The 10 Best Cars to Buy in Canada in 2019
From price to safety rating to style to tech features, there’s a lot to think about when buying a new car in 2019. Automakers are continually reinventing the wheel (pardon the pun), and that means higher quality vehicles are available to consumers year-after-year. We have created a list for the best cars to buy in Canada.
With so many new cars on the market, it’s hard to figure out which model is the right one for your lifestyle. And you might even be weighing up whether to buy new or used. Thankfully, some people have already done the test-driving, so you don’t have to.
Best Cars to Buy in Canada
Every year KBB drives and reviews hundreds of new cars, trucks and SUVs. It’s a continuous process of evaluation that also informs their Buyer’s Guides, Comparison Tests, 10 Best lists and more. Then, at the beginning of each new model year, they gather the previous year’s Best Buy Award winners, the best of the challengers and all the brand-new models they can get our hands on—sometimes pre-production versions of vehicles not yet on dealer lots—and subject them to several weeks of focused, side-by-side evaluation.
The driving component is critical, of course, but a big part of what makes their Best Buy Awards so valuable is the data behind it. Their resale value and 5-Year Cost to Own calculations loom especially significant in the overall analysis. Depreciation is almost always the biggest expense in new-car ownership, and without taking it into account, it’s nearly impossible to know which of two similarly priced cars will cost you more in the long run. If you want to get the most car for your money, you have to consider all your costs.
The cars that made the cut come from the 2019 Kelley Blue Book (KBB) Awards as well as sales data from Edmunds. Further below we have provided our thoughts on the best cars in this list.
So here it is, in no particular order, our list of the best cars to buy in Canada in 2018:
- Honda Civic
- Honda Accord
- Chrysler 300
- Honda CR-V
- Honda Pilot
- Ford Expedition
- Honda Odyssey
- Toyota Tacoma
- Ford F-150
- Audi Q5
- Are we missing any more? Let us know!
Best Small Car: Honda Civic
Honda cleaned up in KBB’s rankings this year, occupying more than half of the Best Buys categories. The Civic is an enduring classic that is fun to drive, safe, reasonably priced, well-equipped and fuel efficient. It is available as a sedan, coupe or hatchback so you can customise the Civic to suit your needs. Beyond the base models, you can opt for driver-assist and safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane departure warnings.
Best Midsize Car: Honda Accord
The Honda Accord stayed for the second year in a row as one of the best midsize sedans money can buy despite facing serious challengers in 2019. That’s due to its reliability, large cabin size and excellent resale value. Not to mention that it comes with a whole pile of cool tech features that make for a safer, more connected driving experience.
Best Full-size Car: Chrysler 300
The popularity of this full-size car over the past decade has hardly waned, and that is a fact which speaks for itself. The Chrysler 300’s distinct look, trademark styling and variety of options make it a mainstay in consumer’s hearts. If you’re looking for a roomier ride, look no further as the 300’s huge trunk, split-and-fold backseat feature, and plenty of storage space give passengers and cargo alike more than enough room.
Best Compact SUV: Honda CR-V
The CR-V’s reliability and top-of-mind factors make it a pillar on lists like these. It has won KKB’s best compact SUV category four of the five years the list has existed, and last year, it sold over 400, 000 models. It has a zippy feel thanks to a turbocharged engine while still keeping a lower price point and squeezing in expertly designed storage spaces.
Best Midsize SUV: Honda Pilot
The three-row Honda Pilot won best in class for its utility features, drivability and cost-effectiveness. The midsize SUV has ample seating for up to eight people and a variety of hidden compartments and cargo space. In terms of manoeuvrability, the Pilot is an excellent balance of comfort and responsiveness. Not bad for a family vehicle with long-lasting durability and high resale value.
Best Full-size SUV: Ford Expedition
Competent and capable, the benefits of a full-size SUV like the Expedition are plenty. Because it is built more like a truck, it has power. This one has a towing capacity of 9,300 pounds — that means it can pull a trailer for camping trips and more without sacrificing on space. Its expansive cargo comfortably seats up to eight people, it has best-in-class fuel economy, and with a near-perfect expert rating of 4.7/5, it’s the clear leader in this category.
Best Minivan: Honda Odyssey
It’s not your typical soccer-mom minivan. The Honda Odyssey is a beautiful, feature-packed ride with room for the whole family — and all of their stuff. Not only does the Odyssey win in functionality and cargo space, but it also has a vast array of family-friendly tech features, including a built-in vacuum cleaner and the option to turn the minivan into a rolling WiFi hotspot. It seats eight comfortably and handles quietly and confidently on the road.
Best Midsize Truck: Toyota Tacoma
If you need a truck but aren’t ready for one with a huge presence, the 2019 Tacoma is your best bet. Don’t let its smaller size fool you, it packs a punch and beats out its competition in a big way. There’s a reason this model made Edmunds’ Best Off-Road Trucks — its 4×4 capability, hood-mounted snorkel intake and advanced traction control mean it performs well regardless of if the road is paved or not.
Best Pickup Truck: Ford F-150
Whether you’re looking for a workhorse or a head-turner, the 2019 Ford F-150 has you covered. Ford’s updated powertrain options give the new F-150s a massive towing capacity and impressive fuel economy. It comes equipped with useful features like a remote-release tailgate and Backup Assist. According to KBB, it’s a joy to drive that feels light on its feet while keeping you and your passengers comfortable in its roomy cabin.
Best Luxury Car: Audi Q5
If you’re opting for luxury, this one is a no-brainer, making both Edmunds and KBB’s pick for top luxury compact SUV. While style was a major consideration for this year’s top luxury pick, the Audi Q5 delivers beyond its sleek exterior. The hatchback sedan’s 252 horsepower engine means it has plenty of giddy-up, can race from zero to 60 mph in just six seconds, and its turbocharged engine gets it the highest fuel economy in its category. The best part? The Q5 has a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating thanks to great features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and city-oriented automatic braking.
Last year we produced an infographic to shed some light on how people are buying cars. If stats are your thing, do check that out!
Check out the rest of our blog for more helpful articles covering a wide array of topics. Use Birchwood Credit Solutions car loan calculator to work out what you may be able to spend on a new car, truck or SUV, and apply for a pre-approved car loan online.
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