Advertisement

10 cars worth waiting for

Although reveals of hypercars like the Ford GT or LaFerrari soak up all the attention, there are more affordable cars on the horizon worth waiting for. Crossovers continue to be popular choice, and although gas prices are low for the moment, an all-new Prius may be a practical buy in the long term. Here are Consumer Reports' top picks, many of which are slated for release this year:

2016 Mazda Miata and 2017 Buick Cascada

The Miata’s redesign will carry a wider, lower stance, and liberal use of aluminum body panels makes it about 150 pounds lighter. A 2.0-liter, 155-hp engine is under the hood. The Cascada aims to be America’s affordable four-seat cruising convertible. It uses the Chevy Cruze platform, with a 200-hp turbo-four running through a six-speed automatic. The top can be raised in 17 seconds. The Miata will go on sale in summer 2015, and the Cascada in spring 2016.

2016 Toyota Tacoma

Toyota let its compact pickup linger for more than a decade without substantial changes. This fall the Tacoma arrives with a new 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed transmission. Toyota says that the old, clunky ride is vastly improved and that the body structure has been revised for better crash safety. New features, such as blind-spot monitoring and an infotainment system, will be available. “Crawl control” will help drivers surmount off-road obstacles.

ADVERTISEMENT

On sale this fall.

2016 Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V

These subcompact crossovers look to be all the rage with budget shoppers when they debut later this year. The HR-V is a taller version of the smartly packaged Honda Fit, and the CX-3 is the lead vehicle for the next-generation Mazda2 hatchback. The swoopy Mazda’s four-cylinder generates 155 hp; the more angular Honda puts out only 138 hp. Both have a surprising amount of cargo room for a small footprint.

On sale this spring (HR-V) and summer (CX-3).

2017 Audi Q7 and 2016 Volvo XC90

The next Q7 is slightly smaller and 700 pounds lighter, with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 cranking out 333 hp. The coolest improvement is the sweeping, configurable instrument panel and center console. The redesigned Volvo XC90 is lower, longer, and wider. Like the Audi, it has seating for seven. The Volvo gets an astonishing 316 hp from a tidy 2.0-liter four-banger that’s turbocharged and supercharged. The XC90 also has an expansive center touch screen.

On sale in spring 2015 (Volvo) and early 2016 (Audi).

2017 Toyota Prius

The Prius will see a dramatic transformation, but Toyota has been secretive with details. It has yet to show a production model. It will go on a new platform that will also spawn the next Camry. Engineers are aiming to hit the milestone 55-mpg mark. The hybrid-electric components will be more compact in the next Prius, but the vehicle’s size and interior space won’t be any smaller. It’s rumored that buyers will have a choice of Toyota’s long-standing nickel-metal-hydride batteries or upgraded lithium-ion batteries.

On sale in early 2016.

2016 Ford Edge and 2016 Honda Pilot

The new Edge is based on the impressive Ford Fusion platform. Three engines will be offered: turbocharged four- and six-cylinders, and a naturally aspirated V6. Advanced technology options include adaptive cruise control, a self-parking system, and collision-avoidance technology with automatic braking. The Pilot has held its same boxy appearance for years and has fallen behind the competition. The 2016 edition will be longer and wider. It will also get the new generation 290-hp V6 engine and again have seating for eight.

On sale in summer 2015.

This article also appeared in the April 2015 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.



More from Consumer Reports:
Hits and misses from Consumer Reports’ testing
Best & worst car values
Best new cars for under $25,000

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.