the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an eye-catching vehicle that is a pleasure to drive. The publication also says the Ioniq boasts excellent range, fluid driving dynamics, and a comfortable and spacious interior. Unsurprisingly, U.S. News & World Report ranks the Ioniq 5 as one of the best electric SUVs on the market.
In its list of pros, U.S. News & World Report points to the Ioniq 5's powertrain options, space in both the front and rear rows of the SUV, and its intuitive tech features.
On the downside? The publication says that Ioniq's interior design is a bit bland, and the vehicle offers just average cargo capacity.
2024 Audi Q4 e-tron
Price tag: $49,800
The Audi Q4 e-tron first launched in 2022. This means that this EV still has a fresh look. And though it's not the largest electric SUV on the market, its interior is still roomy. Add to that a comfortable ride, solid range, and smooth handling, and you can see why Kelley Blue Book ranks the Q4 as one of its top EVs of 2024.
The Q4 comes with plenty of tech, with Kelley Blue Book singling out the lane guidance system that now comes standard and the brake regeneration paddles on the EV's steering column. A remote garage door opener is integrated into the Q4's rearview mirror, a nifty feature.
Though the Q4 doesn't boast the most power of today's EVs, it does offer a smooth, comfortable ride, according to Kelley Blue Book. Calling this ride & "comfortable yet composed," Kelley Blue Book says the Q4 is well-suited for city driving, freeway rides, and mountain roads.
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning
Price tag: $49,995
Edmunds named the Ford F-150 Lightning as its top electric truck of 2024. Edmunds writes that this vehicle works so well because it was designed to be a truck first and an electric vehicle second.
The F-150 Lightning is large and capable, like the standard gas-powered F-150, but it also comes with a front trunk that can be used for storage and on an onboard generator with enough oomph to power a house. It also boasts an independent rear suspension and coil springs. The F-150 offers a more comfortable ride than its gas-powered cousin thanks to these features.
If you need this truck for hauling, fear not: Edmunds says that the F-150 Lightning can tow up to 10,000 pounds and haul up to 2,235 pounds in its bed.
Best hybrid cars and trucks of 2024
Want to spend less time and money at the pump but not ready to go fully electric? A hybrid vehicle might be your best choice. Here are some of the best hybrid cars and trucks of 2024.
2024 Honda Accord Hybrid
Price tag: $28,990
Car and Driver gives the 2024 Honda Accord hybrid a perfect 10/10 rating, citing its spacious cabin, on-the-road performance, and overall quality. You can also expect to get 51 miles per gallon for city driving and 48 when on the highway, according to Car and Driver. That will save you plenty at the pump.
Inside, you can choose from an upright 7- or 12.3-inch touchscreen display to access the Accord's infotainment system. All models come with a 10.2-inch digital gauge display standard. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included in all models, too. The Accord isn't a racer, but Car and Driver found that it took the 204-horsepower Accord hybrid to go from 0 miles per hour to 60 in 6.5 seconds.
2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Price tag: $31,475
MotorTrend raves over the 2024 Toyota RAV4 hybrid, saying it is an improvement in almost every way over its gas-powered cousin. What are those improvements? MotorTrend says that the hybrid version of the RAV4 boasts more powerful acceleration and a smoother drivetrain. It will also save you money at the gas pump and offer a comfortable and roomy interior.
There's also plenty of technology. The RAV4 comes with larger infotainment and gauge displays, intuitive user software, and a suite of driver-assistance features designed to keep motorists safe on the road. MotorTrend, though, says that fuel economy is the true highlight of this hybrid. You can expect 41 miles a gallon for city driving and 38 when traveling on the highway.
2024 Toyota Tundra
Price tag: $41,815
TrueCar ranks the 2024 Toyota Tundra as its top hybrid truck of the year, saying that its hybrid engine offers a winning combination of power and efficiency. It also cites the Tundra's well-designed interior and a long list of standard safety features. The 2024 Tundra is estimated to deliver 20 miles a gallon with city driving and 24 on the highway.
Consumers have plenty of options with the Tundra. They can choose from 10 trim levels that go from basic work truck to what TrueCar calls luxury pickup level and two cab configurations, both of which offer four doors so passengers won't struggle to get into and out of the Tundra.
The truck's hybrid version of its base engine is rated at 437 horsepower and a powerful 538 pound-feet of torque. This gives the hybrid version of the Tundra a maximum towing capacity of 12,000 pounds. If you are a Toyota loyalist, you can also check out Toyota Prius or Toyota Tacoma.
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Writer
Dan Rafter is a freelance writer who has more than 20 years experience covering personal finance. He's written for the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Bankrate, CreditCards.com, Rocket Mortgage, NortonLifeLock and several others.
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