Before we begin our series of articles on the best buys of 2026, Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to tell you about some of the vehicles we love the most here at The Car Guide.
Many have won a number of awards and accolades, and all of them are obviously among our top picks for 2026. Here they are, in alphabetical order:
Read also
Photo: Guillaume Rivard
In the compact EV segment, the i4 is the one that looks the most like a traditional car and boasts the highest level of refinement. While range doesn’t quite match Tesla’s or Hyundai’s, the smooth and strong powertrain is delightful. The driving experience is equally impressive. The top-of-the-line M60 xDrive model offers up to 593 horsepower and sprints from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, enough to make the gasoline-powered M3 jealous.
Photo: GM
For 2026, Chevrolet has addressed one of the Corvette’s main flaws—poor cabin ergonomics. This American icon is an absolutely sensational sports car with outstanding performance that’s easier to drive at the limit than a comparable Porsche 911. It also turns heads… if you enjoy being the centre of attention. Unfortunately, we haven’t yet had the chance to get our hands on the formidable ZR1 (1,064 hp) and ZR1X (1,250 hp), but the experience promises to be incredibly exhilarating and memorable.
Photo: Antoine Joubert
Comfortable, spacious, fuel-efficient (particularly in hybrid configuration) and fun to drive in any trim level, the Honda Civic proves to be an excellent choice for many drivers who don’t want to switch to an SUV. And even though its base price has now crossed the psychological mark of $30,000, the Civic still represents good value with its exceptional build quality and time-tested reliability.
Photo: Kia
The EV3 hasn’t arrived in Canada yet as Kia prefers to launch the EV4 and EV5 first. That said, having tested it twice, our team is won over by this little electric crossover, which was named World Car of the Year in 2025. The EV3 will attract a ton of customers with competitive pricing and a more appealing design than the Hyundai Kona Electric’s. Although it’s front-wheel drive only, the EV3 proves to be fun and surprisingly comfortable, and its 201-horsepower motor is potent enough to be enjoyable and responsive when needed.
Photo: Marc Lachapelle
At the other end of the lineup, the boldly designed EV9 continues to impress in its third year. Despite the introduction of a Hyundai equivalent offering longer range, Kia’s three-row midsize electric SUV won a comparison test we did last summer. It’s attractive, versatile, well-appointed and even a bit more engaging to drive than the IONIQ 9. The EV9 offers a lot for your money and is an excellent buy.
Photo: Dominic Boucher
The ultimate in driving pleasure? The MX-5 is the quintessential convertible. It’s more affordable than its rivals and also proves quite dependable. While not a powerhouse, it’s easy to make the most of what’s under the hood. Furthermore, handling is magnificent. It’s just a shame that not all body types can fit in the MX-5’s tight cabin.
Photo: Dominic Boucher
The 911 is one of the cars that everyone at The Car Guide agrees on. Regardless of the model, it offers sharp handling and a thrilling driving experience overall. We find the 911 GT3 Touring and 911 Carrera T particularly sweet. The former delivers a fantastic mix of road and track performance, while the latter is a purist’s treat. Disappointingly, ever-increasing prices put the 911 out of reach for many buyers.
Photo: Guillaume Rivard
The Crosstrek seems to be tailor-made for Canada. It offers generous content, fuel-efficient powertrain options (including a new hybrid system) and excellent all-wheel drive at a reasonable price—not to mention above-average reliability and resale value. The Crosstrek is a vehicle we just love and highly recommend.
Photo: Antoine Joubert
The sleeker-looking, sixth-generation RAV4 comes exclusively as a hybrid. It’s even more powerful and fuel-efficient than before. The same is true for the plug-in hybrid variant, whose electric range has increased to 80 km. The completely redesigned interior offers more storage space to optimize practicality, and Toyota has developed a new software platform that includes an improved operating system enabling OTA updates.
Photo: Dominic Boucher
There’s probably no such thing as a perfect sports car, but a few come very close. As a hot hatch, the Golf almost has it all. The GTI is for those looking for a fun car, while the R targets those who desire all-wheel drive and performance that puts luxury brands to shame. Too bad that the manual transmission is no longer available.
