Toyota Of Wallingford

Of the more than 300 vehicles we've recently tested, our Top Picks are the best all-around choices in their categories. The Toyota Highlander is our new pick for midsized SUVs, unseating the Hyundai Santa Fe.

How we choose

Top Picks must meet our criteria in three areas:

Road tests

Vehicles must rank at or near the top of their categories in our overall road-test score, which includes more than 50 individual tests and evaluations.

Reliability

Each must have an average or better predicted-reliability Rating, which is based on the problems Consumer Reports subscribers reported for more than 1.4 million vehicles in our latest Annual Auto Survey.

Safety

Top Picks must perform adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or the insurance industry. (For some models, we do not have enough crash-test data to assign an overall safety Rating.) In addition, each must offer electronic stability control (ESC), a proven lifesaving safety feature, as standard equipment or as a readily available option.

Small SUV

Toyota RAV4

Thanks to a more powerful four-cylinder engine and other upgrades for 2009, the RAV4 narrowly outscored the Subaru Forester to remain our Top Pick for the third straight year. It provides agile handling, a roomy and quiet interior, a comfortable ride, and an optional third-row seat. The four-cylinder version gets the best fuel economy of any automatic, nonhybrid SUV we've tested. And the spirited V6 version accelerates as quickly as a Mazda Miata, while getting only 1 mpg less than the four-cylinder. ESC and curtain air bags are standard. Price: $23,000 to $30,000.

Green car

Toyota Prius

Despite the arrival of more gas/electric hybrids, the Prius leads this category for the sixth straight year. The base model's 44 overall mpg is the best we've measured in any five-passenger car. The Touring model gets 42 mpg overall. The interior is roomy and versatile, and reliability remains excellent. A redesigned Prius will arrive in early summer, and Toyota promises even better fuel economy and power. Price: $22,000 to $24,000.

Minivan

Toyota Sienna

The Sienna offers a spacious, versatile, and comfortable way to carry up to eight people. We found that the quiet, well-finished interior rivals that of some luxury sedans. Electronic stability control is standard. This is the only minivan available with all-wheel drive.

Midsized SUV

Toyota Highlander

The Highlander is a very refined and versatile vehicle. It provides a comfortable and quiet ride, a nicely finished interior, three rows of seats, and decent fuel economy for its class. It is available with front- or all-wheel drive. The Highlander Hybrid's fuel economy, 24 mpg overall, is among the best of any SUV in our Ratings. Reliability has been excellent. Price: $26,000 to $41,000.

Contact Ron Jackson, Internet Sales Manager to schedule a test drive a day
1-800-581-9805