The 2025 Automotive Yuletide Reckoning: Our Expert Picks for the Year’s Pinnacle Vehicles
The holiday season, for many, is a time of cherished traditions. In our household, it commences with the obligatory, yet always slightly precarious, wrestling of the Christmas tree into its designated spot, swiftly followed by the comforting embrace of baked Camembert and garlic bread. It’s a ritual that signals the true start of the festivities for us. However, here at our esteemed automotive publication, another, more spirited tradition marks the commencement of the Christmas period: the annual road testers’ Yuletide luncheon.
For years, this gathering has involved the playful, and occasionally fraught, exchange of automotive gifts. While the intention was always festive, the results were, shall we say, varied. I, for one, am still unsure if our Road Test Editor, Matt Saunders, has fully recovered from the surprise gifting of a rather… earth-toned Volvo estate a few Christmases ago. This year, we’ve elected to simplify the proceedings, focusing instead on a genuine celebration of automotive excellence.
The premise for 2025 is refreshingly straightforward: each of us is tasked with bringing a vehicle from the past twelve months that we champion. This isn’t about personal whims or fleeting fancies; it’s about selecting a car that we believe stands out, either due to its personal appeal or its undeniable standing as the most outstanding vehicle of the year, for any compelling reason. Our esteemed Staff Writer, Sam Phillips, has the unenviable, yet ultimately exciting, role of adjudicator, tasked with crowning the ultimate victor.
Honestly, if you think about it, this is the kind of remit that fuels automotive dreams. The ability to reach out to virtually any manufacturer and requisition a vehicle to showcase to your colleagues during a celebratory luncheon, all while ostensibly “on the clock,” is a perk few professions can rival. One could easily argue that Christmas arrives daily in our line of work, and we wouldn’t dispute that. Nevertheless, this particular occasion remains one of the absolute highlights of our professional year.
With a full twelve months of groundbreaking engineering, inspired design, and sheer vehicular brilliance to draw from, the question becomes: where do we begin this automotive exploration? Let us commence with a vehicle that, for many, represents a paradigm shift: the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid.
The Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid: A Reimagined Eco-Icon
As the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid glided with an almost ethereal, aerodynamic grace through the ethereal morning mist clinging to the dramatic cliffs of Beachy Head, my initial thought was that a particularly upscale taxi had arrived. It’s a testament to the Prius’s journey that a contributor like James Disdale, usually the first to champion raw, unadulterated performance, would find himself advocating for its inclusion.
“Honestly, if you’d told me twenty years ago that I’d be nominating a Toyota Prius for an award like this, I’d have laughed out loud,” James admitted, with a wry smile, as he attempted to justify his embrace of “Christmas eco-sensibleness.” He continued, “But if you cast your mind back a quarter of a century, to the Prius’s debut, it was revolutionary for delivering such advanced powertrain technology in an accessible package. And you know what? It’s still doing that. It’s become a ubiquitous sight as a taxi, and there’s a very good reason for that: the Prius is exceptionally efficient, unfailingly reliable, and simply a brilliant car to drive. In these rather uncertain economic times, why wouldn’t you champion a car that’s a true everyday workhorse? Moreover, as concerns over fuel efficiency, resource scarcity, and the use of rare metals intensify, this hybrid powertrain is only becoming more relevant with each passing year. And before you unleash any more jokes about ride-sharing apps, I assure you, it’s genuinely enjoyable to drive!”
James has a compelling point. Taking the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid for a brief excursion along the ribbon of road that winds its way along the Sussex coast towards the iconic Beachy Head lighthouse, I found a peculiar satisfaction in its hushed, almost otherworldly, whirring and slushing. As James aptly put it, “The Prius possesses elements of Saab at its finest, or perhaps even a subtle nod to the sophistication of a modern DS Automobiles.” It’s a car that cleverly integrates advanced technology with a thoughtful driving experience. The Toyota Prius MPG remains a benchmark, making it a smart choice for the environmentally conscious consumer.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse: Unleashing the V8 Spirit
In stark contrast to the Prius’s measured pragmatism, our Road Tester, Illya Verpraet, appears to have entirely sidestepped the prevailing cost-of-living narrative. The Ford Mustang Dark Horse he arrived with presented a deliciously brooding and potent presence amidst our cheerful festive gathering.
Simply being in its vicinity evokes a childlike excitement, a visceral thrill that only a lurking V8 muscle car can deliver. I felt an urge to applaud as it rolled into our assembly point. And the fact that it’s equipped with a manual gearbox only amplifies the appeal for purists.
“I felt the Mustang didn’t get a completely fair shake when it participated in ‘Handling Day’ last year, primarily because it was an automatic, which wasn’t ideal,” explained Verpraet. “However, when I experienced the manual version, I was thoroughly captivated. It’s such an antithesis to the hyper-sophisticated modern car. It’s not ostentatiously complex, but it is immensely fun, and I absolutely love it, even if it does make me feel a tad self-conscious.”
