Core Insights - Cars.com announced the winners of its annual Best Of Awards for 2026, highlighting top-rated vehicles amidst rising vehicle prices and changing market conditions [1][2] - The Nissan Leaf was named Best Car of the Year, recognized for its value, innovation, and usability, especially as affordable EV options become more limited [2][7] Award Winners - Best Car: 2026 Nissan Leaf, starting at $31,485, offers up to 303 miles of range and access to Tesla's Supercharger network [7] - Best SUV: 2026 Nissan Armada, known for its strong twin-turbo V-6 power and towing capacity of up to 8,500 pounds [7] - Best Family Car: 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, featuring three-row seating and flexible cargo space [7] - Best Pickup Truck: 2026 Ram 1500, combining work-ready trims with luxury models and class-leading comfort [7] - Best Electric Vehicle: 2026 Kia EV9, providing up to 305 miles of range and family-friendly versatility [7] - Best Luxury Vehicle: 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ, offering an estimated 465 miles of range and advanced technology [7] Methodology - The Best Car of the Year was selected from over 40 new or redesigned models, evaluated based on quality, innovation, and value [4] - Other awards considered specific criteria relevant to their respective categories, open to all model-year 2026 vehicles [4]

Core Viewpoint - Hyundai is recalling hundreds of thousands of Palisade SUVs due to potential airbag deployment issues, which do not meet federal safety standards [1][5] Group 1: Recall Details - The recall affects Palisade vehicles from model years 2020 to 2025, specifically concerning the side curtain airbags for third-row occupants that may deploy improperly in a crash [1] - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is overseeing the recall and has indicated that a remedy is under development, with owner notification letters expected to be mailed in mid-March [2] Group 2: Additional Recalls - Hyundai has also issued a separate recall affecting over 41,000 vehicles due to a software error in the instrument panel display, which impacts the visibility of critical safety information [3] - This additional recall includes certain 2025 to 2026 model-year vehicles such as the Tucson Hybrid, Ioniq 5, and others, which also do not meet federal safety rules [4]

Core Point - Hyundai Motor America is recalling 143,472 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles in the U.S. due to improperly installed rearview cameras [1] Group 1 - The recall affects a total of 143,472 vehicles [1] - The issue pertains to rearview cameras that may not have been installed correctly [1] - The recall is initiated by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [1]