What has five pickups, 10 cars and 10 SUVs with costs from $28,750 to more than $350,000?
The list of the Best of 2025 announced Friday by the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year jury.
Twelve are electric vehicles while several offer hybrid models as the electrification of transportation continues.
The jury — which consists of 50 automotive journalists, including me — picked the top vehicles from 56 on sale in 2024. The list includes a handful that aren’t for sale yet, but have the potential to be good or important enough to invite to the NACTOY’s comparison event in October, when the jury will drive the vehicles again and narrow the list to three finalists for each of the three awards. Those nine finalists will be announced at the Los Angeles auto show Nov. 21.
What’s hot, and why?
After further evaluation of finalists, jurors will vote for the winners, which will be announced at the Detroit Auto Show on Jan. 10, 2025.
“We have a great variety of vehicles on the list,” NACTOY jury President Jeff Gilbert, of WWJ (950 AM), said. “This list is an example of the great products the auto industry is producing, from cutting-edge electric vehicles to traditional gasoline-powered cars and trucks, but also hybrids, which are a growing share of the market.”
The vehicles were to be revealed at Cars at the Station, which showcased a variety of vehicles at Michigan Central Station.
The Best of 2025 vehicles are:
Cars
BMW 3-series : The latest version of the car that created the sport-sedan segment
BMW M5: The max performance version of BMW’s midsize sedan regularly redefines the performance limits of a four-door car
Cadillac Celestiq: A hand-built electric ultra-luxury car that aims to reestablish Cadillac as a maker of exquisite custom vehicles.
Dodge Charger EV: The electric version of one of America’s great muscle cars aims to power Dodge’s rebellious character into the future.
Fiat 500e: Tiny and inimitably Italian, this electric city car is Stellantis’ second sortie into modernizing and expanding the appeal of its many brands.
Honda Civic hybrid: A more fuel-efficient version of a perennial customer favorite, hybrid power is a welcome return to the Civic lineup.
Kia K4: The hard-charging Korean brand renames and redesigns its compact sedan.
Mercedes AMG E-class: The highest performance version Mercedes’ midsize sedan should embody the automaker’s latest and best ideas.
Porsche Panamera: The car that proved you could have four doors and still deliver profoundly Porsche styling and performance.
Toyota Camry: America’s perennially bestselling sedan goes all hybrid and spruces up with all-new looks.
More: Jeep’s precipitous decline lies at feet of those in executive suites, mansions
Trucks
Ford Ranger: Ford’s midsize pickup adds features and a desert-racing Raptor performance model.
GMC Sierra EV: GMC’s full-size pickup goes electric, offering up to 440 miles on a charge, hands-free driving and more.
Ram 1500: Ram’s full-size pickup introduces a muscular new twin-turbo straight-six engine to replace the legendary Hemi, and adds hands-free driving.
Rivian R1T: More than half the midsize electric pickup’s parts are new, including motors, electrical system and longer battery range.
Toyota Tacoma: The bestselling midsize pickup adds a powerful and efficient hybrid version and a Trailhunter model intended for overlanding.
More: You can trust Rivian to survive if you buy one of its EVs
Utility vehicles
Chevrolet Equinox EV: An affordable electric vehicle in one of America’s most popular vehicle segments, the Equinox EV is a major step as EVs move into the mainstream.
Honda Prologue: Honda’s first modern EV is a midsize SUV built by General Motors, but its style and character look at home alongside Civics and CR-Vs.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N: Hyundai adds performance to its midsize electric SUV.
Hyundai Santa Fe: Radically restyled and featuring more cargo space, Hyundai’s bestselling model in the US.
Jeep Wagoneer S: The electric equivalent to the Grand Cherokee midsize SUV, the Wagoneer S must deliver luxury, technology and true off-road capability.
Lincoln Nautilus: Lincoln’s five-passenger midsize luxury SUV adds a breathtaking new display to the brand’s usual interior opulence.
Porsche Macan EV: Porsche sets out to redefine performance in an electric five-passenger luxury SUV.
Toyota Land Cruiser: One of Toyota’s longest-running models returns to challenge GMC Yukons for SUV prestige and ruggedness.
Volkswagen ID Buzz: An electric minivan aims to blend modern technology with a counter culture vibe.
Volvo EX90: Built in South Carolina and designed to suit American tastes, the electric three-row SUV offers several innovative safety features.
More: Forget the soundbites: Here's what's really happening with all the EV delays
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com . Follow him on
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: EVs and hybrids dominate NACTOY Best of 2025 list
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