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autoevolution's Best Cars of 2025
... if you fall into these very specific categories
Sergiu Tudose
December 28th, 2025
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Table of Contents
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autoevolution's Best Cars of 2025 if You Fall Into These Very Specific Categories
By: Sergiu Tudose
Not all heroes were capes, and not all car awards are about horsepower and lap times. We’re asking different questions here and it’s time to turn the rules upside down and have some fun. First of all, let’s be real. Even when giving away serious awards for “best this” or “best that”, you still end up with a list that feels 100% subjective. It’s like trying to decide between The Joker and SGA for NBA MVP. I mean, maybe one’s your guy and the other isn’t, but everyone knows they’re both equally deserving.
It’s similar when it comes to cars. My pick will likely be very different from yours, so might as well stop trying to make it make sense and focus on context. I, too, want to know which car is fastest or most efficient and whatnot. All that data matters. But we also shouldn’t pretend that cars exist outside of pop culture, because they don’t. These are cultural objects that can live on forever in movies, TV shows, and childhood memories. Pop culture can give us these shared reference points that we can’t get to in any other way.
Yes, we’ll be getting a little silly here, but the point isn’t to dumb things down. What I want is to celebrate everything that makes us unique so… without further ado, let’s get into it.
Best Car of 2025 If You... Fear Zombies: Ford F-350
This one is about as straight-forward as you want. You need height, you need weight, and you need torque in order to plow through large groups of zombies, some of which may have even been your friends. What? Too soon? They’re zombies!
Ford F-350
Maybe some of you would prefer some type of armored vehicle, or something with spikes or weapons connected to the bodywork, but a heavy-duty pickup should get the job done just fine, and the F-350 is about as good as they get, especially if you opt for the high-output Power Stroke turbodiesel option.
I also personally recommend the Tremor off-road package, because you get the locking rear diff, suspension lift, and skid plates. All that undead traffic better watch out.
Best Car of 2025 If You... Love Pluribus: Bugatti Brouillard
Hello Carol. This is a feature story we’re hoping will put a smile on your face this holiday season. Our feelings for you haven’t changed, Carol. But after everything that’s happened (in 2025), we just need a little space (to focus on the lighter things in life).
Bugatti Brouillard
One of the most interesting aspects of Pluribus is trying to work out for yourself exactly what sort of things you’d ask for should you ever find yourself in a situation where the entire human race is looking to service your every need. When it comes to transportation, what type of car would you ask for? A VW Beetle? I seriously doubt it.
How about a priceless 1-of-1 Bugatti hypercar unveiled earlier this year, with a 1,578 horsepower W16 engine? It is said to be worth between $20 million and $30 million. Some even think $40 million might not be a stretch. In other words, it’s one of the most expensive cars in the world, and I would just love to have it delivered to me by helicopter so I can aimlessly drive around while trying to overturn an alien invasion.
For the full article, please continue reading on our site.
Rounding Up 2025's Ugliest New Cars
By: Cristian Gnaticov
With 2025 almost over, it is time to remember some of the good things and the bad things that have occurred in the automotive industry this year, and in this story, we will clearly focus on the latter, albeit from a design perspective, as it is now time to put the spotlight on some of the ugliest cars that entered production over the last twelve months.
Do you think of any contenders from the top of your head? We did, yet unfortunately, our memory is not as good as it once was. Therefore, models such as the latest generation BMW M5 cannot make the list, as this one hit the assembly line in 2024. Too bad we cannot dedicate more words to it, as it truly is one laughable design for this otherwise iconic German car brand.
And since we are talking about models that did not make the list, we also have to mention the Tesla Cybertruck, which has got to be one of the ugliest cars ever made. This story is clearly subjective and does not represent Autoevolution as a whole, though in this writer's opinion, the electric pickup is up there with the Fiat Multipla and the Volkswagen Beetle (all generations). Still, it hit the assembly line in 2023, so we cannot mention it here, yet we think it deserves to sit in this list, alongside the second-gen Nissan Kicks that launched in 2024.
Now, as for one model that actually deserves an entire paragraph, and more to be honest, it is the Kia Tasman. Sure, it may be one important model for the Korean brand, but it is far from being a best-seller. More importantly, it is one ugly pickup truck that, fortunately, is not available in Western markets. Kia primarily sells it in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Korea, and the Middle East, and this is one model that we are glad it is not available over here, as truth be told, we don't need more ugly cars on the roads.
