Hyundai IONIQ once again drove off with a Kelley Blue Book’s Kelley Blue Book’s Best New Model trophy. The Hyundai IONIQ5 won both Best New Model and Best Electric Vehicle awards. After thorough head-to-head testing, in-depth data analysis and evaluation of the more than 300 new-vehicle models available in the U.S. market for 2023, the awards are now in their ninth year, and highlighted the top model in vehicle segments most relevant to new-car shoppers, with award categories evolving over the years to align with the changing automotive landscape.
“The number of electric vehicles available to new-car shoppers continues to increase at a staggering pace, and the competition continues to get hotter as these efficient rides gain popularity among consumers,” said Jason Allan, principal editor of reviews and ratings for Kelley Blue Book.
“Our team was so impressed with the all-new Hyundai IONIQ 5 during this year’s Best Buy Awards testing that we didn’t just give it the title of Best Electric Vehicle for 2023, it also earned our Best New Model trophy. It is truly a vehicle that exemplifies how easy it can be now to go all-electric, boasting the kind of impressive range and tech features that consumers have come to expect, and offering terrific value relative to the competition. In addition to the Best New Model, our team also named the top 2023 model-year vehicles in the categories most relevant to today’s car shoppers.”
This year, Kelley Blue Book partnered with NASCAR driver Toni Breidinger so she could use her professional racecar driver skills to put the top winner to the test out on the ‘track’ of real-world driving. Breidinger joined Kelley Blue Book’s editors for a day of test driving the Hyundai IONIQ 5, sharing her thoughts and driving impressions as she evaluated the all-new model through the lens of a racecar driver.
“As a lifelong automotive enthusiast, it was a thrill to join the experts from Kelley Blue Book for a day to put the 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5 to the test,” said Toni Breidinger, NASCAR driver. “The spacious interior and extended dashboard really stood out to me. Most importantly, I appreciated the all-electric range. After a test day with the IONIQ 5, I can confirm this year’s Best New Model is racer-approved.”
The award winners are determined by a “year-long regimen of expert vehicle evaluation, plus an intensive period of final testing”, and are are driven by analysis of a broad array of vehicle-related data, including vehicle pricing, five-year cost-to-own data—which includes depreciation, insurance, maintenance, financing, fuel, fees and taxes for new cars—along with consumer reviews and ratings and vehicle sales information.
To be considered for Best New Model, the vehicle must be an all-new or redesigned vehicle—unavailable before the prior year’s final Best Buy Awards testing.
2023 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award Winners
Best Electric Vehicle and Best New Model: 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5
With more than 300 miles of range, a spacious, tech-filled interior and an impressive starting price, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 shows how easy it can be for someone to go all electric. You can even go from 10 percent charge to 80 per cent in as little as 18 minutes.
Best Compact Car: 2023 Honda Civic
For eight of the last nine years, the Civic “just does everything right”. According to Kelley Blue Book, “The Civic sedan is a joy to drive. It’s a worry-free mode of transport that won’t break the budget, and the Civic holds its value exceptionally well”.
Best Subcompact SUV: 2023 Kia Seltos
Its low starting price, long list of standard tech and safety features, impressive fuel economy and fantastic warranty make the Seltos “a terrific value”. This stylish SUV also boasts one of the roomiest interiors in its class.
Best Compact SUV: 2023 Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V has been named a Kelley Blue Book Best Buy more times than any other compact SUV. Fresh off a complete redesign and now bigger and better than ever, the CR-V has reclaimed its place as the compact SUV we deem to be the best choice for the most people.
Best 2-Row Midsize SUV: 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai hangs its collective hat on its value story, and nowhere is that value more apparent than in the level and quality of its technology. “To find an SUV at this price point with this degree of attention to detail inside and out is a tribute to Hyundai’s genius for making every dollar count.”
Best 3-Row Midsize SUV: 2023 Kia Telluride
For 2023, the Telluride wins this category for the fourth time, winning every year since it went on sale. The Telluride is great-looking and roomy with an upscale interior. It’s practical with a stacked roster of standard safety and convenience equipment.
Best Full-Size SUV: 2023 Ford Expedition
The 2023 Ford Expedition is a comfortable, refined eight-passenger full-size SUV that is ready for work and travel. It can tow up to 9,300 pounds, while features like Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 and a blind-spot system that also accounts for the trailer make towing easier.
Best Compact Pickup Truck: 2023 Ford Maverick
The Ford Maverick heralds the return of the compact pickup, providing light-duty versatility in a truck as easy on gas as it is on the eyes. With nearly 500 miles of range, the hybrid Maverick bests even the most frugal subcompact, yet it’s capable of hauling a 1,500-pound payload and towing up to 2,000 pounds—or 4,000 pounds with the all-gas powertrain.
Best Midsize Pickup Truck: 2023 Toyota Tacoma
Where midsize pickup trucks are concerned, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma “cannot be beaten”. No matter the metric you use, the Tacoma tops its class. Moreover, when you’re finally ready to trade in or sell your Tacoma, “you’ll appreciate its uncanny ability to retain its value over the years”.
Best Full-Size Pickup Truck: 2023 Ford F-150
Ford loads up the 2023 Ford F-150 with technology, while electrifying the lineup with a hybrid and fully electric model. The F-150 excels when towing and hauling, and Ford continues to exceed buyers’ expectations.
Best Electric Truck: 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
The Ford F-150 Lightning, the all-electric version of the perennially best-selling Ford F-Series, is a great buy for its reasonable pricing, impressive range and advanced tech features.
Best Minivan: 2023 Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna is the Best Buy in the Minivan segment for the third consecutive year. The Sienna’s interior is an excellent execution of the “living room on wheels” characteristic that families love, and the hybrid powertrain gives it low fuel costs.
Best EV Under $35,000: 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
As a slightly longer version of the Bolt EV, the Bolt EUV (Electric Utility Vehicle) impressed the KBB.com editors with its roomy back seat and excellent build quality, along with its great price and impressive 247-mile range.
Best Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle: 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid
The Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is “both the most powerful and the most fuel-efficient model in the all-new Sportage lineup”.
Best Luxury Car: 2023 Lexus ES
The success story of the ES goes far beyond it being a rewarding car to drive, it has “a stellar value proposition and rock-solid reliability”.
Best Subcompact Luxury SUV: 2023 BMW X1
The BMW X1 has long been a gateway into the German luxury brand, representing BMW’s smallest SUV and one of its best values.
Best Compact Luxury SUV: 2023 Genesis GV70
The Genesis GV70’s “enticing good looks and feature-rich equipment offerings are alluring, but the GV70’s value story turns just as many heads”.
Best Midsize Luxury SUV: 2023 Genesis GV80
The Genesis GV80 has a roomy, luxurious interior with available three-row seating, an “engaging drive with two engine options, excellent safety ratings and a class-leading warranty”.
