Consumer Reports top-5 vehicles to buy this President's Day

Purchasing a new vehicle is an arduous process that takes a lot of planning, a lot of time, and a lot of money.

There are plenty of online aides to help with the planning part of the equation. Better planning can help reduce the time it takes to make your decision. And there are even things you can do to alleviate that last, most important leg of the process: the price.

The internet is full of advice about the right time of year, month, and day to get the best deal on your new car purchase.

Related: Stop overpaying for these 5 new cars, says Consumer Reports

December is the best month of the year to hunt for deals since dealers are trying their best to meet their end-of-year sales quotas and clear out the last of their inventory.

According to Edmunds, December has historically been the best month to buy a new car, and while the pandemic upended that trend for a couple of years, since 2023 December has once again had the steepest discounts.

I know what you're thinking; this information would have been useful two months ago.

But December isn't the only time of the year to find good deals.

President's Day, which lands on Feb. 16 this year, is one of the biggest car sales days on the calendar, along with the Fourth of July.

President's Day falls smack in the middle of tax season, which is also another popular time to buy a car since dealerships often require a minimum 20% down payment, and many Americans have extra funds from their tax returns.

President's Day also falls on a Monday every year, and Mondays tend to be the least busy day of the week at the dealership (though a holiday may slightly change that part of the equation).

What I'm saying is that if you are in the market for a new vehicle, this weekend may be the time to find some of the year's best deals.

Luckily enough, Consumer Reports recently released its top car picks for 2026 to help you make your choice.

But there's a twist.

This year, for the first time, every one of their top picks is either a hybrid (or is available as one) or an electric vehicle.

What is Consumer Reports?

Founded in 1936 by a group of workers fired from a product-testing firm called Consumers’ Research, Consumer Reports is a multifaceted nonprofit organization that aims to educate consumers about products and help them make informed purchasing decisions.

It does this by purchasing and testing products directly, administering detailed surveys to its members about the products they own and use, and investigating the veracity of manufacturers’ claims.

Related: Consumer Reports has 5 more cars you should stop overpaying for

Consumer Reports at a glance

• Founded: 1936 (as Consumers Union by former employees of Consumers’ Research, fired after they attempted to unionize)
• Headquartered: Yonkers, NY
• Leadership: Marta Tellado (president and CEO)
• Employees: Approx. 500 to 600
• Members: At least 6 million
• Mission statement: “Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit member organization that works side by side with consumers for truth, transparency, and fairness in the marketplace.”

Consumer Reports’ slogan, “Smarter choices for a better world,” captures the organization’s purpose. CR aims to educate and inform the public by providing objective information about popular products, helping consumers make “smarter choices” when purchasing major items.

Consumer Reports names top car picks for 2026

If you are planning on buying a car this President's Day, or anytime soon thereafter, consider these vehicles, which are Consumer Reports' top picks for 2026.

Consumer Reports 2026 Small Car pick: Honda Civic Hybrid

Price Range: $24,695 - $46,895 (Hybrid : $29,395 - $33,595)

Consumer Reports MPG: Overall 33/City 23/Hwy 44 (Hybrid: Overall 44/ City 39/ Hwy 48 mpg)

Ranking: #12 of 22 Small sedans/hatchbacks.

What CR says: The Honda Civic is an excellent small car, and the Hybrid is the best version. It has all the qualities we love about the gas-only car, including quick, responsive steering, a comfortable ride, and a roomy interior. But the Hybrid version adds a marvelous 2.0-liter four-cylinder powertrain that produces 200 hp—50 hp more than the base gas-only Civic. That extra boost helps it zip from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, a full 2 seconds faster than the regular Civic, while also achieving 44 mpg overall, up from 33 mpg.

Consumer Reports 2026 Midsize Car pick: Toyota Camry

Price Range: $29,100 - $37,025

Consumer Reports MPG: Overall 48/ City 40/ Hwy 54 mpg

Ranking: #1 of 10 Midsides cars

What CR says: The Camry earns a chef’s kiss from our experts: It’s a successful recipe that Toyota has honed even closer to perfection this year. It’s now sold exclusively as a hybrid, with a very efficient 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that hit a superb 48 mpg overall in our tests. The latest iteration delivers a pleasing balance of ride comfort and capable handling, practical interior space, and user-friendly controls that make good use of physical knobs and switches. Both front and rear seats are comfortable, but the low stance can make access a challenge for some people.

Consumer Reports 2026 Subcompact SUV pick: Subaru Crosstrek

Price Range: $26-995 - $34,995

Consumer Reports MPG: Overall 29/City 20/ Hwy 39

Ranking: #1 of 16 Subcompact SUVs

What CR says: The Crosstrek returns to our Top Picks list again this year with even more to love. Every gas-only trim now has a 180-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a continuously variable transmission and AWD, which yields 29 mpg overall. (The new, slightly more powerful Hybrid has an EPA-estimated 36 mpg combined.) The Crosstrek handles well, with quick steering and minimal roll through turns, but it’s the ride quality that’s most noteworthy. It absorbs road imperfections better than many cars, and it’s comfortable even during off-pavement excursions. Its added ground clearance makes getting in and out a cinch

Consumer Reports 2026 Compact SUV pick: Subaru Forester

Price Range: $29-995 - $41,595 (Hybrid: $34-730 - $41,545)

Consumer Reports MPG: Overall 39/ City 20/ Hwy 39 (Hybrid: $34,730 - $41,545)

Ranking: #2 of 33

What CR says: Last year, the gas-only Forester claimed a spot in our Top Picks due to its good all-around performance and reliability scores. We also loved the easy access in and out, great visibility, comfortable ride, good safety credentials, and spacious interior. This year, the Forester adds to those virtues a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain, with a 2.5-liter flat-four “boxer” engine augmented by Toyota-sourced electric hardware. Unlike most other small hybrid SUVs, which offer only limited all-wheel drive, the Forester Hybrid has a mechanical, full-time AWD system. The hybrid boasts a 5 mpg advantage over the regular Forester, making the exceptional SUV even more desirable.

Consumer Reports 2026 Midsized SUV pick: Toyota Grand Highlander

Price Range: $41,660 - $59,575

Consumer Reports MPG: Overall 22/ City 14/ Hwy 32 mpg (Overall 35/ City 27/ Hwy 41)

Ranking: #5 of 23 Midsized SUVs 3-row

What CR says: 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. The Grand Highlander is that SUV, which makes it a near-perfect people mover. When outfitted in a trim with 18-inch tires, it’s also unusually smooth to drive. But the Toyota’s real advantage is its optional 245-hp hybrid powertrain, which matches the standard turbo engine’s acceleration while returning a stunning 35 mpg overall in our tests—fuel efficiency that’s on a par with the best compact SUV hybrids.

Related: 5 more new cars to avoid at all costs, and 5 alternatives to consider