Car News Cafe Reader’s Choice Awards 2023

These are the vehicles that you, our readers, have been most interested in.

We’re nearing the end of 2023, which means it’s awards time in automotive. While everyone else is giving out awards for “Best of” or “Top Pick” or whatever, we here at Car News Cafe focus instead on what you, our readers, like.

So here are the top five 2023 model year vehicles, by site traffic and searches, that we’ve reviewed on our website this year. The vehicles that you, our readers, have been most interested in.

Choosing this list was simple: we looked at 2023 model year vehicle reviews on our site, sorted them by search and viewing traffic, and made a list of 5. We ended up with six, as there was a tie wherein the articles were within 100 of one another in both metrics. And we added a runner-up that was an unusual review for us and that did pretty well in traffic.

So, without further ado..

#1 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

The Outlander often gets ignored by much of the automotive press, so it’s not terribly surprising that the people who love this crossover are hungry for a look. We’ve always considered the Mitsubishi Outlander, especially its plug-in hybrid version, to be a top choice. You can see this year’s review here.

#2 2023 Ford Maverick Tremor

The Ford Maverick gets a lot of attention and is the subject of a huge amount of Internet searches. It’s received a lot of click-throughs from various search engines to CarNewsCafe.com this year. It did well last year too, so not surprising. This plucky little truck is a favorite with a strong following of loyal fanatics. You can read our review of the Maverick here.

We have a tie for third place with both vehicles being within 100 views of one another!

#3 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The Honda CR-V is the company’s best-selling model and one of the best-selling vehicles overall. So it’s not terribly surprising that a review of it, especially in its new hybrid version, would be popular. The CR-V beat out the GLE below in search traffic, but not in views. It’s a solid choice for buyers in the small SUV market. You can read our review of the CR-V here.

#3 2023-24 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e

I did a video review of this new Mercedes with my son Aidan. This is a great vehicle and it’s no wonder it received more views than the Honda it’s tied with. The GLE is a good luxury entry for midsized SUV buyers. And as a plug-in hybrid option, it offers the best of both worlds as well. You can see our review here.

#4 2023 Mazda CX-30

Not surprisingly, this plucky little stereo on wheels was a favorite amongst Car News Cafe readers. Coming in at number four on our list, the CX-30 is a good-looking, peppy contender in the compact crossover market. And Mazda fans in general are more apt to read about their options here than are other brand loyalists. You can read our review of the CX-30 here.

#5 2023 Nissan Armada

Big SUVs are still a popular item amongst a large segment of buyers. The Armada is one of the more popular in that market and so it’s not surprising to see it hitting our list of top-most searched vehicles this year. This big, beefy, and capable SUV is definitely a contender. You can see our review of the Armada here.

Honorable Mention: Can-Am Commander

The Can-Am Commander was an unusual review for us this year and a popular view amongst our readership. We’re hoping to bring more of this kind of thing to you in 2024!

Aaron Turpen
An automotive enthusiast for most of his adult life, Aaron has worked in and around the industry in many ways. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), and freelances as a writer and journalist around the Web and in print. You can find his portfolio at AaronOnAutos.com.