So you want to buy, lease or loan a car, but which one is best for you? 

• Affordable Small Cars under $20,000: Honda Fit (pictured at right), Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Elantra
  
• Upscale Small Cars between $20,000 and $35,000: Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen GTI, Acura TSX
  
• Affordable Midsize Cars under $25,000: Ford Fusion, Ford Fusion Hybrids, Hyundai Sonata
  
• Upscale Midsize Cars between $25,000 and $40,000: Buick Regal, BMW 3-Series, Chevrolet Volt
  
• Affordable Large Cars under $35,000: Ford Taurus, Buick LaCrosse, Chrysler 300
  
• Luxury Large Cars between $40,000 and $60,000: Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A7, BMW 5-Series
  
• Super Luxury Cars over $60,000: Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Panamera, Audi A8
  
• Exotic Cars over $100,000: Maserati Quattroporte, Maybach 57, Maybach 62
  
• Affordable Sports Cars under $35,000: Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Nissan 370Z
  
• Luxury Sports Cars over $35,000: Porsche Cayman (pictured at right), Chevrolet Corvette, Lotus Elise
  
• Super Luxury Sports Cars over $70,000: Porsche 911 Carrera, Jaguar XK, Mercedes Benz CL
  
• Exotic Sports Cars: Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Lamborghini Gallardo
  
• Muscle Cars: Ford Mustang, Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Camaro
  
• Affordable Convertibles under $35,000: Ford Mustang, Mini Cooper, Mazda MX-5 Miata
  
• Luxury Convertibles over $35,000: Porsche 911 Carrera, Chevrolet Corvette, Lotus Elise
  
• Affordable Full Size Wagons under $30,000: Subaru Outback (pictured at right), Volkswagen Passat Wagon, Volvo V50
  
• Luxury Wagons over $30,000: Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, Audi A4 Wagon, BMW 3-Series Wagon
  
• Affordable Compact Wagons under $25,000: Hyundai Elantra Touring, Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Nissan Juke
  
• Hybrid Cars between $20,000 and $30,000: Chevrolet Volt, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Prius
  
• Hybrid Luxury: Lexus GS Hybrid, Infiniti M Hybrid, Lexus CT200h
  

Detailed reports on all of these vehicles can be found at the US News website.

You can also search for car reviews based on the make of the car at the Car and Driver website.

As of 2010, here are 10 of the top rated vehicles by consumers according to Edmunds:

1. 2010 Dodge Challenger: A stroll through the consumer reviews of Dodge's retro-styled muscle car reveals that buyers are just as enamored with the big bad Challenger as we are. While only the base V6 engine squeaks under the $25,000 price cap for this category, nearly all of the cherished features from higher trim levels remain. First and foremost to garner praise is the styling. Owners absolutely love the Challenger's sinister look and bad boy attitude. Once they managed to catch their breath, consumer reviewers raved about the Challenger's smooth ride, spacious interior and all-around comfort. Negative comments were few and generally included the desire for more power out of the V6 to make it competitive against the Mustang and Camaro. Also noted more than a few times were the rather large blind spots and low fuel mileage.
   
2. 2010 Audi A5: In the luxury sport coupe segment, style counts for a lot. And the Audi A5 has got style in spades. Elegant, curving character lines, a lack of fussy details and a perfectly proportioned form typify the A5. And the theme continues within, with handsome design executed with top-shelf materials. But the A5 is much more than a pretty face, with owners raving about its accommodating, well-rounded personality. One taller driver stated: "I am 6'2" and appreciate the headroom, about the best in any coupe. Very quiet [while] cruising on the highway. Wonderful Bang & Olufsen stereo." Favorable comments on its performance and handling were abundant as well. Even with the base turbocharged-4, the A5 delivered plenty of gusto for one owner: "All of this and 26-34 mpg in a very powerful four-cylinder with&an incredible 258 lb-ft of torque." While another similarly opined: "Wasn't expecting much out of a four-cylinder engine but this...feels faster than my old V6 and the 0-60 numbers prove it. All I can say is if you have doubts, test-drive the car yourself."
3. 2010 Ford Mustang: The Mustang just keeps getting better, year after year. The lineup received numerous changes and upgrades for 2010, with styling being the most obvious of the changes. The new interior is a big hit with our consumer reviewers, as is the wonderful V8 soundtrack and its accompanying wallop of horsepower and torque. Sync voice activation also ranks highly on owners' lists of favorite features, as does the optional MyColor customizable lighting. Of the complaints, poor interior storage seems to be one that pops up more than anything else. Some performance-oriented consumers would also like to see more competent brakes and bemoaned the antiquated solid rear axle. Some owners of the V6-powered 2010 Mustangs made mention of the engine's weak output, which has been remedied with the 2011 V6 power plant that cranks out 305 horsepower as opposed to the previous model's 210 hp. As expected, Mustang owners are a loyal bunch, and rank their beloved pony car above the competing Camaro and Challenger muscle cars. For the drop-top crowd, though, the Mustang is the only choice. Still, we tend to agree with these owners, as we've ranked the Mustang higher in every recent comparison test.
   
4. 2010 Kio Forte: The new-for-2010 Kia Forte sedan is quickly making a name for itself in a class that has been dominated by Honda and Toyota since seemingly forever. With styling penned by a former Audi designer, the handsome Forte is undoubtedly one of the best-looking small cars on the market. Its interior's not as interesting to behold, but it's solidly constructed, and a wealth of features can be crammed into it. Even the base car comes standard with an iPod interface and a Bluetooth system that automatically downloads your cell's phone book. There are two engines available. Standard on the LX and EX trims is a 2.0-liter, 156-hp four-cylinder that is class-competitive in terms of acceleration and fuel economy. Stepping up to the SX trim not only gets you a larger 2.4-liter motor good for 173 horses, it features a sport-tuned suspension that transforms the little Forte into arguably the most fun-to-drive vehicle in its class. True, that model may cost more than $15,000, but for a bit more, you get a lot of fun, a lot of features and, as with all Fortes, a lot of value.
   
