The checklist of contenders for Motor Authority Finest Automotive To Purchase 2025 began at almost 30 automobiles, starting from pickup vehicles and SUVs to luxurious vehicles and EVs. It was an unlimited subject.
Nonetheless, some needed to go. After we talked it over, hashed it out, and mentioned our piece, we whittled down the checklist of eligible automobiles to this checklist of finalists.
We’ll element every of them within the days main as much as the Jan. 6, 2025 reveal of the Motor Authority Finest Automotive To Purchase 2025 winner. Within the meantime, right here’s a take a look at people who didn’t make the lower—and why.
2025 Aston Martin DBX707
The Aston Martin DBX707 was upgraded for 2025 with extra customary energy on faucet–697 hp–a brand new infotainment system, and a few delicate styling tweaks in and out. Whereas it leans tougher into exuberance, the adjustments merely don’t measure as much as make it to the ultimate spherical.
2025 Aston Martin Vantage
Just like the DBX707, the Vantage went beneath the knife this 12 months and got here out with barely tweaked design in and out, an up to date infotainment system, and extra energy (now checking in with 656 hp). However regardless of the stunning sounds it’s merely not sufficient to maneuver the Finest Automotive To Purchase needle with the stiff competitors.
2025 BMW M5
This got here all the way down to timing. The M5 hadn’t launched by the point Finest Automotive To Purchase testing came about regardless of making its debut approach again in June. We’ll see you subsequent 12 months, M5.
2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ
The electrical Escalade debuted approach again in August 2023. But it’s nonetheless not right here but. Hopefully we’ll see the electrical flagship arrive within the competitors in 2025.
2025 Cadillac Optiq
A pattern is rising the place automakers introduce a automotive nevertheless it doesn’t arrive in well timed style. Like its bigger flagship electrical sibling, the Cadillac Optiq is MIA with the Escalade IQ.
2024 Dodge Charger Daytona
The electrical rebirth of the Dodge Charger within the type of the Daytona EV is about to happen. Deliveries have begun, however the launch came about after our Finest Automotive To Purchase testing. We’ll see you subsequent 12 months for positive, Dodge Charger Daytona EV.
2024 Ford Ranger Raptor
The Ford Bronco Raptor, which we name Braptor, made it to the ultimate spherical of Finest Automotive To Purchase testing in 2023, nevertheless it didn’t win. The Vary Raptor was hotly anticipated, and a primary for our market. It induces rapture off-road and on, nevertheless it merely is overshadowed by the Braptor.
2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R
The 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor benefited from the F-150 lineup’s upgrades together with a brand new digital gauge cluster, touchscreen, and revised look in and out. None of this enhanced the Raptor’s precise efficiency, and that’s sufficient to go away it on the contender checklist, however doesn’t lower it for the finalist checklist.
2025 Infiniti QX80 first drive, Napa Valley, June 2024
The Infiniti QX80 is lastly new for the third time and it goes large on the little particulars. Nevertheless it’s the large particulars that concern us. Physique motions are nonetheless much less managed than the competitors, and the inside packaging is extra compromised than almost all the things else in its class. Its design is an acquired style, and it merely doesn’t make it previous the contender spherical this 12 months.
2024 Lexus GX 550
The Lexus GX enters a brand new technology and at first blush was and is kind of interesting. A powerful turbo-6 replaces the buttery-smooth V-8 and the design is brick-like with some Defender vibes. However dwelling with it’s the place issues collapse. The steel is skinny, the inside is loud, issues really feel low-cost, and it doesn’t appear as strong because the Defender. First blush doesn’t match actuality right here.
2024 Lincoln Nautilus hybrid
The Nautilus is what RX patrons ought to in all probability be contemplating at this level. The sharp, but conservative, exterior design is way from ugly. A hybrid joins the lineup for these looking for effectivity. However some patrons could be turned off by the pillar-to-pillar display screen on the dashboard that may overwhelm. That’s earlier than addressing the unlabeled touch-sensitive buttons on the squircle steering wheel. It appeals, however not sufficient to make the ultimate spherical.
2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid
The most recent-generation E-Class got here onto the scene this 12 months with extra tech and LEDs than ever earlier than, however the powertrains didn’t transfer the bar till the E 53 Hybrid got here together with a plug. However that mannequin didn’t arrive till now, and wasn’t right here after we had been doing testing. It additionally appears costly and makes us query whether or not we’d truly relatively have the PHEV over an EQE or Lucid Air.
