The Best Ten Cars to Buy

With so many different vehicles to choose from, declaring a "best" can be a very subjective endeavor. While different publications name their best vehicles annually, the best vehicle for you will ultimately come down to your individual wants and needs. Consumer Reports, known for its objectivity, however, has named the following vehicles its best of 2010.

Sedans

The first of three sedans among the best ten cars to buy was the top family sedan: the Nissan Altima. The Altima earned high marks for balancing comfort and performance with a 26 miles per gallon (mpg) fuel economy.

The small sedan of the year went to the Hyundai Elantra SE. The Elantra is a three time winner in its class, and was cited as having a comfortable, quiet and roomy ride.

The top sports sedan of 2010 went to the Infiniti G37. The G37 sedan made the top ten list four years in a row with its agile handling and luxurious interior cited as two of its defining features. The Infiniti is available in both coupe and convertible versions.

Other Notable Cars

The Volkswagen GTI topped the list of best sporty cars. The GTI was cited as offering agile handling, responsive steering and a decent sized hatchback. The GTI also offers a fuel economy of 27 mpg.

If a more environment-friendly car is your style, the Toyota Prius comes in on top as the most fuel efficient car at 44 mpg, while also getting praise for its interior and excellent crash test results.

The overall best car of 2010 was the Lexus LS 460L. The LS model scored a near perfect 99 out of 100 in Consumer Reports' road test. The Lexus LS460L was lauded for offering a comfortable ride, luxurious comfort and an ultra-quiet interior.

Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs)

For those looking for a smaller SUV, the 2010 top pick by Consumer Reports was the Subaru Forester. The Forester was touted as providing a carlike driving experience with the size of an SUV.

For those who prefer a larger, more family-friendly SUV, the Chevrolet Traverse was named best in its class. Comfortable seating for up to eight adults with plenty of cargo room to spare were listed as the Traverse's biggest strengths. A quiet ride was also noted.

Family Hauler/Pickup Truck

The remaining two vehicles on the top ten lists are the family hauler and the pickup truck. The family hauler of 2010 goes to the Mazda5. This microvan offers three rows of seating, sliding rear side doors and 24 mpg fuel economy.

Consumers Reports' 2010 pickup of choice was the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The Silverado is a crew-cab four-wheel-drive that was touted as offering a roomy cabin and a generous payload capacity. Other distinguishing features were listed as its ride and interior.