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Higher Gas Prices Put the Spotlight on Electric Vehicles

2026 AAA Car Guide Winners Announced

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (June 04, 2026)- The new AAA Car Guide reveals electric and hybrid vehicles top the list of 2026 winners, dominating every single category of the AAA car guide rankings. While drivers grapple with historically high gas prices and reexamine what vehicle they drive, AAA provides expert research and analysis to help consumers navigate the car buying industry. 

“Higher gas prices may increase consumer interest nationwide in making the switch to EVs,” said Doug Johnson, spokesperson for AAA Mountain West Group. “The 2026 AAA Car Guide helps drivers across the country navigate the evolving automobile marketplace by comparing vehicles with comprehensive information spanning eight vehicle categories.”  

Key Winners     

The AAA Car Guide winners feature multiple advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), reverse automatic emergency braking (RAEB), and lane-keeping assistance (LKA).

The 2026 Lucid Gravity Touring, which was crowned the overall 2026 AAA Car Guide winner and selected as the top vehicle in the midsize SUV category, debuted last year and made its first entry into the AAA Car Guide. SUVs are often popular amongst consumers because of their versatility, safety, and comfort.

The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus won the top spot in the minivan category. This minivan is a reimagined version of the beloved VW Bus and seats up to 6 or 7, depending on the configuration.

The only hybrid winner this year was in the small car category: the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring.

Scoring Ranked by Category and Vehicle:  

  • Overall: Lucid Gravity Touring (Electric)
  • Small Car: Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring (Hybrid)
  • Midsize Car: BMW i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (Electric)
  • Large Car: Lucid Air Pure (Electric)
  • Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado EV LT Extended Range (Electric)
  • Minivan: Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus (Electric)
  • Small SUV: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (Electric)
  • Midsize SUV: Lucid Gravity Touring (Electric)
  • Large SUV: Hyundai Ioniq 9 Performance Limited (Electric)

 

AAA EV Resources    

  • AAA Car Guide Website: For those in the market for newer used EVs, the online resources also contain links to prior editions of the guide.
  • Your Driving Costs calculator: Consumers should consider estimates of the cost of owning a vehicle based on financing it, owning and driving it for five years, and trading it in at the end of those five years.
  • AAA Your Driving Costs revealed that as of September 2025, the annual cost to own and operate a new vehicle was $11,577, or $965 per month, which was a drop of $719 from 2024. That figure may be higher this year for gas-powered vehicles given higher pump prices, if they last.
  • Mobile EV Charging Pilot & AAA EV Member Benefits: Available in select cities, including San Francisco, this service is now part of our roadside assistance and will get EV owners back on the go if they run out of charge. That’s just one of the many benefits and services we offer our EV members.

Overall winners, detailed evaluation criteria, vehicle reviews, and an in-depth analysis of ADAS technology can be found at AAA.com/CarGuide.

About AAA Mountain West Group

AAA Mountain West Group is one of the most trusted membership organizations, proudly serving over 6.8 million Members across Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, Utah, and Wyoming. Named one of Forbes’ Most Trusted Companies in America, AAA delivers unmatched expertise and value through roadside assistance and electric vehicle (EV) resources, along with comprehensive auto repair, travel, insurance, financial, and home security services. Powered by 5,400 dedicated Team Members, AAA is on a mission to revolutionize solutions that help our Members.

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