You’re about to undertake a monumental task as you navigate the new-car market to find your next vehicle. Luckily for you, Car and Driver editors have been at it for decades, reviewing, testing, and enjoying everything from sports cars to pickup trucks. Allow us to guide you though this incredibly important and massive financial decision. This special issue includes our expert take on every single new car, truck, SUV, and van on the market today, along with key metrics for each one, presented to make comparisons easy. We think that as you read through our guide, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to find the right vehicle for you.
HOW TO CRACK THE CODE • Throughout our Buyer’s Guide, you’ll notice certain icons for pertinent data. Here’s a quick overview of what each one means:
HELLO AND GOOD BUY
Car & Driver 2024 Buying Guide
SHOPPING KNOWLEDGE IS SHOPPING POWER
How and Why We Test • Collecting some 200 data points on each tested vehicle isn’t easy, but we want our readers to know the facts, not just our opinions.
Cheat Sheet • In an age when paying the sticker price is considered a good deal, it pays to be prepared.
Should I Lease or Finance?
DEALERSHIP DOS AND DON’TS
LEASE BUYOUTS: SHREWD THINKING OR FOOLISH LOGIC?
Long-Haul Loans
Borrowing Smart
WHAT IF I HAVE BAD CREDIT?
Uncle Sam’s New EV Tax Credit, Explained
EV TERMINOLOGY EXPLAINED
STATE OF THE USED-CAR MARKET
Why Go CPO?
AUTO MAINTENANCE BASICS
Understanding Warranties
Essential Gear • Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a veteran car owner, it’s good to take stock of what tools, supplies, and car-related items you already have and assess what new ones you might need to add to your car-care arsenal. Luckily for you, the Car and Driver gear team has tested hundreds of products, and we have plenty of recommendations.
WELCOME, CAR SHOPPE
SUVS / COMPACT LUXURY SUVS
SUVS / MID-SIZE SUVS
SUVS / MID-SIZE LUXURY SUVS
SUVS / LARGE SUVS
SUVS / LARGE LUXURY SUVS
SUVS / SUBCOMPACT SUVS
SUVS / SUBCOMPACT LUXURY SUVS
SUVS / ELECTRIC SUVS
SUVS / LUXURY ELECTRIC SUVS
SUVS / ULTIMATE LUXURY SUVS
THREE - ROW THROW DOWN • AFTER THREE YEARS OF DOMINANCE, THE KIA TELLURIDE FINALLY HAS SOME SERIOUS COMPETITION. WE CONVENED FOUR FRESH CONTENDERS AIMING TO UPSET THE CROSSOVER HIERARCHY.
VANS / MINIVANS
VANS / COMMERCIAL VANS
MINIVANS AND BEST-LAID PLANS • MODERN MINIVANS OFFER MANY OF THE AMENITIES FOUND IN HIGH-END LUXURY CARS. WE PLANNED A TOP-SHELF OUTING TO PROVE IT, BUT THEN THINGS WENT AWRY.
BIG DREAMS FOR A MINIVAN
CARS / COMPACT CARS
CARS / ENTRY-LUXURY COMPACT CARS
CARS / ENTRY-LUXURY CARS
CARS / FAMILY SEDANS
CARS / MID-SIZE LUXURY CARS
CARS / STATION WAGONS
CARS / SUBCOMPACT CARS
CARS / FULL-SIZE LUXURY CARS
CARS / ULTIMATE LUXURY CARS
CARS / ELECTRIC CARS
CARS / LUXURY ELECTRIC CARS
CARS / SPORTS CARS
CARS / EXOTICS AND HYPERCARS
DOWN TO EARTH • AMID THE CURRENT MAELSTROM OF OVERPRICED AND OVERSIZE TRUCKS AND SUVS, TODAY’S REMAINING CROP OF MID-SIZE SEDANS LOOKS MORE SENSIBLE THAN EVER.
TRUCKS / COMPACT PICKUP TRUCKS
TRUCKS / MID-SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS
TRUCKS / FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS
TRUCKS / HEAVY-DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS
TRUCKS / ELECTRIC PICKUP TRUCKS
CARS WORTH WAITING FOR
Created for the new-car shopper, this Buyer’s Guide will help you navigate the tremendous number of vehicles offered for 2024 so you can find the perfect car.
