What 2019 models will be the most advanced cars of the year? It depends on your needs. For travel, riders and consumers, reliability, range and safety top the lists. (Based on data collected for Edmunds.com and GoBankingRates, the cars we recommend should last a lifetime).
For no-frills style, Edmunds has its Chief Technology Officer, Earl Lawrence, reviewing the most exciting, innovative and safe 2019 models.
Hyundai Ioniq EV
What differentiates the Hyundai Ioniq Electric from other smaller, less-expensive, gasoline hybrids? The electric motor (EV) is the engine and all the electricity powers the passengers, which gives the small car a respectable range. The hatchback is light and nimble; meanwhile, the cargo area can hold four flat-packed suitcases. Many EV models are hard to park. Not so with the Ioniq Electric.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Once used exclusively as a pickup truck, Jeep has reinvigorated the Grand Cherokee with a Trackhawk version that can go from 0 to 60 mph in under four seconds.
What is a Trackhawk? What it’s really is a 636-hp V8 performance car with an aluminum hood, twin superchargers and enhanced high-performance brakes, including carbon ceramic.
Toyota RAV4 ST
The RAV4 is a large, capable SUV, and the ST will steal its share of the market. This ride has an EPA-estimated 50 mpg highway fuel economy.
At an average of 143 pounds over their regular RS models, the TwinAir 3.5L V6 and Automatic transmission improve fuel economy by a full 10 percent. Even though the ST is over an inch heavier than the regular RS, the fit, finish and feel are more refined.
Hyundai Nexo
If you have four grandchildren, the Nexo could be a great gift. With a starting price under $40,000, the Nexo offers five seats plus cargo space and cargo management to hold up to 18 cubic feet. But this flexible vehicle is a bit expensive.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV
If you need more than a car for driving around town, the Bolt EV is the fastest EV on the road, according to Edmunds. No crossover, which includes the XG5 from Buick, and, of course, the Chevy Bolt, can match the performance of the Bolt EV for anything under 100 miles, the car’s official rating. The Bolt EV’s range of 238 miles – closer to 300 on flat terrain – is the highest in a non-luxury EV and comes with some of the best mileage of any EV in America. But you can’t always match the Bolt EV’s performance. Even though it only costs a few hundred more than the Nissan Leaf, the Bolt EV is almost $3,000 more expensive.
With 270hp, the Bolt can sprint to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds, well ahead of competitors like the Leaf, Model 3 and the Kia Soul EV. While driving, the Bolt EV is calm and refined thanks to the massive 1.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The non-leaking air-con system is one of the best you can find in an EV, and a handful of Tesla lovers argue the Leaf (or, really, any electric vehicle with a motor) is a better buy.
Watch it
As of January 15, 2019, Chevrolet Spark: 4.8
Marchionne joins the producer
Chevrolet Spark, a former top contender in the small car market that Toyota no longer sells in the United States, was named a 2017 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Last year, another major crash-test winner, the Chevrolet Bolt EV, was named a Top Safety Pick and an IIHS 2018 Top Safety Pick. On January 15, 2019, Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne announced that he would leave Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to start a private investment fund, as well as a new chapter in the life of General Motors.
This post is adapted from an earlier version published in 2017. Read more at https://www.edmunds.com/blog/thinkoutsidethebox-the-sensors-of-the-future/