Electric Vehicles with the Most Customizable Options for a Personalized Touch

The Year's Best New Cars are Affordable, Customizable and High Tech

This year's Newsweek Autos Awards winners reflect an industry in a period of recovery and also of change.

The supply chain crises of the past few yearsparticularly in semiconductor chipshave eased. Automakers are seeing better sales while they roll out models that were in the pipeline well before the pandemic. The transition to electric powertrains continues. Vehicles of all kinds are becoming highly technologically advanced. Yet buyers still want what they've always wanted: cars and light trucks that are safe, reliable, stylish and affordable.

This year's winners include some of the greenest and most luxurious vehicles made today. They pump up the volume on performance and many deliver more bang for buck than ever before, including the smallest models on our list. They come from brands foreign and domestic, new and old. Our biggest winner overall was Kia with six awards. Honda and GMC had four awards apiece, followed by Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Mercedes, each with three.

Newsweek's Autos editors rated cars two ways: test driving them and comparing standard and available features and specifications to other vehicles in the same category. The team drove about 200 vehicles and rated them in seven categories: performance, handling and braking, technology, cargo area, seating, interior appointments and pricing. For our Editors' Picks, our standards were a bit more subjectivethese are simply vehicles that particularly knocked us out. This year, we've also singled out the best new technology features. All these vehicles are on sale now in the U.S.for some that means the 2023 model year, for others 2024.

Fixing the Mix

After years of promoting large trucks and SUVs, carmakers are now bringing smaller entry-level models to market.

"There is significant pent-up demand at the lower end of the market, partly due to fallout from the pandemic and supply chain shortages," Paul Waatti, manager of industry analysis at AutoPacific, an automotive market research firm, tells Newsweek.

As those forcesnot to mention inflationdrove up prices of both new and used cars, entry-level buyers had trouble finding anything they could afford. According to Tony Salerno, managing director and practice leader for automotive advisory and analytics at consumer data firm J.D. Power, carmakers now "are desperate to shift from the 'build the most expensive mix possible' to 'build a balanced mix of more affordable, profitable products.'

"In October 2022," he says, "less than 17 percent of all vehicles sold were priced under $30,000. That mix is now over 20 percent."

Budget-conscious buyers now have plenty of choices. Waatti says, "The 2024 Chevrolet Trax [a Newsweek editors' pick]arguably the best combination of value, style and versatility on the marketand slightly more upscale Buick Envista have breathed new life into GM's gateway models in sleek SUV form. Ford reenvisioned what form an entry-level model can be with its Maverick pickup. Nissan remains committed to affordability with Versa and Sentra for sedan buyers. New, larger versions of the Nissan Kicks and Kia Forte are just around the corner for value-seeking SUV customers."

At the same time, carmakers have been working to give inflation weary buyers at all levels good reason to spend. One big theme is customization. Salerno says, "Customization programs are designed to emotionally connect the consumer with the vehicle." For example, Cadillac's new Celestiq EV sedan, he says, can be sufficiently customized that a customer can own a "one-of-one vehicle." Similarly, for the Rolls-Royce Spectre, a Newsweek Award Winner in two categories, the interior, the colors, patterns, textures and styles of the interior are fully customizable.

Waatti says, "Luxury automakers are increasingly offering personalized experiences and new levels of customization that span technology, material and color choices, many of which are now premium eco-friendly options."

Sustainability Everywhere

Vehicles at all levels are Getting more eco-friendly. "Sustainability is something every industry is trying to market themselves as, and auto brands are no different," Salerno says. Models of all sizes now achieve over 30 miles per gallon regularly. Some, like the Toyota Prius and Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, are rated at over 50 miles per gallon by the Environmental Protection Agency.

But lower emissions are only part of the equation. Supply chain carbon neutrality is also on the minds of automakers, and buyers are starting to see eco-friendly and sustainably sourced materials at the most common touch points.

