2022 Buyers Guide and Research By Type, Brand and Price of New Vehicle

The huge number of current models, vehicle types, powertrains, and standard and optional features available can make purchasing a new vehicle seem overwhelming. But with a little planning, it all falls into place. In this chapter, the AAA Car Guide lists the kinds of things you need to consider to determine what type of vehicle is best for you.

Read more about different vehicle types in Chapter 1 of the 2022 AAA Car Guide.

Your vehicle not only requires a financial investment, but an investment of your time and attention to ensure it continues to operate at its best. Proper and timely maintenance can help prevent breakdowns and costly upkeep down the line. This chapter helps you understand what it really costs to own, maintain and drive a car.

Read more about vehicle maintenance in Chapter 2 of the 2022 AAA Car Guide.

In an ever-evolving car market, manufacturers are tasked with creating safer vehicles to reduce deaths and injuries on the road. From standardizing advanced safety features, to introducing new and innovative technologies, we cover the latest information and options found in dealerships near you.

Read more about vehicle safety in Chapter 3 of the 2022 AAA Car Guide.

Automakers face an endless series of challenges as they attempt to meet the changing demands of customers and comply with government emissions and safety regulations. Also, significant changes are occurring in the industry like vehicle electrification. This chapter provides you with snapshots of the latest vehicles coming to market during the next several years.

Read more about future vehicles in Chapter 4 of the 2022 AAA Car Guide.

To help AAA members make sense of the changing automotive scene, the Auto Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center (ARC) evaluates and ranks passenger cars and light trucks. The vehicles the ARC selects for testing are reviewed according to the following a dozen different criteria to determine which ones perform best.

Read more about the testing and ranking of vehicles in Chapter 5 of the 2022 AAA AAA Car Guide.

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place SUV/Minivan

Vehicle Type Fuel Type MPGe Price as Tested Car Rating IIHS / NHTSA

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place SUV/Minivan

More Details

Vehicle Type:  SUV/Minivan

Fuel Type:  Electric

MPGe: 96/84

Price as Tested:  $56,200

89

 out of 130

IIHS / NHTSA: 

The Mustang Mach-E isn’t just a car, it’s a phenomenon: America’s oldest car company has put the moniker of the original pony car—introduced in 1964—on a dedicated electric crossover. The Mach-E is a great-looking car—unmistakably a Mustang, but new from the ground up. Our Premium AWD test vehicle had 2 motors (346 hp) and the larger 88-kWh battery, which provides plenty of power and range (an EPA-estimated 270 miles). It’s powerful, quick, and fun to drive. The roomy cabin is quiet; Ford’s full suite of advanced safety features, Co-Pilot360, is standard. Still, Ford has a few wrinkles to iron out. The ride is fine on smooth pavement but can be jarring on uneven or potholed streets. The braking and acceleration could be smoother at low speeds and in stop-and-go traffic. The tablet on the center console is huge (nearly 16 inches), but some menus are unintuitive and require multiple steps for simple tasks. Finally, the plain interior styling, absent any Mustang cues, doesn’t match the flair of the Mach-E’s sheet metal.

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Large

Vehicle Type Fuel Type mpg Price as Tested Car Rating IIHS / NHTSA

2021 Mercedes-Benz S580 Sedan 4MATIC

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Large

More Details

Vehicle Type:  Large

Fuel Type:  Gasoline

mpg: 17/25

Price as Tested:  $140,130

79

 out of 130

IIHS / NHTSA: 

Mercedes-Benz’s handsome S-Class sedan, redesigned for 2021, has a lot to offer—as should any car whose price tag easily crests $100K. For one thing, this full-size flagship sedan is as pleasurable to drive or ride in as any car on the road. The 4.0-liter twinturbocharged V8 (496 hp) and integrated electric motor, which can power all 4 wheels depending on driving conditions, proved both responsive and refined. The standard adaptive air suspension makes for a remarkably smooth ride. Our test car’s optional rearwheel steering setup added to the S 580’s agile handling. Inside, the S 580 is the epitome of opulence and style. The design is elegant, and the hushed passenger cabin is lined with the finest materials. Technology abounds, from a 3D augmented-reality head-up display to massaging seats (10-way programmable) to dynamic ambient lighting. It’s here that the S 580 stumbles a bit—it’s a car clearly designed by engineers who asked "Can we add (insert feature)?" rather than “Should we?” Examples include a complex infotainment system, hard-to-use steering-wheel controls, and numerous in-vehicle driver distractions, such as tutorial videos on driver fatigue.

