Best Car of 2025
2025 Honda Civic Hybrid: Finalist
- Starting price range: $30,100-$33,100 (sedan); $31,300-$34,300 (hatchback)
- Estimated combined fuel economy: 49 mpg (sedan); 48 mpg (hatchback)
The Honda Civic has been a perennial favorite among our editors, especially since its excellent redesign for the 2022 model year. That revamp delivered improved all-around refinement while retaining refreshingly simple physical controls and the Civic’s trademark athleticism, and it was in the running for our Best of 2022 award that year.
The Civic gets a mid-cycle refresh for the 2025 model year that also sees the return of a hybrid powertrain after a decade’s absence. This time, however, Honda has taken a fresh approach with the Civic hybrid: It’s positioned as the premium offering in the Civic lineup, and it’s focused on spirited acceleration as well as fuel efficiency.
The new hybrid powertrain is basically the same as the one used in hybrid versions of CR-V compact SUV and Accord mid-size sedan, and it feels smooth and especially gutsy in the smaller, lighter Civic platform. It features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a two-motor hybrid system for a total of 200 hp — a significant jump from the Civic’s base 150-hp 2.0-liter engine.
What’s more, the Civic hybrid’s EPA fuel-economy numbers are comparable to those of the rival Hyundai Elantra Hybrid and Toyota Corolla Hybrid — even though the Civic boasts a significant horsepower advantage. If you crave zippy acceleration and crisp handling in your fuel-sipping hybrid compact car, the Civic hybrid is tough to beat, and it’s a finalist for our Best Car of 2025 award.
2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Specs and Reviews | Find a 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Near You
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N: Finalist
- Starting price range: $67,575
- Estimated electric driving range: 221 miles
- Estimated combined efficiency: 78 mpg-equivalent
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N may just be the hot hatch to rule them all — it’s certainly one of the most fun-to-drive new cars we experienced this year. Hyundai took the already excellent Ioniq 5 and gave it to the mad scientists in its N performance division, and what they came up with is an incredible performance car that just happens to be all-electric.
With 601 hp — and 641 hp for 10-second bursts when using the N Grin Boost feature — the Ioniq 5 N is extremely powerful; in our testing, it proved to be one of the quickest cars we’ve ever tested, blasting its way from 0-60 in just 3.3 seconds. That’s quicker than a host of gas-powered and all-electric vehicles we’ve tested over the years, some with eye-watering price tags.
While quick EVs aren’t unusual, what sets the Ioniq 5 N apart is that it’s more than just fun to drive in a straight line. Features that make it enjoyable to throw around a track include simulated gear changes and fake powertrain sounds that provide useful feedback, multiple track modes, track-specific regenerative braking and even a drift mode.
The result is a well-rounded performance bargain with a starting price far below what you’ll pay for less capable performance cars. On top of all of this, the Ioniq 5 N retains much of what we love about the vanilla Ioniq 5, including its roomy, well-appointed cabin, user-friendly technology and useful cargo space. The Ioniq 5 N is very nearly the total package, and it’s a finalist for our Best Car of 2025 award.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Specs and Reviews | Find a 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Near You
2025 Ram 1500: Finalist
- Starting price range: $42,270-$89,070
- Output range: 305-540 horsepower, 271-521 pounds-feet of torque
- Maximum towing capacity: 11,600 pounds
Ram’s decision to drop its iconic Hemi V-8 engine from its light-duty full-size pickup truck was controversial, but the twin-turbocharged inline-six-cylinder Hurricane engine is an impressive replacement that’s powerful, smooth, quiet and refined. The redesigned 2025 Ram 1500 recently beat the Ford F-150 and GMC Sierra 1500 in our 2024 Full-Size Pickup Truck Challenge, and the new high-output version of the inline-six engine was a big reason why.
