Car buying might seem daunting, but a wide array of online resources can make the process easier. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) is one of them, and KBB’s Best Buy Awards is a good place to start. If you’re interested in a Hyundai model, you’ll be pleased to know two Hyundai SUVs won Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards this year. Learn more about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5.

Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Awards of 2023

Kelley Blue Book has been a reliable source of car information for decades, and the annual Best Buy Awards is a good gauge of vehicle quality. But how does KBB determine which models are the best?

“Every year, we spend thousands of hours driving and researching hundreds of cars, and our Best Buy Awards are the purest distillation of those efforts,” KBB explains. “Our awards span a wide range of sizes and prices. We give extra weight to financial considerations like expected resale valuable and historical reliability. Our goal, as always, is to make it easy for you to shop like an expert.” 

Other areas that KBB tests are vehicle-related information, including five-year cost-to-own data, retail sales figures, consumer reviews, and vehicle transaction prices. 

KBB evaluates vehicles in 18 segments to determine which models deserve Best Buy Awards. Categories include best new model, best in class, best EV under $35,000, and even best minivan.

Of these categories, two Hyundai SUVs made the cut this year. They are the 2023 Santa Fe and 2023 Ioniq 5. 

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe won the KBB Best Buy Award for best 2-row midsize SUV

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe earned the KBB Best Buy Award in the 2-Row Midsize SUV category. Last year, the 2022 model won in the Best Family Car category.

KBB especially likes the 2023 Santa Fe’s wide range of tech features and affordable purchase price. Reviewers also note this Hyundai SUV’s attention to detail as one of the reasons why the Santa Fe stands out in a crowded segment.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe has an MSRP of $33,700. It packs an inline-four engine in the XRT trim and an inline-four turbo in the Limited and Calligraphy trims. This midsize Hyundai SUV also gets an impressive 28 mpg on the highway. 

Although the Santa Fe isn’t known for its off-roading chops, it can handle lighter trails. It also feels at home on city streets, a testament to this midsize crossover’s versatility. That’s thanks to the available HTRAC all-wheel drive.

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 won 2 KBB Best Buy Awards

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 earned the KBB Best Buy Award for Best New Model. If that’s not enough, the Ioniq 5 also won Best Electric Vehicle.

NASCAR driver Toni Breidinger joined KBB this year as an editor, and she spent a day cruising around in the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5. One factor that played a role in this dynamic little EV earning two KBB Best Buy Awards was its ability to go from a 10% charge to 80% in 18 minutes. However, that’s when charging conditions are optimal.

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5’s electric powertrain generates 320 hp and 239 kW. It also offers available HTRAC AWD. Another factor is this EV’s impressive 303-mile range. When you consider the 2023 Ioniq 5 has an MSRP of $41,450⁠, it’s easy to see why this model is a winner.