5. 2010 Volkswagen Golf: OK, so it's not really a sedan. The Volkswagen Golf is quite obviously a hatchback, but as such, this four-door compact is far more practical because of it. Along with being rechristened Golf after a generation known as the Rabbit, the 2010 version has been thoroughly updated in a number of ways to make it more appealing. For one, the interior has been improved to once again raise the bar in this price range for interior materials and construction. The Golf always feels more expensive (to behold and drive) than it actually is. Two engines are available (though a third can be found in the related VW GTI). A 2.5-liter five-cylinder that produces 170 hp provides ample motivation for the relatively heavy Golf, and fuel economy is on par with similarly powerful cars in the class. We would recommend the Golf TDI's clean-burning diesel engine, though, which produces 140 hp and more importantly, 236 pound-feet of torque. This engine is quite peppy around town and during highway passing, while achieving a fantastic 34 mpg combined.
   
6. 2010 Chevrolet HHR: The boxy, compact wagon segment is filled with lots of choices (think Honda Fit, Kia Soul, Nissan Cube, Scion xB, the outgoing Chrysler PT Cruiser), but our consumer reviewers have rated the retro-styled 2010 Chevrolet HHR tops. A peppy engine choice, lots of usable interior space for a compact vehicle and comfortable driver seat are consistently mentioned by owners as their favorite features. One owner is so happy with his purchase of a Chevy HHR, he had this to say: "I tell my children if I had money, I'd have one in all the colors for each day of the week." Our consumer reviewers have found a few gripes, though. They'd like a tilt-and-telescoping wheel to make it easier to find a comfortable driving position, awkward cupholder placement was criticized by more than one owner, and the premium audio system was found to be disappointing. But for the most part, owners love their HHRs.
   
7. 2010 Mazda CX-7: The fact that it's been voted our Consumers' Top Rated SUV Under $25,000 means that Joe and Jill Public are finally beginning to take notice of the Mazda CX-7, and this is a very good thing -- we can't think of a crossover in this category that's more deserving of broader success. The CX-7 isn't as well known as competing models from more popular brands like Honda and Toyota, and that's a shame; with its sophisticated good looks and sporty handling, this Mazda is a genuinely exciting choice in a segment known for being anything but. The CX-7's overall refinement will have you doing a double-take at its relatively modest price tag -- "Nothing else in this price range compares to it," says one reader. Another consumer reviewer astutely points out: "You'd have to buy a BMW, Infiniti or Lexus to meet or beat this thing." Its cargo capacity is below average relative to that of others in this segment, so if you and your family have pack-rat inclinations, the CX-7 isn't the best choice. But shoppers who appreciate value and performance -- and who don't need the roomiest choice in the segment -- will enjoy this suave, polished Mazda.
   
8. 2010 Nissan Frontier: The 2010 Nissan Frontier has wrestled this title away from the Toyota Tacoma, a two-time winner, in being named this year's Consumers' Top Rated compact pickup truck. The Frontier is sold in a wide range of setups, bed lengths and trim levels so you can perfectly suit the truck to your needs. Many consumer reviewers were impressed by the Frontier's carlike ride coupled with its tough pickup truck performance on- and off-road. Also popular was the strong acceleration from the 4.0-liter V6 engine, the smooth-shifting transmission and surprisingly solid fuel-economy numbers. The most often cited popular features were heated leather power seats, Bluetooth capability, tie-down cleats, bed extender, steering-wheel-mounted controls and extendable sun visors. Some consumers opted for the 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and were left wanting more power. One reader complained about a wider-than-expected turning radius on U-turns. Still, most owners found the Frontier to be a reliable and practical pickup truck for a wide range of duties.
   
9. 2010 Chrysler Town and Country: Garnering praise both from first-time minivan buyers and minivan veterans alike, the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country takes the top spot in the Minivan/Van category of Consumers' Top Rated this year. Owner/reviewers love this people-mover's many useful features, including its quiet ride, Stow-n-Go second-row seats and optional entertainment system. Front seat comfort and a smooth ride also rate high. In his review, a new Town & Country owner calls the minivan "comfort at its best." Value is also at the top of owners' lists. After comparison-shopping SUVs and other minivans against the T&C, one buyer said the Chrysler van's high level of feature content for a "very acceptable price" was his deciding factor. Like a lot of these consumers, our editors have held the Chrysler minivans in high regard -- in the past. But after spending a year with the Town & Country's corporate twin, the Dodge Grand Caravan, through our long-term road test program, we found its materials and build quality to be seriously lacking. Only time will tell if owners will eventually join us in this assessment.
   
10. 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid: We're starting to notice a trend in the Hybrid "top picks" category. The Toyota Prius had this category locked down for a number of years. Now it seems as though consumers want a vehicle that looks like an everyday car, while delivering the fuel economy of a hybrid. This year consumers favored the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid over the Toyota Camry Hybrid as an excellent alternative for consumers turned off by the Prius' styling. During our Fuel Sipper Smackdown 2, the Fusion Hybrid became one of the favorites to drive among our editors. The Fusion Hybrid has also managed to bring back a number of lapsed Ford buyers and a few who had never considered a Ford. As expected, most consumer reviewers praise the car's fuel economy. But they are also quick to point out the many high-tech features, such as Sync, Blind Spot Detection and the animated "Efficiency Leaves" as favorites. Owner complaints were few and were mostly focused on the small trunk, lack of a HomeLink system and the inability to fold down the rear seats.