The sheer auditory drama emitted by the Ford Mustang Dark Horse is, frankly, enough to make my Christmas. But speaking of V8 soundtracks, an unexpected delight arrived in the form of Editor-in-Chief Steve Cropley’s Porsche Panamera Turbo S.
The Porsche Panamera Turbo S: A Symphony of Power and Refinement
I heard the Porsche Panamera Turbo S before I saw it. It possesses a remarkable, low-frequency burble that announces its arrival with understated authority. Where the Mustang practically roars and thunders, the Panamera’s V8 offers a deliciously refined yet inherently threatening murmur.
“I felt this was a superb opportunity to showcase an ‘ethical’ V8,” Cropley shared, as we all waited with bated breath for our photographer, Max, to complete his initial static shots without risking a tumble from his ladder.
“I drove it up here this morning and achieved 40 miles of purely electric range, and the trip computer displayed an impressive 45 miles per gallon after a 150-mile journey. That’s exceptional in my book. And if you decide to unleash its full potential, the sound it produces is absolutely sensational. The four-wheel steering makes it remarkably agile, even on these narrow, challenging roads. It’s exquisitely crafted, and the air suspension is simply brilliantly effective. I honestly believe it’s the finest example of that luxury saloon breed. We often discuss plug-in hybrids as offering the ‘best of both worlds’; well, a substantial EV range coupled with the visceral thrill of a V8 when the mood strikes has undeniable logic to it.”
I couldn’t possibly disagree. The Porsche Panamera Turbo S, even in the somewhat unconventional bronze hue of our test vehicle, possesses the effortless brilliance of a Mercedes S-Class for everyday touring, yet harbors the soul of a true sports car if you seek it out. It is, without question, a joyous machine. I, too, am particularly fond of the air suspension system, which causes the entire car to elegantly rise like an eager puppy as you unlock it. Furthermore, it boasts arguably the most accomplished massage seats I have ever encountered. One of those alone would constitute a considerable Christmas present, let alone when paired with a V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The Panamera presents a strikingly disparate offering when compared to the Prius and the Dark Horse. However, perhaps even more divergent from our other selections is another bronze marvel: the Morgan Supersport.
The Morgan Supersport: A Steampunk Masterpiece of Tactility
I had the distinct pleasure of driving this very car in Wales earlier this year, conducting a back-to-back comparison with a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which served as a celebration of the extreme ends of performance car engineering. I seriously contemplated bringing it here today as the highlight of my year.
I am an ardent admirer of Morgan’s contemporary interpretation of its iconic styling, which imbues the Supersport with a peculiar, almost steampunk, allure. The inherent appeal of a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive machine, boasting just the right amount of power and an exquisite level of tactility, is simply undeniable. It is, in a word, a gem. And that, ultimately, is why our Editor-at-Large, Matt Prior, has selected it for our Yuletide assembly.
“I like it immensely. It’s a quirky car,” Matt stated. “I appreciate its aesthetic, I admire its construction, I thoroughly enjoy driving it, and it consistently brings a smile to my face. Does it make a rather distinctive ticking sound, akin to a sewing machine? Yes. But is there anything else I’ve driven this year that I found as genuinely interesting? Unequivocally, no.” Need I elaborate further?
The Renault 5: Resurrecting the Joy of the Affordable Electric Car
So, let us move on and conclude this segment with my own personal car of choice: the Renault 5.
I adore this car. My affection for it dates back to when I drove it to the northernmost reaches of Denmark for my duties as a juror for the Car of the Year awards at the close of 2024. Standing back, I found myself contemplating whether this might represent a genuine turning point for affordable electric vehicles.
Subsequently, after various other journeys and extended periods spent with the Renault, I began to suspect that the electric aspect might only be part of its revolutionary appeal. I firmly believe this car is single-handedly resurrecting the joy and accessibility of small, affordable cars. Petrol-powered or not, this vehicle is an absolute delight to drive, whether you’re dawdling to work or playfully pushing its limits around the sweeping curves of Beachy Head.
It’s aspirational, despite its accessible pricing. It’s… what small cars used to be, back in the era when models like the Saxo, the 106, the Corsa, and the Fiesta were cars that young people desperately yearned for. Somehow, Renault has managed to recapture that elusive magic with the 5. BMW achieved a similar feat with its reimagined Mini, and Fiat likewise with the resurrected 500. Now, Renault has emulated that success with the 5.
Who requires a Toyota Prius for sale to represent affordability and efficiency when you can possess all those qualities and exude this much undeniable cool?