Another reason was the 2025 Ram’s new Tungsten trim level, which further elevates the Ram brand’s already class-leading materials quality and luxury at the top end of the full-size pickup class. Featuring quilted leather upholstery, textured metal trim and a suede-style headliner, the Tungsten interior is a luxurious, richly finished space that has plenty of room for your crew to ride in complete comfort.
While top trims of the Ram 1500 are legitimate luxury vehicles, the pickup line is still designed to do traditional truck tasks like towing and hauling. With a maximum towing capacity of 11,600 pounds and a max payload rating of 2,360 pounds, the Ram 1500 can handle what most owners will throw at it.
It’s also packed with the latest tech, with a hands-free driving system, trailer reverse steering control and a height-adjustable four-corner air suspension among its available features. Whether you need a truck for work or ferrying your family in comfort, there’s a version of the 2025 Ram 1500 that’ll meet your needs.
2025 Ram 1500 Specs and Reviews | Find a 2025 Ram 1500 Near You
2025 Toyota Camry: Finalist
- Starting price range: $29,835-$36,035
- EPA-estimated combined fuel economy: 44-51 mpg
Toyota was a pioneer of gas-electric hybrid cars, and the automaker went further with the redesigned 2025 Camry, taking the radical step of making the mid-size sedan hybrid-only. The Camry was updated in a lot of other ways, too, with new exterior styling for a more athletic look, a stylishly redone interior and an infotainment upgrade to the latest version of Toyota’s multimedia system.
But the biggest star is under the hood. The fifth generation of the Toyota Hybrid System combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a total of 225 horsepower on FWD models and 232 hp with AWD (this is the first time AWD has been offered on a hybrid Camry). As you’d expect from a hybrid-powered car, estimated gas mileage is impressive: In its most efficient, base front-drive form, the Camry is EPA-rated 53/50/51 mpg city/highway/combined.
And in a world where everything seems to be costing more, the 2025 Camry’s $29,535 starting price is actually a bit lower than the base price of the hybrid 2024 Camry. Add it all up, and Toyota’s innovative approach in making a hybrid powertrain standard in the Camry creates a new bar for mainstream mid-size sedans that helps it earn a spot as a finalist for our Best Car of 2025 award.
2025 Toyota Camry Specs and Reviews | Find a 2025 Toyota Camry Near You
2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz: Finalist
- Starting price range: $61,545-$71,545
- Estimated electric driving range: 231-234 miles
- Estimated combined efficiency: 80-83 mpg-e
After more than 20 years of concept cars suggesting the resurrection of the iconic Volkswagen Bus, the German automaker has finally delivered one — an all-electric, six- or seven-seat minivan with retro-inspired styling that has the nation … well, abuzz. The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz shares its EV underpinnings with other VWs like the ID.4 SUV, but in a much more spacious, sliding-door-equipped, head-turning two-tone wrapper — and we’re just as smitten by it as everyone else.
With a 282-hp, single-motor RWD powertrain or 335-hp, dual-motor AWD setup, the ID. Buzz is no slouch when it comes to acceleration. Its overall range isn’t as thrilling, coming in at an EPA-rated 234 miles for RWD models or 231 miles for AWD variants, but the ID. Buzz can DC fast-charge at up to 200 kilowatts, with the 91-kilowatt-hour battery able to go from 10% to 80% in about 26 minutes, according to VW.
But the electric specs aren’t really what’s driving everyone crazy for the ID. Buzz; rather, it’s the van’s undeniable nostalgia factor. It has all the attention-grabbing ability of a Tesla Cybertruck without any of the ensuing middle-finger gestures typically directed at said truck. It starts conversations at stoplights, in parking lots and at valet stands. The fact that it’s also quite nice to drive, is comfortable in all three rows and just makes everyone smile almost makes us forget it’s also quite expensive. Almost. Even so, the ID. Buzz is such a refreshing and well-executed vehicle that it’s very much deserving of being a finalist for our Best Car of 2025 award.
2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Specs and Reviews | Find a 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Near You