Chalk up another victory for Elon Musk. For the first time, his all-electric sedan, the Tesla Model S, is Consumer Reports' most highly recommended car of the year.
That doesn't just mean the Model S is the storied magazine's top pick of electric cars — it's the best car you can buy, period. Consumer Reports gave Tesla an astonishing 99 out of 100, a score higher than any of the other 259 vehicles it tested for the annual report.
See also: 5 Surprises You'll Find in a Tesla Model S
"Sure, you can talk about this electric luxury car’s blistering acceleration, razor-sharp handling, compliant ride and versatile cabin," the report's authors wrote. "But that just scratches the surface of this technological tour de force ... the Tesla is a glimpse into a future where cars and computers coexist in seamless harmony."
Consumer Reports acknowledged a few well-publicized Model S battery fires that were caused by impacts. But having looked at more than 600 Model S cars, the magazine was unable to find any fault with the electric battery or drive train.
It's been a month of good news for Musk, who is rumored to have been in very preliminary talks with Apple about acquiring Tesla. Three weeks ago, a Consumer Reports survey of car buyers named Tesla one of the top five auto brands in terms of performance, value, safety, quality, design and technology.
"Tesla is going up against established brands, and yet it is schooling them on how to make a high-tech car," Jeff Bartlett, the magazine's deputy editor of autos, told CNBC. "It excels in all areas that we measure."
See also: Electric Dreams: First Tesla Model S Rolls Out of Factory [PICS]
There was a lot to love for fans of hybrid vehicles, too: The Toyota Prius won Consumer Reports' best green car for the 11th year in a row (and for $26,000, you could get nearly four Priuses for the price of one Model S.) Here's a brief video outlining the magazine's top picks:

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