This 12 months’s finalists for Motor Authority Best Automotive To Buy 2025 proves the electrical age is upon us: just one finalist has a tailpipe.
Starting with nearly 25 latest or significantly updated luxury and performance vehicles, we whittled down the list of 2025 nominees to only six contenders. We then tested the finalists each on the road and the track back-to-back, discussed, argued, and took a straw poll to hash out the winner.
Last 12 months marked the return of one more champion with the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 earning Motor Authority Best Automotive To Buy 2024 honors. Which can take home the honors this 12 months? We’ll announce the winner on Jan. 6, 2025, together with the winners from our sister sites, The Automotive Connection and Motor Authority.
In the approaching days we’ll take an in-depth take a look at each of those nominees.
2024 Acura ZDX Type S
Acura ZDX
The primary ZDX was a somewhat impractical fastback four-door crossover SUV that took aim on the BMW X6. The latest ZDX is, with none exaggeration, a reskinned Cadillac Lyriq. The ZDX is Acura’s first electric automobile, and the Lyriq was so good it almost won as a dark horse contender in 2023. The brand new ZDX reskins the Cadillac basics, adds air suspension, and affixes an Acura badge to it.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N was an fast contender the second we drove it around Laguna Seca. The electrical hot hatch–or a crossover SUV, because it’s classified by the EPA–brings fun to the electrical age. Hyundai introduced fake shifting and noise to boost the Ioniq 5 driving experience—and it really works, from its wings all the way down to its attention-grabbing body kit.
2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE 53
Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE 53
The fire-breathing CLE 63 that may presumably bear an S E Performance badge and bear a hybrid drivetrain doesn’t exist, yet. However the AMG-badged CLE 53 is quick, makes great sounds from its turbo-6, and is sort of fetching to take a look at. We said it “brings big coupe fun” upon first sliding behind the wheel. Quicker, faster, and more agile, it’s the CLE enthusiasts are going to decide on, for now. It also feels special inside because of some AMG-specific bits like a flat-bottomed steering wheel, sport seats, and AMG-specific software.
2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology
Mercedes-Benz G-Class Electric
The official name is G 580 with EQ Technology, but just call it the electric G-Class. Regardless of the name, it’s an fast icon. Mercedes took its legendary off-roader that buyers rarely take off-road and made it electric. The batteries and electric motors don’t detract from the capabilities—they make it smoother to drive, quieter in case you turn off the sound generators, and more precise off-road. The electrical G retains the vault-like door locks and sports a number of party tricks unique to the SUV game. It’s essentially a tank-turning EV celebrity that may one-up the actual celebrities who can afford one.
2024 Porsche Macan EV
Porsche Macan EV
Porsche’s bestselling nameplate now has an electrical variant. The Macan EV sticks to the script that works for the automaker, but while it looks evolutionary, it’s underpinned by the automaker’s next-gen PPE platform. We said it “eases the electrical transition” because of the evolutionary design. However it also delivers on the Porsche’s signature handling prowess despite weighing over 5,000 kilos. The Turbo model, which the truth is doesn’t have turbos, is powerful, immediately familiar, and track-ready.
2025 Rivian R1S
Rivian R1S
Look too quickly and also you’d wonder how the Rivian made the cut, again. The R1T won and was named Motor Authority Best Automotive To Buy 2022. The R1T and R1S duo entered their second generation, generally known as G2 or Gen 2, despite looking almost no different. It’s what you may’t see that’s been updated. Completely latest electrical architectures future-proof these EVs–it’s so good VW just paid Rivian $5.8 billion to make use of a few of it–and hook to latest electric motors, revised battery packs, a brand new heat pump, and dual-, tri-, and quad-motor powertrains. Looks are deceiving, though the lighting elements have been tweaked as a giveaway of what lurks beneath. Retuned and returned to duty, the Rivian R1S looks loads like the perfect electric SUV a lot of our editors would put of their garages.
This Article First Appeared At www.motorauthority.com