The Specter of the Absent Colleagues
And so, with that resounding declaration, I must draw attention to a glaring omission from our festive gathering. In fact, there are two significant absences: our Road Test Editor, Matt Saunders, and his Deputy, Richard Lane. Both, to our collective astonishment, are absent from this celebratory reunion.
Therefore, we choose to conclude our Christmas luncheon by speculating on what vehicles they would have brought, had they not been rather churlishly detained by childcare duties or pre-planned holidays.
“Ricky would have brought a Porsche 911,” was the unanimous verdict uttered by practically every single person present. There were individuals at another table in the pub, people who’d never met Ricky and had no prior knowledge of Autocar, who nonetheless concurred that he would have brought a 911. The pub landlord agreed, the parking attendant chimed in, and even a passing psychic confidently declared that he’d be arriving in one next year. The consensus was absolute: Ricky would have brought a Porsche 911 Carrera S.
Indeed, on the subject of absentees at our Christmas lunch, James Disdale and I had a spirited, albeit brief, exchange across the car park upon our arrival. Before any semblance of polite conversation could ensue, we both glanced around, bewildered, and asked aloud why on earth there was no Porsche 911 in sight.
There truly should have been one. Such is its perennial brilliance. The simple truth is that none of us brought one because we all implicitly assumed Ricky would be championing it. Sadly, neither Ricky nor the 911 materialized on the day.
But which specific variant of the ever-expanding and increasingly multi-modelled 911 range would he have chosen? That, admittedly, is a slightly trickier question. However, perhaps to his credit, the communal verdict leans towards him bringing the Porsche 911 Carrera S. Or perhaps a GT3 RS… but most likely, the Carrera S. And who could possibly blame him? We missed Ricky and the 911, both dearly, but perhaps next year, eh?
As for Mr. Saunders? Well, much as I’d relish the opportunity to place him back in another decidedly beige Volvo estate, the overwhelming consensus suggests that our esteemed Road Test Editor would most probably have brought the Land Rover Defender Octa. A 626bhp Land Rover Defender. Honestly, who wouldn’t wish for that as a Christmas present?
In conclusion, for next year, gentlemen, all we ask is that you simply turn up. In the meantime, before I hand over to Sam for the final verdict, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May all your festive drives be filled with unparalleled cheer and automotive delight.
The Verdict: Judged by Sam Phillips, Autocar Staff Writer
Matt Prior’s impassioned claims regarding the Morgan Supersport’s driving brilliance were, in my brief experience prior to lunch, thoroughly substantiated. However, I concur that the Supersport, while undeniably captivating, doesn’t quite possess the all-encompassing versatility required to fulfill the role of a secondary vehicle in a typical garage.
James Disdale’s arguments in favor of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid were exceptionally robust. His observations concerning the Toyota’s almost futuristic aesthetic, its pleasingly engaging dynamics, and its inherent affordability were all entirely valid. He then, rather surreptitiously, attempted to slip me a ten-pound note, which did lead me to question just how unwavering his conviction in the Prius truly was.
Steve Cropley eloquently championed the Porsche Panamera Turbo S, extolling its phenomenal ride quality, its impressive fuel economy, and its exhilarating performance. Undeniably, it stands as a class leader and will undoubtedly suit a broad spectrum of plug-in hybrid users. However, its considerable heft and premium price point are difficult to overlook.
I was genuinely captivated by Illya Verpraet’s manual Ford Mustang Dark Horse. In 2025, with regulatory pressures increasingly conspiring against V8 muscle cars, who wouldn’t be drawn to such a bold statement? It’s a superb choice, but even Illya himself conceded that he felt a tad like an attention-seeking exhibitionist while at the wheel.
Vicky Parrott’s case for the Renault 5 was meticulously constructed, acknowledging its charming retro aesthetics, its respectable range, and its accessible price point. It transforms short urban jaunts into genuinely enjoyable experiences and proves equally rewarding when driven with spirited abandon, a characteristic we haven’t witnessed in a supermini since BMW resurrected the Mini.
In many respects, the Renault 5 has introduced an entirely new narrative to the electric vehicle debate, definitively proving that EVs can be both exhilarating to drive and remarkably affordable without ever feeling cheap.
There was considerable anticipation surrounding the launch of the Renault 5, and the fact that it has not only met but arguably surpassed all expectations, while simultaneously capturing the cultural zeitgeist, makes it our undisputed winner for 2025.
Embark on your own automotive journey in 2026. Whether you’re seeking a revolutionary electric experience, the visceral thrill of a V8, or the refined elegance of a luxury hybrid, the automotive landscape of 2025 has presented us with exceptional choices. We invite you to explore these incredible vehicles, connect with your local dealerships, and discover which one best aligns with your personal driving aspirations. The road ahead is exciting, and your next unforgettable drive awaits.
