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ALISTAIR WEAVER: We're here at the famous Petersen
Museum in the heart of LA to show the Edmund's Top Rated
Awards for 2020.
Over the next two nights, that's 24 nocturnal hours,
we'll be documenting the best cars of 2020.
Everything from trucks to SUVs to sports cars.
Let's get cracking.
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The Edmund's Top Rated Awards are
based on what we believe is the most rigorous
and authoritative testing process
in the automotive world.
Every year, we evaluate more than 300 vehicles--
on the road and on our private test track.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: We rate everything according
to eight key criteria.
DAN EDMUNDS: Driving, comfort, interior--
CARLOS LAGO: Tech, utility, and, of course, value.
MARK TAKAHASHI: Unlike other awards that honor vehicles
that just happened to be introduced that year--
ELANA SCHERR: Edmunds crowns the best cars in a segment,
whether they launch that year or not.
MARK TAKAHASHI: Simply put--
CARLOS LAGO: These are the best--
JONATHAN ELFALAN: New vehicles--
ELANA SCHERR: On the market today.
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ALISTAIR WEAVER: Home to billions
of dollars worth of cars and bikes, the Petersen
is the perfect location for an Edmunds award shoot.
It's dreamy stuff.
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So this is our set for the next couple of nights,
and what an epic location it is.
If you look around as these are the cars
from the collection of Bruce Meyer, who
owns a fair chunk of property in Beverly Hills
and is a man of exquisite taste.
Massive car enthusiast, and you can see that as we look around.
That over there is the first ever Shelby Cobra.
That is the first ever Chevrolet Corvette
to go to Le Mans in 1960, where it won.
A Ferrari 250 short-wheelbase.
That's worth $30, $40 million dollars.
And then at the back there is a Ferrari Testarossa.
I don't mean the kind of 80s poster boy.
This is the original Testarossa from 1957, which, they say,
is the winningest Ferrari ever.
I'm like a little kid in a sweet shop.
It's wonderful.
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Mazda's Miata won our sports car award last year,
but in 2019, it faced some tough competition
with the arrival of a new Porsche 911,
the much anticipated Toyota Supra, and a bold newcomer
from Detroit.
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By changing the formula of America's most iconic sports
car, Chevy took a big risk but one
that we think will pay huge dividends.
In moving the engine from under the hood to behind the cockpit,
the Corvette gained the kind of poise, agility, and balance
you'd expect for an exotic super car.
CARLOS LAGO: The Corvette nails the performance figures
and the driving experience, but it does so
with a base price that's just $60,000.
It's delivered a thrilling driving experience
with super car presence at a real world price.
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It's a good time to be a sports car enthusiast right now.
Everybody expected that the C8 would be a great handling car.
The real story was the price.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: Yeah.
I think when we heard that it was
going to go mid-engine the feeling was, is the price going
to jump $20, $30,000 You get away
from this being the kind of almost accessible super car.
But actually, you probably want to pay
$70, $75 for the performance packs and things
like that to get the one that the driver wants.
But that's still amazing value when
you think what it's up against.
CARLOS LAGO: I think what we have is
we have varying degrees of good to great.
And with this, I can just go feature by feature
and just think, OK, not only is this a mid-engine sports car,
it's the only mid-engine sports car
you can buy with a naturally aspirated V8.
And it also has a really nicely controlled
electronic differential and an amazing tool clutch
transmission.
And then all the tech stuff underneath that.
All this stuff tied together-- something you
can't reproduce anywhere else.
And the fact that it's also good the drive
is just really, really cool.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: But there is one car
that you driven that I haven't yet, which is also
the same money, is the GT 500.
CARLOS LAGO: GT 500.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: You came away with a big grin on your face.
CARLOS LAGO: The car is amazing, and we
should say it's not really up for consideration
here because it hasn't gone through our full rating review
and testing process.
So next year-- you know, it'll be
interesting to see how that pairs up.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: Yeah, yeah.
CARLOS LAGO: But yes, that car is really, really good.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: It's the same money.
CARLOS LAGO: It's the same money.
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DAN EDMUNDS: Everyone assumes that I own the company,
but I don't.