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Midsize

Vehicle Type Fuel Type mpg Price as Tested Car Rating IIHS / NHTSA

2021 BMW 530e Sedan

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Midsize

More Details

Vehicle Type:  Midsize

Fuel Type:  Hybrid

mpg: 24/29

Price as Tested:  $70,485

79

 out of 130

IIHS / NHTSA: 

The BMW 5 Series, an iconic sports sedan now in its seventh generation, last received a redesign in 2017. For 2021, it received minor tweaks, including a larger grille and touch screen and improved voice controls. The 530e plug-in hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (181 hp) and an electric motor (107 hp). In 2021, it got a 40-hp increase (288 hp total), courtesy of XtraBoost, a feature that provides extra power when the driver floors the accelerator. Driving the 530e is a satisfying experience, nicely combining strong acceleration, smooth braking, responsive handling, a comfortable ride, and a roomy, quiet cabin with upscale materials. Fuel efficiency (26 mpg, 64 MPGe) is decent. On the downside, the 530e’s electric-only range is low (21 miles). And, as with many BMWs, numerous items that are standard on other luxury cars—including some advanced safety features—cost extra on the 530e. Counterpoint: The 530e is eligible for a $5,836 federal tax credit, which brings its base price in below that of a standard 530i.

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Small

Vehicle Type Fuel Type mpg Price as Tested Car Rating IIHS / NHTSA

2021 BMW 330e Sedan

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Small

More Details

Vehicle Type:  Small

Fuel Type:  Hybrid

mpg: 25/33

Price as Tested:  $57,945

75

 out of 130

IIHS / NHTSA: 

The BMW 3 Series reintroduced its plug-in hybrid variant in 2021, after a 2-year hiatus. The powertrain, which consists of a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor (288 hp total), provides quick acceleration and plenty of power. Our test car’s responsive handling was improved by its optional Adaptive M suspension. The 330e’s fit and finish are excellent inside and out. Both front and rear seating are very comfortable, although the cabin feels a bit cramped, and rear visibility is poor. Adaptive LED headlights and dual-zone climate control are standard, and the digital infotainment system is easy to use. Our 330e had a 75 MPGe rating, but its allelectric range is only 23 miles and recharging times are slow. Its fuel economy is 28 mpg combined. Annoyingly, BMW tends to charge extra for features that many luxury automakers include as standard, such as a heated steering wheel and front seats, lumbar support, and advanced safety features. More than 20% of the price of our 330e test vehicle was for optional equipment

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Pickup

Vehicle Type Fuel Type mpg Price as Tested Car Rating IIHS / NHTSA

2021 Ford F-150 4X4 Supercrew Hybrid

Car Guide Winner: 1st Place Pickup

More Details

Vehicle Type:  Pickup

Fuel Type:  Hybrid

mpg: 24/24

Price as Tested:  $63,251

73

 out of 130

Introduced in 1948, the Ford F-Series has been the most popular vehicle sold in the U.S. for 4 decades. The 14th-generation F-150, new for 2021, is less revolutionary than some previous redesigns, with one exception—the addition of a hybrid powertrain. Called PowerBoost, the hybrid system consists of a 3.5-liter V6 (400 hp), electric motor (47 hp), 1.5-kWh battery, and 10-speed automatic transmission, good for 430 hp total and 570 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid system provides a 4-mpg (20%) increase in gas mileage, and every hybrid model comes standard with Pro Power Onboard, a 2.4-kW generator (a 7.2-kW unit is optional). The F-150's spacious interior has great legroom and headroom front and rear, and the infotainment system is nicely sized and easy to use. Our test truck’s safety features included LED headlights with auto high beams, a 360-degree camera with parking sensors, and a blind-spot warning system that adjusts for trailer length. But not everything came up smelling like roses. The F-150’s ride was rougher than we’d like—even for a pickup. Transmission shifts sometimes slipped, especially at low speeds. And the transitions between electric and gasoline power frequently were jarring.