2024 McLaren 750S first drive, Las Vegas, February 2024
The McLaren 750S supersedes the 720S, which itself was a lot of all the things {that a} observe was wanted to come back near stretching this supercar’s legs. The 750S solely provides to all that with extra energy, but in addition extra driver engagement. However the immense potential is just past essential and leaves most mere mortals utilizing possibly 1 / 4 of what the automotive’s able to. We will’t all be Lando Norris. At these costs and these speeds, because the previous rule goes, it had higher be good. (And it’s.)
2025 McLaren Artura Spider
The topless variant of the McLaren Artura lineup arrived this 12 months within the type of a Spider. Shedding nothing whereas dropping the highest, the Artura Spider screams enjoyable in a roofless plug-in format. It’s compelling, but in addition $24,700 greater than the coupe, although it has a tough prime so it’s form of a worth, two vehicles in a single. Nonetheless, we examined an Artura Spider that price $374,158, and that’s simply some huge cash to inform somebody it’s the perfect automotive to purchase. It’s definitely unimaginable with race-car tech, nevertheless it’s onerous to name this a worth.
2025 Polestar 3 Efficiency Pack, take a look at drive, Madrid
We thought the Polestar 3 can be a robust contender this 12 months. Once we first drove it we famous it hit an electric-SUV stride. However software program delay points prevented it from displaying as much as closing testing. Disappointment set in, however we’ll hopefully see it within the 2026 competitors.
2025 Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid
Porsche Panamera
We had been truly going to ask the Panamera as a result of it’s that good, however realized the GTS is coming subsequent 12 months and advised Porsche to only save us one. Blame it on timing. We’ll see the Panamera in GTS kind for Motor Authority Finest Automotive To Purchase 2026 testing.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
The Ram 1500 RHO arrived to interchange the now useless Hellcat-powered TRX. With much less weight and higher steadiness the RHO is extra succesful than the TRX. Sure, it’s down two cylinders and a supercharger, nevertheless it’s now the automaker’s flagship off-roader and it makes area for a TRX sequel, which is within the works. So for that cause alone it sits on the sidelines whereas we watch for the next-gen TRX, which can possible be electrified.
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
The 200-Collection Toyota Land Cruiser all of us knew, cherished, and didn’t purchase is useless. Changing it’s a new Land Cruiser, which the remainder of the world is aware of because the Land Cruiser Prado since they get the actual Land Cruiser alternative referred to as the LC300. The brand new Land Cruiser does its finest to pivot and lean on retro appeal, however that solely takes you up to now. It’s tinny, low-cost, and unrefined. It is taken two steps ahead whereas taking a large leap backwards with a contemporary value. It didn’t make it too far into the dialog.
2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Professional, picture by way of Nathan Leach-Proffer
2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter
The brand new, lastly, Toyota Tacoma arrived and with it arrived two off-road fashions. The TRD Professional everyone knows returns, however a Trailhunter arrives aiming for overlanders. The previous excels at going quick whereas the latter is all about crawling slowly over terrain. Each are compromised regardless of being cut up off to be extra targeted on their missions. The competitors has extra superior shocks, full-time four-wheel-drive, Baja modes, and feels faster. This regardless of costing lower than the Toyotas. Neither truck made it previous the beginning line on this competitors.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
The Bus is again! The VW ID.Buzz rewrites historical past with an electrical VW Bus for a brand new technology. It’s a throwback whereas being fashionable. It’s enjoyable. It appears cool. It’s large. And it appears like an electrical minivan ought to. Nevertheless it’s virtually too mainstream outdoors of its “cool, it’s again” issue to make it far sufficient on this competitors. When there’s an electrical Chrysler Pacifica you gained’t even see it make the contender checklist, so the ID.Buzz made it previous go, at the very least.
2025 Volvo EX90
Volvo’s electrical folks hauler lastly arrived. This three-row EV beckons the long run whereas juggling priorities. However its launch was delayed to the purpose we drove one, however couldn’t prepare for one to be at Finest Automotive To Purchase testing regardless of feeling it was a contender. It’ll be punted to the 2026 competitors.
