The list of contenders for Motor Authority Best Car To Buy 2025 started at nearly 30 vehicles, ranging from pickup trucks and SUVs to luxury cars and EVs. It was a vast field.
Still, some had to go. After we talked it over, hashed it out, and said our piece, we whittled down the list of eligible vehicles to this list of finalists.
We’ll detail each of them in the days leading up to the Jan. 6, 2025 reveal of the Motor Authority Best Car To Buy 2025 winner. In the meantime, here’s a look at those that didn’t make the cut—and why.
2025 Aston Martin DBX707
The Aston Martin DBX707 was upgraded for 2025 with more standard power on tap–697 hp–a new infotainment system, and some mild styling tweaks inside and out. While it leans harder into exuberance, the changes simply don’t measure up to make it to the final round.
2025 Aston Martin Vantage
Like the DBX707, the Vantage went under the knife this year and came out with slightly tweaked design inside and out, an updated infotainment system, and more power (now checking in with 656 hp). But despite the lovely sounds it’s simply not enough to move the Best Car To Buy needle with the stiff competition.
2025 BMW M5
This came down to timing. The M5 hadn’t launched by the time Best Car To Buy testing took place despite making its debut way back in June. We’ll see you next year, M5.
2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ
The electric Escalade debuted way back in August 2023. Yet it’s still not here yet. Hopefully we’ll see the electric flagship arrive in the competition in 2025.
2025 Cadillac Optiq
A trend is emerging where automakers introduce a car but it doesn’t arrive in timely fashion. Like its larger flagship electric sibling, the Cadillac Optiq is MIA with the Escalade IQ.
2024 Dodge Charger Daytona
The electric rebirth of the Dodge Charger in the form of the Daytona EV is about to take place. Deliveries have begun, but the launch took place after our Best Car To Buy testing. We’ll see you next year for sure, Dodge Charger Daytona EV.
2024 Ford Ranger Raptor
The Ford Bronco Raptor, which we call Braptor, made it to the final round of Best Car To Buy testing in 2023, but it didn’t win. The Range Raptor was hotly anticipated, and a first for our market. It induces rapture off-road and on, but it simply 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 including a new digital gauge cluster, touchscreen, and revised look inside and out. None of this enhanced the Raptor’s actual performance, and that’s enough to leave it on the contender list, but doesn’t cut it for the finalist list.
2025 Infiniti QX80 first drive, Napa Valley, June 2024
The Infiniti QX80 is finally new for the third time and it goes big on the little details. But it’s the big details that concern us. Body motions are still less controlled than the competition, and the interior packaging is more compromised than nearly everything else in its class. Its design is an acquired taste, and it simply doesn’t make it past the contender round this year.
2024 Lexus GX 550
The Lexus GX enters a new generation and at first blush was and is quite appealing. A strong turbo-6 replaces the buttery-smooth V-8 and the design is brick-like with some Defender vibes. But living with it is where things fall apart. The metal is thin, the interior is loud, things feel cheap, and it doesn’t seem as solid as the Defender. First blush doesn’t match reality here.
2024 Lincoln Nautilus hybrid
The Nautilus is what RX buyers should probably be considering at this point. The sharp, yet conservative, exterior design is far from ugly. A hybrid joins the lineup for those seeking efficiency. But some buyers might be turned off by the pillar-to-pillar screen on the dashboard that can overwhelm. That’s before addressing the unlabeled touch-sensitive buttons on the squircle steering wheel. It appeals, but not enough to make the final round.
2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 Hybrid
The latest-generation E-Class came onto the scene this year with more tech and LEDs than ever before, but the powertrains didn’t move the bar until the E 53 Hybrid came along with a plug. But that model didn’t arrive until now, and wasn’t here when we were doing testing. It also seems expensive and makes us question whether we’d actually rather 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 so much of everything that a track was needed to come close to stretching this supercar’s legs. The 750S only adds to all that with more power, but also more driver engagement. But the immense potential is simply beyond necessary and leaves most mere mortals using maybe a quarter of what the car’s capable of. We can’t all be Lando Norris. At these prices and these speeds, as the old rule goes, it had better be good. (And it is.)
2025 McLaren Artura Spider
The topless variant of the McLaren Artura lineup arrived this year in the form of a Spider. Losing nothing while dropping the top, the Artura Spider screams fun in a roofless plug-in format. It’s compelling, but also $24,700 more than the coupe, though it has a hard top so it’s sort of a value, two cars in one. Still, we tested an Artura Spider that cost $374,158, and that’s just a lot of money to tell someone it’s the best car to buy. It’s certainly incredible with race-car tech, but it’s hard to call this a value.
2025 Polestar 3 Performance Pack, test drive, Madrid
We thought the Polestar 3 would be a strong contender this year. When we first drove it we noted it hit an electric-SUV stride. But software delay issues prevented it from showing up to final testing. Disappointment set in, but we’ll hopefully see it in the 2026 competition.
2025 Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid
Porsche Panamera
We were actually going to invite the Panamera because it’s that good, but realized the GTS is coming next year and told Porsche to just save us one. Blame it on timing. We’ll see the Panamera in GTS form for Motor Authority Best Car To Buy 2026 testing.
2025 Ram 1500 RHO
The Ram 1500 RHO arrived to replace the now dead Hellcat-powered TRX. With less weight and better balance the RHO is more capable than the TRX. Yes, it’s down two cylinders and a supercharger, but it’s now the automaker’s flagship off-roader and it makes space for a TRX sequel, which is in the works. So for that reason alone it sits on the sidelines while we wait for the next-gen TRX, which will likely be electrified.
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
The 200-Series Toyota Land Cruiser we all knew, loved, and didn’t buy is dead. Replacing it is a new Land Cruiser, which the rest of the world knows as the Land Cruiser Prado since they get the real Land Cruiser replacement known as the LC300. The new Land Cruiser does its best to pivot and lean on retro charm, but that only takes you so far. It’s tinny, cheap, and unrefined. It’s taken two steps forward while taking a giant leap backwards with a modern price. It didn’t make it too far into the conversation.
2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, photo via Nathan Leach-Proffer
2024 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter
The new, finally, Toyota Tacoma arrived and with it arrived two off-road models. The TRD Pro we all know returns, but a Trailhunter arrives aiming for overlanders. The former excels at going fast while the latter is all about crawling slowly over terrain. Both are compromised despite being split off to be more focused on their missions. The competition has more advanced shocks, full-time four-wheel-drive, Baja modes, and feels quicker. This despite costing less than the Toyotas. Neither truck made it past the starting line in this competition.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
The Bus is back! The VW ID.Buzz rewrites history with an electric VW Bus for a new generation. It’s a throwback while being modern. It’s fun. It looks cool. It’s big. And it feels like an electric minivan should. But it’s almost too mainstream outside of its “cool, it’s back” factor to make it far enough in this competition. When there’s an electric Chrysler Pacifica you won’t even see it make the contender list, so the ID.Buzz made it past go, at least.
2025 Volvo EX90
Volvo’s electric people hauler finally arrived. This three-row EV beckons the future while juggling priorities. But its launch was delayed to the point we drove one, but couldn’t arrange for one to be at Best Car To Buy testing despite feeling it was a contender. It’ll be punted to the 2026 competition.