Waatti says, "Volvo and Polestar are great examples of brands that own this sustainable narrative as a brand identity. Kia is spotlighting these initiatives in the latest offerings like the EV9 [a Newsweek Award Winner]. Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Fisker and Rivian have also been prominent in sustainability and sourcing."

As for the ongoing macro shift from gas to electricity, analysts expect that only to accelerate but with one important additiona new emphasis on performance.

Waatti says, "The original narrative behind EVs and hybrids was efficiency, and part of the fallout with early efforts was a focus on aerodynamic designs that made for odd vehicle shapes and styling. Today, automakers have evolved those designs into much more palatable forms and are starting to inject excitement into the equation with performance and off-road variants." He says Hyundai's high-performance Ioniq 5 N model (expected late this year) and Ford's Mustang Mach-E Rally (due early next year) are prime examples of the shift.

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull is Newsweek's senior Autos editor. Follow her on X @writeEileen. Jake Lingemen is managing editor of Newsweek's Autos team. Follow him @JakeLingeman.

Custom Bracelets: Most Customizable With Countless Styles

Bracelets are popular pieces of jewelry that are worn on the wrist. What sets them apart from other jewelry pieces are the band that wraps around the wrist, their clasping mechanism, the ornaments that are often used to decorate them, and the fact that they are some of the most customizable jewelry pieces!

Everything from the band to the ornaments and the clasps can appear in different styles, in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and materials. Whats morea bracelet does not have to conform to a single style throughout. For example, a custom (personalized) metal bracelet may be constructed from oval chain links, mixed with infinity chain linksor it may simply be strung with beads, and have no chain at all!

As stated, bracelet bands often come in many different materials. Steel, precious metals, plastic, leather, rubber, or even silicon can be used to make them. They can be fashioned as chains, beads, cords, stripes, and so on. They can also be styled with ornaments in whatever way you like.

The difference between bracelets and bangles is that bangles are usually made of one solid, non-flexible material. You have to squeeze your hand into a bangle to wear it. On the other hand, bracelets are much more flexible and are worn on the wrist like a watch using a clasp.

Custom bracelets are the most customizable jewelry category

Every component of a bracelet can be customized. This is great news especially for people who value their originality and self-expression, and also for people who are searching for a truly unique, personalized jewelry option to give to a loved one. A thoughtful, customized bracelet makes a great gift for a family member or a loved oneand there are enough customizable elements available to make it completely and utterly unique.

To have a better understanding of how you can customize your bracelets, you first need to understand the different types of bands, ornaments, and clasps available to you.

Types of Bracelet Bands

As already stated, there are different types and styles of bracelets to choose fromso each inevitably comes with its own particular style of the band. Its important to consider the different types of bracelet bands available, so that you can make an informed choice when it comes to selecting your own bracelet.

Custom bracelets are the most customizable jewelry category, after all, so it makes sense to get up to speed with what you are able to actually customize. For example, a chain link bracelet band would need to have a pendant, charm or other fastening attached in some wayin order for you to be able to engrave it or customize it with a monogram.

However, a solid bangle band would be easily engraved right onto the bandgiving a much more permanent customization option. So, its clearly important to know your bangles from your chain bands, or even your leather bandsfor example. The bangle band is a popular band type within the bracelet bands categorybut youll also come across other common bracelet bands. These include chain band bracelets, bead band bracelets, leather band bracelets and even silicon band bracelets.

Chain Band Bracelets

These are typically made of metals, including precious metals like silver and gold. These types of bracelets are not limited to a single type of metal; you might get a personalized gold bracelet comprised of white gold and yellow gold links, or it may simply be made of one type of metal.

The metals interlock to form a chain known as a link chain. The link chains can be made in different decorative styles and worn on their own with or without extra ornamentation.