The Edmunds I'm related to is Don Edmunds.
That's my father.
And he was the 1957 Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis
500.
But at one point, he got into building race cars.
And his company, Don Edmunds Auto Research, built this car--
the Tamale wagon--
and several hundred like it.
This is a sprint car.
It's got a V8 engine in it.
I might have even made some of the parts.
It's right about the time where I
was starting to work at the shop at the weekends
and after school.
This car has a really special place in my heart.
It's just incredible.
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ALISTAIR WEAVER: Last year, our SUV award
went to the Honda CRV.
But in such a competitive class, time quickly moves on.
Honda's new Passport really impressed us
with this space and quality.
But this year's winner is built in Georgia.
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JONATHAN ELFALAN: Midsize, three row
SUV has to do everything-- provide
enough room for the family, enough storage for their stuff,
enough engine to carry everybody,
and enough value to make it affordable.
The Kia Telluride does all of this--
and with style.
MARK TAKAHASHI: A smooth V6 and all-wheel drive
ensure the Telluride is capable and sure-footed.
Sure, other SUVs may excel in other areas,
but none are as comprehensively accomplished as a Telluride.
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The Telluride-- it kind of just blew us away.
It almost caught us off guard by how good it is.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: We're talking standard V6,
8-speed transmission, really smart packaging--
you can actually fit adults in the third row--
and a great value.
MARK TAKAHASHI: And look at it!
It's gorgeous.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: It looks great, it's priced right.
So it's kind of easy to see why we pick this over the others.
Mentioning some of the other highly anticipated SUVs
that we thought were going to do well.
MARK TAKAHASHI: Blazer.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: Blazer and Explorer.
MARK TAKAHASHI: Yeah.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: But the Blazer just turned out
to be big on design, but not quite as functional
as all the other ones.
And the Explorer--
MARK TAKAHASHI: Right, it had that rear-wheel drive platform
that kind of got us a little excited.
But when we got in it--
man.
The materials, everything that surrounds you,
just keep it as being a real big disappointment when you
compare it against a Telluride.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: Especially in price.
I just didn't feel like it delivered
that same premium feel.
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ELANA SCHERR: This is a Top Fuel front-engine dragster.
But this is cool even for a Top Fuel dragster
because it's very rare car.
This is the 1967 Shelby Super Snake,
raced by Don "The Snake" Prudhomme,
and sponsored by Shelby.
Yeah, Carroll Shelby.
You know, Cobras and Le Mans and all of that.
He also did some drag racing.
I actually have a personal connection to this car.
It was restored about five or six years ago, pretty close
to my house.
And so I would stop by and visit while they were working on it.
It was painted by a guy named Bill Carter, who was actually
the guy who painted it originally.
And he let me help a little bit.
So I pulled off one of the little masking tape pieces
when they were putting the stripes on.
You know what, I'm just going to go right ahead
and say I built this car.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: We're still big fans of last year's top luxury
SUV, the Lincoln Navigator.
But it's no longer our top choice.
For 2020, it's been beaten by a brand that, for now at least,
could do little wrong.
ELANA SCHERR: The Mercedes-Benz GLE has long
been a favorite of ours.
Its 2020 redesign makes it even better--
offering more features, a classy interface, and increased
utility.
MARK TAKAHASHI: With a generous cargo capacity
and a maximum total rating of 7,700 pounds,
the Mercedes-Benz GLE is a capable family hauler.
The GLE is a luxury SUV with a price to match.
Especially when you start adding in options.
But the best rarely come cheap.
If you can afford it, you won't regret it.
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Electric vehicles are all the rage now,
but the concept of electric cars has
existed since the late 1800s.
DAN EDMUNDS: Late 1800s.
This thing is 1915.
This Detroit Electric Model 61 Brougham.
Just imagine where we'd be if electric cars didn't
get beat out by gasoline cars and development
continued in parallel through all those years.
CARLOS LAGO: Well, let's stop talking about the past
because you got to go talk about the present.
DAN EDMUNDS: Absolutely.
See you later.
