Kelley Blue Book reveals its annual award winners
The car nerds at Kelley Blue Book are done nerding it up for another year. And, honestly, thank God for these geeks.
For the last seven years, KBB’S experts have compiled Best Buy Awards that, in their words, seek the best “blend of comfort, quality, dependability, low ownership costs, and affordability in a package that is easy and fun to drive.”
Luckily, these aren’t the kind of nerds you need to ask to get a look at their homework—they give it away willingly!
This year, after the vehicles were reviewed in a series of controlled tests at the brand’s HQ in Irvine, Calif., it was an SUV — the Kia Seltos — that was given the top honour of Best New Model. It also won in its subcompact SUV category.
Read on to discover the other stand-out models on the 2021 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards list.
Best New Model and Best Subcompact SUV: 2021 Kia Seltos
The small-but-handy Korean SUV is proving to be the perfect solution for the modern urban/suburban family, with a class-leading interior configuration, gobs of safety and tech features, and pricing under $23,000. Passengers and drivers,including our First-drive reviewer Derek Mcnaughton, love it for its upscale interior feel.
Best Midsize Car: 2021 Honda Accord
While electric vehicles, pickups and especially SUVS tend to dominate the conversation these days, there are still great cars out there. The Honda Accord, now in its 10th generation and updated for 2021, is a KBB favourite once again for its “spirited” and “smooth” ride, comfortable interior and solid resale value.
Best Midsize SUV Threerow: 2021 Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride defended its title in the popular three-row SUV category once again, winning over the judges with its unique style, powerful and tow-capable 3.8-litre V6 engine, and luxurious-feeling interior. Canadian families can get into the EX AWD model for around $46,000.
Best Full-size SUV: 2021 Ford Expedition
Another repeat on the list is the Ford Expedition, which is
lighter in weight for the 2021 model year, but just as big in impact. Three large rows provide seating for up to eight, with all the USB ports, cup holders and accoutrements a family or team might need in 2021 and beyond.
The Ecoboost V6 engine manages up to 2,948 kg of towing capacity, which isn’t as much as some of the competition, though overall the Ford’s a more attractive package.
Best Full-size Pickup Truck: 2021 Ford F-150
No drum roll needed here— this one was Ford’s to lose. Unsurprisingly, KBB ranked the 2021 Ford F-150, which has best-in-class towing and payload, as the best full-size pickup. A variety of trims, including a hybrid, offer some cool new tricks for the revamped model year, like the Pro Power Onboard mobile generator that lets you power stuff for hours without run
ning the engine. Check out the trim options for the 2021 F-150 here if you haven’t made sense of them already.
Best Minivan: 2021 Toyota Sienna
The 2021 Toyota Sienna makes a pretty solid case for the minivan over the SUV— and that’s not easy to do in today’s market. The Japanese
family hauler is frugal where it needs to be (getting 6.5 litres/100 kilometres combined in FWD; and 6.7 litres/100 kilometres combined for AWD), extravagant where it can be (available deluxe captain’s chairs with generous leg room, etc.), and just stylish enough to avoid being the target of too many dad jokes this year. Hopefully.
Best Electric Vehicle: 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
Hyundai’s key to electric vehicle success, according to KBB, is its adherence to the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) mantra. The subcompact Kona Electric is the best buy in the electric category for the second year running thanks in large part to its relative ease of operation as well as its competitive pricing ($44,999) that still qualifies for significant EV rebates in the U.S. and select Canadian provinces.
Best Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime
Toyota hit a home run with the 2021 RAV4, which won KBB’S Best Buy in both the compact SUV and PHEV segments. The RAV4’S massive lineup, including the Prime, which some consider the “best hybrid ever from the company that fairly invented the hybrid,” benefits from the nameplate’s now stalwart reputation and a competitive price point starting at $28,000. The 2021 RAV4 Prime PHEV, meanwhile, starts at $44,995.
Best Luxury Car: 2021 Lexus ES
Lexus earned a three-peat with its ES luxury sedan this year, with KBB experts citing direct and accurate handling, convenient driver assists, competitive hybrid and F Sport trims, and a classically handsome and comfortable interior as its main perks.
Best Compact Luxury SUV: Mercedes-benz GLA
The Germans finally make an appearance on the list here in the luxury SUV segment. The 2021 MercedesBenz GLA was ranked as the top subcompact luxury model, while the Q5, Audi’s best seller, got the nod for the second year running in the compact segment. Both offer that German-premium vibe (heated and cooled cup holders, anyone?) with price points that reflect that.
Best Midsize Luxury SUV: Genesis GV80
Genesis displaced BMW for the midsize luxury title, debuting its all-new GV80 with all the standard equipment, available four- or six-cylinder engine, and an interior so exquisitely outfitted with Nappa leather, real wood, tempered glass and more as to coax the word “opulent” from more than one of our editors. The 2020 Genesis GV80 starts at $85,000 for the 3.5-litre trim.