Here are a few examples of link chain styles:

• Anchor cable link chain: Here the links are round and connect either vertically or horizontally.
• Twisted curb link chain: This chain has twisted gourmet links.
• Infinity link chain:Here the bracelet features a series of figure-eight links.
• Belcher chain:This bracelet has round or oval chains that are thick and smaller than normal link chains to give it a sturdy appearance. Charms can be added to it for decoration.
• Venetian link chain:This bracelet is made of plates that are flat-rolled forming square cubed links. It is a popular decorative style due to its simplicity and aesthetic appearance.
• Cuban link chain:This is a popular style for men. Often diamond cut, the round or oval links overflow nicely into each other.
• Figaro:Similar to the Cuban link chain, it is differentiated by its links having longer connections after every four to five links. This gives it its rope-like appearance.
• Foxtail:As the name suggests, it is meant to resemble a foxs tail. It features rows of oblique oval links in loops. These are connected in opposite directions at 45 degrees. This gives it the signature hair-like appearance of the foxs tail.
• Serpentine:The links overlap laterally and are "s" shaped to resemble a serpent.

Bead Band Bracelets

Beaded bracelets can also be made of different materials including gold, silver, gemstones, pearls, glass, and even plastic. Glass is the most popular material, though, because of its malleability and inexpensiveness.

Here are a few bead band bracelet styles:

• Seed beads:These are primarily made of glass and come in different colors. They are identified by their round shapes.
• Crystal beads:These are popular because of their high refractive quality as a result of its part-lead and glass composition.
• Bugle beads:These are formed from long six-sided pieces of glass. They form a tube-like structure.
• Bali beads:As the name suggests, these originate from Bali and are handmade from silver. They are intricately made and often used as spacers in the bracelets.
• Drop beads:These are meant to look like a tear or a raindrop and can be made from glass or other precious stones such as gemstones.

Leather Band Bracelets

Leather products have made a massive comeback in recent years. They are easy to work with and allow for a wide array of styles that may be customized to your preference. Here are some options:

• Vintage leather bracelets:This is a unisex product. It is often accompanied by a charm of your choosing.
• Leather beads bracelets:This also a unisex product. It incorporates random beads of your choice in the bracelets.

Silicon Band Bracelets

Silicon is popular because it is inexpensive. Research also shows that silicon band bracelets can trap some of the pollutants you are exposed to. This is because silicon has strong absorbent qualities. Silicon bands come in different sizes and are highly customizable.

Types of Clasps

The fastening mechanism of the bracelet will depend on the material of the bracelet. Some bracelet bands simply need to be tied together. Others include fasteners. There are many different clasp styles in jewelry. Here are the most common ones:

Hook and Eye Clasp

These are usually made from simple materials such as wires, although other materials can also be used. They are strong and durable and often complement most jewelry, including bracelets, nicely.

Lobster Clasp

The lobster clasp is the strongest type of clasp. It looks like a lobster claw and can be made even stronger depending on the material used.

Spring Ring Clasp

This is another popular clasping style. It is not as strong as the hook and eye or lobster clasp and is usually made from lightweight and inexpensive metals.

Custom bracelets are the top-priority personalized jewelry choice to gift your loved ones

Most jewelry is often highly gender-specific. However, bracelets are more fluid and often unisex. A lot of pieces can be worn by anyone at any age. This is why they are extremely popular as gifts.

Even better, bracelets can be personalized to make them more sentimental gifts for your loved ones. This makes them unique pieces that hold more meaning and value for the wearer.

15 amazing custom bracelet styles for your inspiration

1. Personalized Name Bracelets

Personalized name bracelets are very unique and personal pieces. If you opt for something like an Etsy custom bracelet from a made-to-order site, you can get your piece made to your exact specifications. This means youll be able to create the most perfect personalized bracelet for your mom, or even a truly unique custom bracelet for your baby.

This is because such pieces are made to order and you get to decide what is written on the bracelet. You may also have the option to choose the material that the bracelet should be made from.

Options include sterling silver, gold plated copper, or stainless steel. Name bracelets like these make great gifts. You can opt to have them show monograms or nicknames, making them even more thoughtful as gifts. Other than bracelets, necklaces and rings can also have personalized names on them.

