Getting up close and personal with the best-rated cars in the market

By James Mayfield on April 13, 2023

Lines of automobiles as far as the eye can see. Representing 300+ makes and models. All of them shined up and ready to be explored, not only outside, but inside as well.

Want to sit in the driver鈥檚 seat and grip the wheel? Feel free. Listen to the sound system? Turn it up. Check out the legroom in the back seat? By all means.

These are just a few of the many tangible joys of visiting an auto show. And ones we took full advantage of when we recently toured the North Texas Auto Show in Dallas, Texas.

Before heading downtown to the Kay Bailey Convention Center, site of the 2023 show, we grabbed the list of 2023 Best Cars for the Money awards released by U.S. News & World Report.

As an article about the results states, 鈥淭he Best Cars for the Money awards find the balance between cars that focus on value and cars that provide excellent ownership experiences. The awards cover 12 different automotive categories, and the winners have the best combination of quality and value in their respective classes. They鈥檙e not just good cars, they鈥檙e also good deals over the long haul.鈥�

Walking the convention center floor with the list, we were able to look at several of the vehicles firsthand to get a feel for how the best-ranked cars wound up with such high praise.

There was a crowd around the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, and for good reason, as the all-electric utility vehicle took top honors for best electric SUV according to the U.S. News rankings. Impressively displayed with the plug-in apparatus attached showing how it gets its juice, the 200 horsepower Bolt EUV boasts a driving range of 247 miles when fully charged and is priced in the mid-$30ks.

With the Kia brand having three vehicles on the Best Cars for the Money list, we found the award-winning K5 and Sportage in close proximity at the show and checked out the exterior before inspecting the interior of both. Being a midsize sedan, the K5 was not only sporty looking, but had a well-appointed interior and a comfy back seat ready for a road trip or daily carpool commute.