10 Top Rated 2015 Model Year Cars that Please the Pickiest Experts

2015 Subaru Legacy

Tackling the Top Rated Cars for 2015 is no easy task. After all, every media outlet seems to have its own way of rating the market’s best choices, and the same is equally true of every auto shopper. That means just one set of grades won’t do, since a vehicle rated as the most fuel-efficient car in the country may not satisfy someone looking for top marks for safety, for example.

As a result, our list draws on both Autobytel and independent experts for its sources and thus provides a particularly wide-ranging look at recent ratings winners.

2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe

We come back to the Autobytel experts for the new Cadillac ATS Coupe, which leverages its recent selection as one of our Best Looking Cars of 2015 to join our Top Rated Cars, too.

Needless to say, this entry is much more than just a two-door version of the ATS Sedan, as the Coupe features its own exclusive hood, roof, front fascia, front fender, rear fenders and trunk lid, as well as a wider track and shorter overhangs. The new look also is even crisper than before, with a lighter and more agile stance than that of the bigger CTS Coupe, and drivers can expect an even more aggressive appearance for the 2016 model year.

That’s when the all-new ATS-V Coupe (and Sedan) debut, complete with both athletic body mods and a 455-hp twin turbo engine.

Photo by FCA Media

2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat

The 2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat checks off a number of boxes here, entering Autobytel’s roster of Top Rated Cars as the quickest, fastest and most powerful sedan in the world.

Naturally, it all starts with the Hellcat’s HEMI 6.2-liter V8 engine, which combines sophisticated technology and brute force—and a 2.4-liter supercharger—to produce 707 hp and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. Particular powertrain highlights include the unit’s forged-steel crankshaft, forged-alloy pistons, and sodium-cooled exhaust valves, and engineers also has to upgrade the vehicle’s standard TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission to handle all that output. The engineering work was no doubt worth it, though, as the Charger can chew up the pavement and spit out a quarter-mile time of 11 seconds, achieve a terminal velocity of 204 mph, and show off a massive 707-hp HEMI V8.

Other performance enhancers for the Hellcat include a three-mode Bilstein suspension with adaptive damping, launch control and a big Brembo braking package.

Photo by Dodge

2015 Ford Taurus

You can fit a lot of junk in the trunk of the 2015 Ford Taurus—chosen as one of Autobytel’s 10 Cars with the Biggest Trunks for 2015—and that kind of rating is nothing to scoff at. Thanks to some canny work by Blue Oval engineers, there’s more than 20 cubic feet of cargo space in Taurus’ trunk, making it an ideal choice for families and golfers alike. That, in turn, also makes the Taurus one of our Top Rated Cars of 2015, boasting notably more trunk space than full-size rivals ranging from the Toyota Avalon to the Chevrolet Impala. (If that’s not enough space, owners can fold the rear seats in the Taurus for even more room.)

Oh, and there’s also the matter of the EcoBoost advantage: in the Taurus SHO, that works out to a very usable 365 hp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque.

Photo by Ford Media

2015 Honda Accord

High value tends to have a direct impact on high vehicle ratings, and such is definitely true of the 2015 Honda Accord sedan. In fact, the finance mavens from Kiplingers.com recently added to that list by recognizing the Accord specifically for best-in-class new-car value. 

Proving that point, the Accord sedan currently starts at $22,105 yet is loaded with standard content like dual-zone automatic climate control (with in-cabin air-filtration system), Honda’s i-MID intelligent multi-information display (showcasing an 8-inch high-resolution screen), Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming, 160-watt audio with Pandora compatibility and USB port, SMS text-messaging assistance, a rearview camera, illuminated steering-wheel controls (for cruise, audio, phone and i-MID settings), “SmartVent” front airbags, and a 185-hp engine that still enables standard EPA grades of 24 mpg city/34 mpg highway/27 mpg combined.

Photo by Honda

2015 Nissan Versa Sedan

The lowest-priced entry among our Top Rated Cars is the 2015 Nissan Versa sedan, honored because it also remains the lowest-priced new car in the country. Don’t let that low price fool you, however, as the Versa sedan’s MSRP of $11,990 does cover must-have features like air conditioning, a Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, an audio system with auxiliary input jack and steering-wheel-mounted controls, a chrome grille, and halogen headlights. 