2.Personalized Handwriting Bracelets

These can make really interesting pieces if you're opting for an Etsy custom bracelet. You get to have a bracelet with a message written in your handwriting. They are made to order, with technology being leveraged to make the handwritten message resemble your handwriting precisely.

This can be the perfect gift for your loved one. All you have to do is ask them to write their favorite short worded message, send it to the jeweler and voila! They get a bracelet with their exact message and in their handwriting. Popular materials used are gold, silver, and evenrose gold.

3.Personalized Bar Bracelets

This is a custom word bracelet that features a bar with a personalized message from you. The bar can be made using several metals including silver or gold. This type of Etsy custom bracelet is a popular choice for a mens custom bracelet, because the bar can often be a chunky, somewhat masculine design. The bar is then woven into the bracelet band, which is made of a different material or the same one as the bar.

Materials for the band can be anything from precious metals to stainless steel or even leather. Some versions may also have clasps.

4.Custom Engraved Bangles/Cuff Bracelets

Bangles are usually made of a single continuous material and form a perfect circle around the wrist. When it comes to Etsy custom bracelets, bangles are a fantastic option, as they can be engraved on the inside or outside. However, this depends on the size of the bangle, which can either be skinny bangles or cuff bracelets that are much thicker.

The advantage of this is that the bangles can have much longer messages. You can also decide on several customizations, such as the font used in your message, the message itself, and the materials for making the bracelet.

5.Custom Initial Bracelets

This bracelet differs from regular cuff bracelets because the lettering on this is extremely limited. They may only have your initials, for instance. This makes the bracelet simple, elegant, and polished.

They can be made from gold, sterling silver, or a combination of the two. An alloy of different metals with a plating of precious metals can also be made according to your liking. The bands can also be personalized as the initial can fit on a plate woven into a band of different material adjustable to the wrist size.

6.Personalized Infinity Bracelets

Infinity bracelets are characterized by the infinity symbol on them, which resembles a horizontal facing figure eight. However, for the personalized bracelet, the infinity symbol on it may be customized to your preference.

For example, it can be customized with the names of two people or some other design. This bracelet is great as a gift for couples, friends and loved ones. The infinity symbol symbolizes the unending bond.

Infinity bracelets are hand-designed and hand-made. The preferred material for this type of bracelet is the sterling silver though gold can also be used.

7.Personalized Birthstone Bracelets

Birthstones are different gemstones that represent a different month of the year. This type of bracelet is unique as it represents your birth month or your zodiac sign.

You can incorporate several birthstones in your bracelet. You could have yours, your partners, and even your childrens birthstones. It is actually an ingenious way to help keep track of birthdays.

The birthstones can be arranged in any order that you like. A single bracelet can carry many birthstones. The bracelet band can also be made of several materials including gold and sterling silver.

8.Personalized Diamond Bracelets

Diamonds are a special and premium element in jewelry. They are also a girls best friend, making them the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one.

You can take this a step further by getting a customized diamond bracelet. It can feature a personalized message and turn heads with that distinct diamond sparkle. Gold is a great metal for the band, to make the diamond stand out. However, opting for a custom sterling silver bracelet with diamond detail is a classic look that exudes luxury as well as personal sentiment.

9.Custom Photo Bracelets

As far as customization of bracelets goes, this is one of the most sentimental. Custom photo bracelets are custom made to feature your photo or a loved ones photo in the pendant. This makes them a great custom bracelet for mothers day!

The shape of the photo can also be customized to appear in different designs, making this custom Etsy bracelet type a very popular choice. For example, you can use a heart design to symbolize love. The bands can also be customized to your preference.

Other than bracelets, photos can also be engraved on necklaces and watches for that personalized touch.

10.Custom Friendship Bracelets

Friendship bracelets are often exchanged between friends as a sign of friendship. According to tradition, they have to be hand-delivered. You should tie it to your friends wrist as they make a wish.

