The Tesla Model 3 is the only American vehicle at its price range listed on the Consumer Reports annual ranking of the best cars to buy in 2020.
The list of top vehicles was announced Thursday at the company’s Top Picks media event, which was livestreamed over the internet.
No vehicles manufactured in the United States, however, were ranked in the Top 10.
Tesla showed the biggest improvement in quality and climbed eight spots to No. 11 out of 33 other brands.
It was the first time Consumer Reports broke down its selections by price tag rather than model type.
The price range for the Tesla Model 3 falls between $45,000 and $55,000.
Two other vehicles that outscored Tesla in the same price range were the Lexus RX SUV and the Toyota Supra sports coupe.
The Tesla offers “a thrilling driving experience with a high-tech vibe,” said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing for Consumer Reports.
“We saw a marked improvement in reliability in both the Tesla Model 3 and the Model S. That was enough to really improve their brand score more than any other brand in our survey.”
The Tesla Model 3 has a 250- to 330-mile range.
Fisher also emphasized the vehicle’s standard safety features and called it “an electric car for the masses.”
Another model selected for under a $25,000 price tag was the Toyota Corolla sedan.
Other autos ranked in the Top 10 at the $35,000 price range included the Subaru Forester SUV and the Toyota Prius electric-hybrid, which gets 52 miles per gallon.
In the $35,000 to $45,000 range was the all-wheel-drive Subaru Legacy, the Toyota Avalon sedan, the Kia Telluride SUV and the Honda Ridgeline, a compact pickup truck.
Consumer Reports also ranked all vehicle brands in an overall report card.
The top vehicle brands in CR's report card were Porsche, Genesis, Subaru, Mazda, Lexus, Audi, Hyundai, BMW, Kia and Mini Cooper.
Rounding out the middle tier were Tesla, Toyota, Lincoln, Infiniti, Honda, Volkswagen, Nissan, Chrysler, Buick, Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, Volvo and Ford.
At the bottom of the overall list were Fiat, Mitsubishi, GMC, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Cadillac and Land Rover.
Notably, Acura saw the biggest ranking drop due to multiple redesigns of its vehicles, reliability issues and the complexity of its new technology.
Every year, Consumer Reports evaluates about 50 new cars, putting each through rigorous analysis and testing.
Then in February, the company picks the top vehicles that “really set the standard for the entire industry,” the company said in a statement.
“These are the vehicles that ... deliver superior reliability and satisfaction over the long haul and push the envelope when it comes to safety, technology, fuel economy, and performance.”
The Consumer Reports analysis looked at measurements including handling and steering, ride comfort, owner satisfaction, luxury, acceleration performance, reliability, and new standard safety features including collision warnings, pedestrian warnings and lane-departure warnings.
The evaluations are conducted at CR’s Auto Testing and Safety Center in Colchester, Connecticut. Testing occurs on a racetrack and also looks at how vehicles will stand up in government and insurance industry crash tests.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit that evaluates the safety and performance of consumer products through laboratory testing and research. It purchases all the vehicles it tests.
U.S. shoppers rely on the company for its rankings and insights on product safety and reliability, which factor into decisions to buy products.
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