As an additional affordability bonus, the standard Versa Sedan can ring up EPA grades of 27 mpg city/36 mpg highway/30 mpg combined right out of the box; with an available continuously variable transmission, EPA ratings rise to 31 mpg city/40 mpg highway/35 mpg combined. 

It’s also worth pointing out that the Versa Sedan was noticeably refreshed for the 2015 model year with revised, more contemporary styling both inside and out.

2015 Scion xB

Making somewhat of a surprise appearance among Autobytel’s Top Rated Cars for 2015 is the Scion xB, and no, it’s not for being the boxiest beast on the roster. Instead, the xB was rated as the No. 1 vehicle—in the entire industry—in the most recent “Consumer Reports” annual reliability survey.

True, Scion itself has been less than reliable when it comes to updating the xB, but the car does add a standard rear backup camera for the 2015 model year, and it still features a standard display audio setup with a 6.1-inch screen, and it continues to make the most of its hallmark styling. A case in point: While the xB is about the size of a traditional compact on the outside, its very untraditional design allows it to swallow almost 70 cubic feet of gear.

Photo by Toyota Media

2015 Subaru Legacy

Standing out as one of the Top Rated Cars for safety is the 2015 Subaru Legacy. Not only does Subaru’s mid-size sedan combine a 5-star overall safety score from NHTSA with a Top Safety Pick+ recognition from the IIHS, it also raises ye olde bar with the highest possible score in every individual facet of NHTSA and IIHS testing.

That includes receiving 5 stars for frontal crash, side crash and rollover performance from NHTSA, along with “good” grades from the IIHS in testing from small- and moderate-overlap front impacts, side impacts, roof strength, and performance of its head restraints and seats—and those latter results were highlighted by top grades in all 28 IIHS sub tests. Then, courtesy of the Subaru EyeSight package of electronic safety measures, the Legacy received a “superior” mark from the IIHS for front crash-prevention technologies—again, the highest rating available—and was recognized by NHTSA for offering its top three “recommended technologies.”

Photo by Subaru Media

2015 Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S has been on the marketplace since the 2012 model year, but there’s still no EV in this country with a higher rated all-electric driving range. Indeed, it’s not even close, since no other EV is capable of even a triple-digit range and the Model S is EPA certified to deliver 265 miles of all-electric, zero-emissions travel.

And while the Model S would have been added to our top rated list for those green results alone, it also provides a technologically advanced, high-performance ownership experience that now benefits from dual-motor all-wheel drive and autopilot functionality. With those advantages complementing a 17-inch touchscreen vehicle interface and a stunning interior, highlighted by soft leather, real wood and polished zinc accents, the Tesla Model S makes for a top rated luxury car, too.

Photo by Tesla Media

2015 Toyota Prius c

Among the Top Rated Cars for fuel economy, the 2015 Toyota Prius c stands alone with a 53 mpg mark in city driving that is the highest miles-per-gallon score of any unplugged vehicle. And that performance is backed up by a rating of 46 mpg on the highway and 50 mpg in combined travel—making the Prius c one of just two unplugged cars in the country that are capable of reaching 50 mpg (the other is the standard Toyota Prius).

To put that kind of fuel efficiency into context, the EPA also reports that, based on those numbers, the typical Prius c owner will save $3,500 in five-year fuel costs as compared to the “average new vehicle” in this country.

And remember, the Prius c was noticeably spruced up for the new model year with a special LED lighting package that brings further flair to this city-sized entry.

Photo by Toyota Media

2015 Volkswagen Golf

High ratings have been par for the course for the 2015 Volkswagen Golf, which followed up multiple international “car of the year” honors with both the North American title and that from Autobytel itself. Certainly helping matters: The 2015 Golf family offers something for everyone, with a practical and versatile entry model, offering up to 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space; two high-efficiency choices (including a 45-mpg diesel model and the all-electric e-Golf); and two high-performance options, highlighted by the Golf R that is the most powerful Golf model ever sold in the U.S. market.

The Golf family has a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, too, and, like many of our Top Rated Cars, also can serve up luxuries like a forward collision warning system, Fender premium audio and navigation.