10 favorite vehicles from the Car Guide
After compiling a list of the highest-rated vehicles in The 2026 Car Guide and before starting our series of articles on the best buys of the year, our team is taking advantage of Valentine's Day to present 10 of its favorite vehicles.
These models have already received numerous awards and accolades, in addition to being among our top picks for 2026. Here they are, in alphabetical order:
In the compact electric sedan category, the i4 is the one that most closely resembles a traditional car and offers the highest level of refinement. While its range is slightly less than that of Tesla and Hyundai, its smooth and powerful powertrain is a delight. So is the driving experience. The top-of-the-range version, renamed the M60 xDrive, now offers up to 593 horsepower and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, enough to make the gasoline-powered M3 jealous.
By modifying an interior that was criticized for its mediocre ergonomics, Chevrolet has corrected one of the Corvette's main flaws. Otherwise, it's an absolutely sensational sports car, powerful and incredibly efficient, while being easier to drive than an equivalent Porsche 911 at the limit. The American sports car also turns a lot of heads... if you like being the center of attention. Unfortunately, we haven't yet been able to get our hands on the formidable ZR1 (1,064 horsepower) and ZR1X (1,250 horsepower), but the experience promises to be exhilarating and memorable.
Comfortable, spacious, particularly fuel-efficient in its hybrid form, and offering increasing levels of dynamism depending on the variant, the Honda Civic remains a reassuring choice for many drivers who don't want to switch to an SUV. And even though its base price has surpassed the psychological $30,000 mark, the Civic is still a good value with unmatched build quality and proven reliability.
The small EV3 has not yet hit the market, as Kia Canada has opted to launch the EV4 and EV5 first. That said, having test driven it twice, our team is won over by this model, which was named World Car of the Year in 2025. The EV3 will attract a wide customer base with its competitive pricing and more appealing design than the Hyundai Kona Electric. Although it only has front-wheel drive, it's fun to drive, surprisingly comfortable, and its 201-horsepower motor is powerful enough to be enjoyable and respond quickly when needed.
At the other end of the range, the boldly designed EV9 continues to wow in its third year. Even with the arrival of a Hyundai equivalent that offers more range, Kia's large electric SUV won our comparison test in The 2026 Car Guide. It's beautiful, versatile, well-appointed, and even a tad more engaging to drive than the IONIQ 9. The EV9 offers a lot for our money and is an excellent purchase.
The height of pleasure? The MX-5 is the ultimate convertible option. It retails at a lower price than its rivals and its reliability is noteworthy. Although its performance is lower, its power can easily be exploited to its full potential and its handling remains fabulous. Of course, you'll have to make do with an interior that doesn't accommodate all body types.
The 911 is one of the models that everyone on the Car Guide team agrees on. Regardless of the version, it offers a pleasant driving experience, great mechanical sensations, and sharp handling. We found the 911 GT3 Touring and 911 Carrera T particularly enjoyable—the former for its efficiency and roaring engine, the latter for its pure driving experience. Granted, increasingly high prices put the 911 out of reach for many buyers. At least Porsche's pride and joy retains its excellent value.
The Crosstrek seems tailor-made for Quebec. It offers a good level of equipment, fuel-efficient engines (now including a hybrid) and excellent all-wheel drive at a reasonable price. Not to mention good reliability and resale value. It's a highly recommended purchase!
More attractive to the eye, the sixth-generation RAV4 is exclusively hybrid and even more powerful and fuel-efficient than before. The same goes for the plug-in hybrid variant, whose electric range has increased to 50 miles. Its completely redesigned interior offers more storage space for optimal practicality (even though the outgoing generation was one of the most spacious in its class), and Toyota has installed a new software platform that includes an improved operating system and will enable cloud-based updates.
There is probably no such thing as the perfect sports car, but it must be said that some cars come very close. The Golf is almost ideal. Its performance is appealing to those who want a dynamic driving experience without compromising on versatility. The GTI is for those looking for a fun car, while the R is for those who want all-wheel drive and performance that puts luxury brands to shame. It's just a shame that reliability is hit and miss and that the manual transmission has disappeared...
