At the 327-acre Consumer Reports test track, we subject every vehicle we buy to a battery of more than 50 rigorous instrumented tests and other evaluations.
Our expert assessment then continues for thousands of miles on the open road, where staff members will drive for months to ensure that our experiences match those of the consumer.
By the time we've finished living with our cars, we have an excellent sense of which will stand up to years of screeched tires, scorched brakes, and spilled juice boxes.
Among this past year's new releases, below are the vehicles that earned our praise: the best cars of 2015.
Click on the model names below to read the complete road tests.
SEE ALSO: 10 of the best used cars under $10,000
Volkswagen Golf
From the moment the Golf's doors close with that reassuring thunk, this German hatchback exudes a quality feel that you don't find in your typical econobox. The new 1.8-liter turbo engine delivers effortless power and 28 mpg.
Despite its compact size, the Golf provides the ride, handling, and quietness of a more expensive car. Topping the well-trimmed interior is an intuitive infotainment system. The North American Car of the Year jury — of which Consumer Reports is a member — named the Golf its 2015 winner.
Read the complete Volkswagen Golf road test.
Volkswagen GTI
With its 2-liter, 210-horsepower turbo engine, the GTI is deliriously fun to drive. Using the Golf's basic bones, the GTI adds 40 more snarling horsepower, 18-inch wheels, and a suspension that carves corners without pummeling you like competitors such as the Subaru WRX.
The interior is well finished, with above-class materials and comfortable, supportive seats. Starting at $24,785, this "hot hatch" is something of a bargain. Like the Golf, we eagerly await the GTI’s reliability data from our annual survey.
Read the complete Volkswagen GTI road test.
Related: Tesla Model S P85D Breaks the Consumer Reports Ratings System
Ford F-150
Even though Ford's new full-sized pickup finished third to Chevrolet and Ram in our ratings, this truck's redesign is a major evolution.
The F-150 shed 700 pounds of body weight by using aluminum instead of steel, and the stunning new 2.7-liter, V6 turbo engine yields 17 mpg overall while still delivering 325 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque. This is an encouraging sign of where trucks can go.
Read the complete Ford F-150 road test.
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