The second-generation Hyundai Venue was launched in India a little over a month ago, hitting the assembly line at the Talegaon factory. It is based on the company's K1 platform, just like the Syros, another ugly subcompact crossover that is unavailable in the West, the Casper, Exter, Grand i10 Sedan, and others. And this is one ugly model that deserves its spot here. Sure, some of you may not agree with us, but in the end, just take a step back, look at it, and tell us that it doesn't deserve some sort of a medal.
While writing about the Venue, we just remembered that Hyundai has something even more controversial-looking in its portfolio today. It is called the Santa Fe, and it is the brand's mid-size crossover. However, some prefer its boxy looks, and that is not why we decided not to include it in this list, as it certainly deserves a spot up here. The reason is that the fifth-generation entered production two years ago, so it did not exactly debut this year.
For the full article, please continue reading on our site.
Auto Evolution: Tesla Model 3, From EV Upstart to Global Game-Changer
By: Cristian Agatie
Despite the setbacks from the past years, Tesla is still considered the company that started the EV revolution with the Model S. However, its success is closely related to the Model 3, its first mass market product. When the Model 3 was announced, Tesla was far from being an accomplished carmaker, and the electric sedan almost bankrupted it.
Today, most people equate electric vehicles with Tesla, even though the EV maker is far less influential in the automotive industry than it used to be only a few years ago. Competitors have popped up left and right, some better than others, and with some EV models better than anything Tesla sells at the moment. However, Elon Musk's company has kept its aura, despite a shrinking market share and a new focus on autonomous driving.
Things weren't always as straightforward as they seem today, though. Tesla has gone through what Musk described as "production hell," and the launch of the Model 3 was almost about to end in disaster. It wasn't for the first time, though, as Tesla also faced near-death during the 2008-2010 crisis. At the time, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota helped it weather the tides. With the Model 3 production hell, Elon Musk was on his own.
Tesla eventually emerged stronger on the other side, and the Model 3 turned into the most successful electric vehicle of our times. That is, until Tesla gave it a twist in the form of the Model Y crossover. Since then, the Model 3 has been content with a distant second place, although still unreachable for many of its competitors.
The 2023 refresh made it one of the most refined cars you can buy these days, while the Model 3 Standard made it more affordable, although not by much. So far, there's no plan to provide the Model 3 a significant overhaul, which many have been advocating for. The fact that Tesla hasn't offered a redesign or a new platform to the Model 3 is largely to blame for the current lackluster sales.
This doesn't mean that we shouldn't pay due respect to the most successful electric sedan in history. Today, people might consider it less prepared to fight competitors, but this doesn't change the fact that the Model 3 helped Tesla become what it is today: the most accomplished EV maker in the world. Here's how everything started and how it's going.
For the full article, please continue reading on our site.
The Best Non-Tacky Wheel Designs of 2025
By: Aurel Niculescu
Wheel designs are always a point of contention among folks who seek to enhance the look of their vehicles. Not long ago, there were about two options... Now, there are thousands of them. But which ones are the coolest?
Most often, the first thing you do to a vehicle to personalize it is to buy a new set of wheels. Not long ago, the options were limited because you could have a set of steel wheels or alloy wheels, dressed in silver, the predominant color, or white, to signal inherent sportiness.
Well, today the rules of the game have changed. Just like there are hundreds and thousands of options for a vehicle, even automakers strive to offer more than one wheel choice. However, they're still behind the aftermarket realm, which is chock-full of various designs of alloy wheels, finishes, and compositions. Some of them, of course, are cooler than others, and some are also tackier than life.
Before the year runs out, we've collected a series of ideas for your next wheel design, and we're going to organize them into different categories: tacky or non-tacky. That sounds pretty simple, right? Well, let's start with America's Vossen, a company from Miami, Florida, that recently equipped a black, all-new Lincoln Navigator with a set of matching HF6-4 Hybrid Forged alloy wheels.
They're a six-lug design manufactured specifically for the big SUV and truck market, and they don't break the bank, starting at $499 each, with diameters ranging from 17 to 26 inches and widths from 9 to 12 inches. It's a contemporary Y-spoke six-arm design, and clearly looks extremely fashionable on the full-size Lincoln Navigator body-on-frame luxury SUV.