CARLOS LAGO: This is the Edmunds top rated EV for 2020.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: Last year's winner, the Hyundai Kona
Electric, was challenged by the arrival of the Kia Niro EV.
While in the luxury class, we were
impressed with the Audi E-Tron and the awesome, new Porsche
Taycan Turbo.
But in the end, none of these could out point a pesky startup
from California.
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No other car company gets more attention than Tesla--
for good and bad.
At Edmunds, we've owned three of them,
and it's always an adventure.
Initially, our 2017 Model 3 was so beset by problems
that it was tough to recommend.
The latest cars are much better made.
DAN EDMUNDS: You can spend big bucks on dual-motor,
all-wheel drive versions, but our favorite is the standard
range plus--
available for just over $40,000, all in.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: For $40,000, no other EV
comes close to matching the all round appeal of the Tesla Model
3.
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We've been critical on the Model 3 in the past,
mainly because the build quality issues.
DAN EDMUNDS: Well, we got a really early car.
Our 2017 car-- we got it as soon as we could.
And so, yeah.
We were going to experience more of that.
But since then, they've made a lot of improvements,
and the newer cars are coming out a lot nicer.
And they've come out with a $40,000
version that's a lot more affordable than the one we got.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: And also, the lease rates
are now pretty competitive, as well.
Under $500 a month gets you a pretty nice Model 3.
DAN EDMUNDS: Yeah, leasing wasn't an option when the Model
3 came out, but it is now.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: But, the elephant
that's not in the room, Porsche Taycan.
You drove it first in Europe.
DAN EDMUNDS: Yes.
It's amazing.
I really enjoyed the drive in that car.
Very impressive.
I can't wait to see a more affordable version
here in the United States.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: [INAUDIBLE],, we thought about giving it
this award, but the model that's available
right now starts at $150,000.
So it's not exactly accessible, shall we say.
But we've recently driven the 4S, here in LA.
That arrives middle of next year for $100,000.
Still a load of money, but, who knows.
Maybe we'll put it up for the gong next year.
DAN EDMUNDS: It's going to be a load of car,
so I think it's going to be a contender.
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MARK TAKAHASHI: I love movie cars!
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JONATHAN ELFALAN: If I could pick anything, I pick this.
It's a 2089 Weyland RT01 Transport.
You might have seen it from the movie, Prometheus.
It's big.
It's badass.
Kind of like our truck of the year.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: We love our trucks at Edmunds.
And this year, we celebrated the introduction
of the Jeep Gladiator and some impressive new, heavy-duty
alternatives.
But, good though they are, they couldn't
steal the Edmunds top rated truck award
from last year's winner.
DAN EDMUNDS: The Ram 1500 is our top rated
truck for the second year.
Last year, we praised its tech, interior build quality,
ride comfort, and capability.
And this year, it's only gotten better.
ELANA SCHERR: You can fit more in a Ram
than you can in most departments.
There is a place for everything--
from the dual glove box to the hidden under floor bins.
DAN EDMUNDS: For our team, it's become
the default for everything from family vacations
to home improvement.
Our experience has only confirmed our view
that this is the best pickup truck on the market.
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ELANA SCHERR: Dan?
Didn't the Ram win last year?
DAN EDMUNDS: Yes, it did.
ELANA SCHERR: Why did it win again?
DAN EDMUNDS: Well, the other guys didn't actually
come out with anything that was better than they had last year,
but Ram made this truck better.
They brought back the 3 liter ecodiesel V6.
ELANA SCHERR: If you love Dan, get him an ecodiesel.
DAN EDMUNDS: It makes a lot more torque,
it delivers much better fuel economy than it did before,
and it can tow a couple thousand pounds more.
I mean, this one can tow about as much as a hemi V8.
And that's a big improvement from where it was before.
ELANA SCHERR: Dan, there was one other truck this year
that I really loved.
Can you guess what it is?
DAN EDMUNDS: Gladiator.
ELANA SCHERR: I liked it so much.
It was so fun.
DAN EDMUNDS: I love that truck, too.
ELANA SCHERR: I guess it doesn't quite
do with the Ram can do for as many people.
DAN EDMUNDS: It's a Jeep pickup truck,
and as much as I love the Gladiator,
it's a little bit of a niche vehicle.