Although friendship bracelets are usually hand made, you can give yours a more sophisticated touch by getting a professionally custom made one. They can be made from a number of different materials. As it is meant to be casual, macram is often used.

You can also choose the colors that should go on the bracelet, as well as the wording of the message and the knotting style.

11.Personalized Silicone Bracelets

These are some of the most eye-catching bracelets as they come in different forms and colors according to your preferences. Silicon bracelets can also be used for medical purposes.

You can opt to engrave important information about you that may come in handy in case of an emergency. This includes things like your address, allergies, and underlying health conditions.

They are also great for corporate situations. You can use them to increase brand awareness by giving them out as gifts to your clients.

12.Custom Beaded Bracelets

Beaded bracelets are often colorful and pretty to look at. The beads can be customized with different initials or patterns to add personality to your bracelet. These bracelets are also stackable. The beads can be strung randomly or on a stretch cord.

The bands on custom beaded bracelets can be made using different materials such as gold or silver beads. You can have the engravings on pastel beads. The cords used are elastic and fit snugly on your wrist.

13.Custom Slap Bracelets

This type of bracelet is made of light but durable materials like plastic or leather and thin metal. This gives it a lot of flexibility and some rigidity as it clasps the wrist.

The designs on this bracelet can be customized according to your preferences. Everything from the color to the message is customizable. It is a great retro gift for adults born in the 80s and 70s as they were extremely popular back then.

14. Personalized Morse Code Bracelets

Morse code is a method of communication that encodes texts and words into a series of dots and dashes. Morse code bracelets are great for couples, siblings, or friends who want to share secret personalized messages among themselves.

For example, the Morse code is engraved on a bar in this bracelet. It can be one-sided or both sided with a reverse code on the other side.

15.Custom Charm Bracelets

Charm bracelets are often used to make strong fashion statements. There are thousands of charm options to choose from, so you have a ton of possibilities when it comes to customizing your own personal charm bracelet.

Pandora charm bracelets are probably the most well-known charm bracelet brand on the market today, and are likely responsible for the surge in popularity of this particular style of bracelet. The fact that they offer customers the option to purchase additional charmsover time makes them a truly unique gift that can be personalized to create a truly unique Pandora custom bracelet.

There are different types of charmsand not just limited to the gorgeous styles that Pandora offers. The difference lies in how they fit into the band of the bracelet. Some styles include dangle charms, clips, or spacer charms.

Charm bracelet bands can also be made from the material of your choice.

Bonus: Tips and resources to customize your charm bracelet

Charms are meant to be unique to your taste. Some charms can even tell a story or act as a definition of your personality. Here are a few things you might want to think about as you choose the charms:

• Types of charms:There are many types of charms to choose from. They also come in lots of different materials. If you are an animal lover, for instance, or if have a spirit animal, you can have a customized charm of this animal. You can also have music symbol charms, travel destination charms, or even Disney house charms. The options are endless, which truly is testament to the diversity of charm bracelets. As Pandora (and other brands) have demonstrated, the countless styles available means that custom charm bracelets are a truly remarkable piece of jewelry, with endless customization options.
• Cost of the charms:This depends on the material you would want to use to make the charms. There are options for gold, silver sterling, or even glass. Also, if the charm is complicated, it can also drive up the cost.
• The number of charms in a bracelet:A maximum of four charms on a bracelet looks classy without being too crowded. That said, the number of charms to have will depend on what you want, the size of the charms, and the size of the bracelet. Spacers, danglers, and clip-ons will also affect this number.

Final thoughts

Jewelry is almost synonymous with uniqueness, style, and class. Custom made jewelry takes this a step further by being one-of-a-kind creations that can even be passed down across generations as family heirlooms.

This is exactly what you get with custom bracelets. While regular bracelets are great, custom bracelets are better in every way; value, uniqueness, and aesthetics.