Next up, we have a Ferrari and, even though it's an older F8 Spider, you won't regret seeing it dressed with the AL13 Wheels S-Series S025, which are forged duoblock wheels made from aerospace-grade 6061 T6 aluminum. These wheels cost significantly more, starting at almost $3k, so they clearly complement the fully customized Ferrari F8 Spider, which features the 1016Industries Carbon Aero Program and a custom teal-fade-to-black vinyl wrap.
The wheels are mostly black, save for the ring around the cap, which is the same teal color as the body and the painted brake calipers. Also from Los Angeles, California, comes Brixton Forged, "the specialists in tailored forged wheels," who showcased their prowess on a stunning Oak Green over Tan Porsche 911, complemented by their FDE01 model in a monoblock (one-piece) application.
Note: please continue reading the full article on our site.
Spy Photos and Renderings of the Week
By: Mircea Panait
Porsche ceased Boxster and Cayman sales in September 2025 to focus on the heavily anticipated 718 Electric, which is referred to as 983 by the Zuffenhausen-based automaker. Spied entering its fourth winter testing season, the midship sports car stands out from its four- and six-pot forerunner in more ways than its powertrain options.
Longer, wider, and heavier, the 2027 Porsche 718 Electric further builds on the German manufacturer's electric transition with Taycan-inspired styling cues, especially when it comes to its front end. The cabin also shows a bit of Taycan here and there, but underneath, the 983 rides on a derivative of the Cayenne Electric's Premium Platform Electric.
The Premium Platform Electric Sport architecture is currently undergoing major changes to support internal combustion powertrains, with Porsche confirming such options for the 983 series back in September 2025. Unfortunately, those internal combustion powertrains are likely to be priced way higher than their zero-emission counterparts.
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While on the subject of German performance cars, BMW is also working hard on refreshing the M5. Previously spied with a Neue Klasse-leaning front bumper and lights, the plug-in hybrid V8-powered bruiser has toned it down a little. Truth be told, the cleaner and more horizontal aesthetic is far more appealing than the outgoing bulky design.
At this particular stage in the development process, the 2028 BMW M5 doesn't show any significant rear-end changes. The only notable revision is the rear signature lighting, which is eerily familiar to what is coming to the all-new i3 on the Neue Klasse platform and the next generation of the 3 Series.
The biggest revamp, however, concerns the cockpit. Beyond the lack of a rotary controller, iDrive X with Panoramic Vision also means that a conventional instrument cluster is not happening. Instead, the Panoramic Vision system relies on pillar-to-pillar projections on the bottom of the windshield. The leftmost section contains three fixed tiles that effectively replace the instrument cluster.
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Spurred by Jim Farley's recent comments about an electric rear-drive sedan with a sprinkle of high performance, virtual artist Nikita Chuicko has rendered yet another Mustang Sedan. The family-sized pony car is not a new concept, though. Lest we forget, the Dearborn-based automaker came up with a four-door concept all the way back in 1965.
But while the original did not materialize into a production model due to the Falcon's existence, a full-electric Mustang Sedan based on the Universal EV platform would perfectly complement the struggling internal combustion Mustang. And better still, the Ford Motor Company would have a properly appealing rival for the Dodge Charger Daytona.
Although the pixel artist's vision of a Mustang Sedan certainly looks the part, Nikita Chuicko preferred a quad exhaust over a virtually flat underbody for his design study. In light of the Trump administration's rollback on fuel economy and emission regulations, a four-door Mustang with the supercharged V8 of the next GT500 wouldn't be all that outlandish.Traffic Lights Markers Coming to Waze. Stop Signs When?
The Real Reason Why Waze Is Better Than Google Maps
By: Bogdan Popa
Most people use Google Maps for going places, but criminals have found a horrendous use of the app. They use Street View imagery to pick houses they want to break into, eventually planning their way out using traffic data and suggested routes.
Meanwhile, if you're still undecided on whether Google Maps is better than Waze, here's an in-depth analysis of the feature you never considered. Waze makes the road more predictable, and that's exactly what drivers need when they hit the road.
Google Maps isn't giving up easily, and the addition of incident reporting made the app a more advanced Waze rival. With incident reporting, users can flag hazards on the map and help warn others about their existence. The feature is available in Google Maps on Android, iPhone, Android Auto, and CarPlay.
Meanwhile, Android Auto brought good news and bad news this week. On the one hand, it has been discovered that Google is working on adding a wavy progress bar to media apps to make the UI more visually appealing. On the other hand, people continue to struggle with Android Auto, as some are unable to hear what the other person is saying during phone calls. The culprit appears to be a December update.
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