This truck, the Ram 1500, is something you can use day in
and day out.
ELANA SCHERR: Oh, man.
Yeah, you could live in it.
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MARK TAKAHASHI: The Petersen Automotive Museum
is one of my favorite places on the Earth,
but if I were to pick something from the collection tonight,
it'd be the lead sleds.
I love lead sleds.
They're sleek, they're stretched, they're sexy.
If this '46 Merc was tuxedo black with all that chrome,
it'd be mine.
ALISTAIR WEAVER: Hyundai's new Sonata impressed us
in the sedan class this year.
But it wasn't quite good enough to claim top spot.
The Edmunds top rated sedan for 2020 is a repeat winner.
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CARLOS LAGO: When it comes to sedans,
it's hard to do better than the Honda Accord.
You have a range of engine options
to choose from that includes a high MPG hybrid, as well
as a turbo 2 liter that really scoots.
DAN EDMUNDS: Standard safety equipment
includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist,
and traffic sign recognition.
SUVs may dominate the marketplace,
but the all around excellence of the Accord
proves that the sedan can still be a great choice for families.
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CARLOS LAGO: The Accord is taking
"best sedan" for the second year in a row,
and that's a pretty important thing to call out
is we will have repeat winners year-over-year
when we feel it's important.
DAN EDMUNDS: Right, Edmunds Top Rated
isn't about the best car that came out this year.
It's the best car you can buy this year.
And that could be a car that was redesigned a couple of years
ago.
CARLOS LAGO: Absolutely.
It's still based on the quality of that vehicle
within the segment, and in this case,
the Accord still tops out, even with some new entrants
this year.
DAN EDMUNDS: SUVs are kind of becoming the default,
but don't forget about the sedan.
CARLOS LAGO: Yeah, and from our experience
of owning one of these cars-- owning an Accord for a year
is a long-term-- it only reaffirmed our opinion
because we put a lot of miles on that thing
and enjoyed every second behind the wheel.
This thing has an aura of refinement and niceness
that is just hard to put your finger on, but you sense it.
DAN EDMUNDS: Yeah, you get a lot for your money.
It's really, really an outstanding car.
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[? CARLOS LAGO: ?] Things are transpiring.
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ALISTAIR WEAVER: Just in case you're
wondering why we don't look tired on film.
But take a look around you.
This is the design center here at the Petersen.
It's probably the coolest hair and makeup room ever.
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The arrival of a new BMW 3 Series
threatened to shake up the luxury sedan class this year.
But in the end, it disappointed.
We like the Genesis G70 and a host of new Audis--
the A6, A7, and A8--
but in the final analysis, we couldn't
look past last year's winner.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: After we awarded
the A-class "best luxury sedan" last year,
we went out and bought one.
For 2020, it's again our pick for "best luxury sedan."
CARLOS LAGO: The A-class's real advantage rests
in its interior.
It's gorgeous, richly detailed, and beautifully put together.
Overall, with the A-class, Mercedes
has delivered a true luxury car experience
wrapped in an affordable package,
ensuring you get the best return on your dollar.
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It's 3:46 in the morning.
Let's talk about your cars.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: Yeah.
CARLOS LAGO: Yeah, it's either late or early.
I don't know what.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: I think it's both.
CARLOS LAGO: But aside from all that,
Mercedes-Benz A-class is a repeat luxury car winner.
JONATHAN ELFALAN: It feels like more
than what you get for, in a sense, for the price.
With the A-class, you feel like you're not really
compromising on anything.
It still feels like a genuine Mercedes-Benz.
Maybe just a little smaller.
I think if I'm looking to buy a luxury car,
looking to recommend a luxury car, that thing is top of mind.
CARLOS LAGO: Absolutely.
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ALISTAIR WEAVER: So that's it for the Edmunds Top Rated 2020.
We've had an epic couple of nights,
and we finished in the nick of time.
So, tell us what you think of our picks.
You normally do.
And be sure to head to Edmunds.com
for the in-depth reviews and to find out how much you
should pay for your next car.
Right.
I'm off to bed.
Good morning.
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