As 2025 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on the year that was and nominate the best cars we drove over the past 12 months.
The CarExpert team has driven hundreds of new models this year, from new city-friendly electric SUVs to fire-breathing supercars and everything in between, so it’s a long list to choose from.
Here, for your festive-season reading pleasure, are what the members of our team chose as their favourite cars of this year.
Which is your pick? Do you disagree or agree with us? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Alborz Fallah: Genesis GV70
The updated Genesis GV70 remains my favourite car in its segment.
Despite very good competition from BMW with the X3, the South Koreans have produced the best mid-size luxury SUV, which doesn’t get the sales credit it deserves.
Marton Pettendy: Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
The first global – and the first mid-engined – Chevrolet Corvette is a serious supercar that ticks all the boxes, including design, technology and performance to match and even better some of its more established and more fabled Italian rivals.
Indeed it’s a shame that most Aussies won’t even consider it because it doesn’t wear a Ferrari or Lamborghini badge, because even in entry-level Stingray guise the C8 really is an engineering masterstroke that shows GM knows how to build a top-end performance car.
But in the absence of right-hand drive ZR1 and ZR1X production, the pick of the bunch is not the hardcore Z06 but the E-Ray hybrid, which sounds way better, is quicker despite being all-wheel drive because it delivers more power and torque, yet is also more affordable.
All C8 Corvettes look sexy and special, but the E-Ray is both the most rewarding and user-friendly, making it one of the most complete – and most accessible, in terms of both affordability and performance – supercars available today, bar none.
William Stopford: Toyota Camry
You must think I’m crazy. After all, I’ve driven everything from V8-powered sports cars and pickup trucks to high-tech EVs, and here I am saying a Toyota Camry was the best car I drove?!
Yes. This latest XV80 generation – despite being heavily based on its predecessor – is arguably the most compelling Camry in 30 years.
It was around that time that the first wide-body Camry came out, shaking up the mid-size sedan segment and offering truly impressive levels of quality and refinement. Camry generations subsequent to that have always been good, but arguably never class-leading.
This latest generation offers class-leading fuel economy and refinement, while also being both capable and comfortable to drive. As I drove it, I wondered two things: why would I spend significantly more on a Lexus ES, and what would this be like if the Gazoo Racing team had a crack at it?
All this in a family sedan. A Camry, no less. Your Uber driver is very lucky.
My runner-up is the Hyundai Ioniq 9, which I drove back-to-back with a Volvo EX90 – a nice rig itself – and ended up wondering why you’d pay thousands more for the luxury-brand offering.
A great design, a well-packaged interior, and a surprisingly comfortable ride for something on giant 21-inch alloy wheels.
James Wong: Porsche 911 GT3 Touring
It took me this long to get behind the wheel of a Porsche 911, so why not do it properly?
The 911 GT3 Touring is an incredible piece of kit, with the track-munching capability of a 911 GT car mixed with some everyday liveability and the comfort you’d expect of the German marque’s superb all-round supercar.
All it took was a few hours to fall in love with it: the screaming 4.0-litre flat six, the insanely accurate and responsive steering and chassis calibration, and of course the cool factor that comes with the more understated Touring package.
After many years of wondering what makes the 911 so damn special, and the storied automotive brand nirvana for so many customers and journalists, I can now say I’ve been sucked into the cult.
Damion Smy: BMW i5 Touring
What a stunning chameleon of a car. Like Jekyll and Hyde, the BMW i5 Touring is capable of smooth-talking a nun while committing utter murder with the other hand. If the M5 didn’t have a V8…
Ben Zachariah: Honda Civic Type R
While the latest Volkswagen Golf R sat at the top of my list for most of the year, and the Ford Ranger Super Duty was mightily impressive, I didn’t have more fun than my week in the Honda Civic Type R.
Despite being described by most as a hot hatch – given its hot-hatch roots – the CTR has matured, and really should be thought of in the same way as a Subaru WRX STI or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. In fact, I think Honda missed a trick by not making it all-wheel drive in this latest generation.
Regardless, the Type R is an absolute hoot, regardless of whether you’re commuting in the city or attacking a winding mountain road.
My learned colleague with the excellent hair, James Wong, even compared the CTR to the 911 GT3 Touring – his choice for best car driven this year – with the Honda offering the same kind of telepathic driving response and high build quality you get from the Porsche.
High praise, indeed – and I couldn’t agree more.
Josh Nevett: Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
I spent a weekend driving an E-Ray from Sydney to Parkes and back as part of the annual Corvette Nationals convention, and what a weekend it was!
Rednecks and bogans will scoff at the mention of an electrified Corvette, but the E-Ray is right up there with the best sports cars on the market.
The addition of a front-mounted electric motor not only unlocks supercar levels of performance, but also improves the Corvette’s drivability on public roads.
Chevrolet has also done a great job of creating a unique personality for the E-Ray through an intoxicating synthetic soundtrack that complements the roar of that thunderous V8, rather than distracting from it.
So sure, the Porsche 911 remains a safe choice in the premium performance car genre, but the Corvette E-Ray deserves far more attention, especially from those who don’t mind turning heads.
Max Davies: Ford Mustang GT Convertible
This was a hard choice, so bear with me. I could’ve chosen several: this year’s updated Toyota GR Yaris is a blast; the new Volkswagen Tiguan is one of the best all-rounders I’ve driven in a long time; and putting the Toyota GR Supra Track Edition through its paces was no doubt a special opportunity.
I can’t go without mentioning the Subaru WRX tS Spec B either – spinning just three hot laps of a private track in the brand’s current performance flagship will stick with me for a while.
The point is that I drove a lot of good cars this year, and that’s something I can’t take for granted. But in the end, I have to go with the Ford Mustang GT Convertible.
I had the privilege of taking it for a week-long loan, which gave me a newfound appreciation – not only for the Mustang but also for convertibles in general.
The sound, performance, and character of the Coyote V8 are unforgettable, especially when experienced with the roof down. I had a fantastic Saturday blast through the country on a glorious summer day, and I can honestly say there’s no car I’d rather have been driving.
It’s also dynamically engaging, and while certainly expensive, it’s not outrageously priced to the point where you’re worried to take it for a spin.
There’s a lot to like about this car, and that’s before even mentioning the beefy look of the current S650 generation. Plus, bright firetruck red is an excellent colour for a ‘Stang.
Sean Lander: Toyota LandCruiser
It’s a bit older now, but I’ll be damned if the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series isn’t still fantastic.
Not only is it the number one choice for farmers and car thieves, but it’s loaded with comfort, effortless to drive, and has enough torque to pull the moon.
It’s a car that doesn’t do anything wrong and most things right.
