Car and Driver’s 10 Most Popular Stories of 2025

Car and Driver’s most-read stories of 2025 show exactly what readers cared about this year from hybrid performance battles and big EV debuts to rugged truck tests and affordable electric pickups. These ten articles attracted the most attention and engagement across the automotive community.

Tesla Model 3 Highland

so, okay, the “highland” one I keep seeing it everywhere. it’s like Tesla decided “hey, let’s make everything sleeker but somehow colder.” I mean, yeah it’s fast, duh, but it feels… sterile? like driving a gadget instead of a car. and for something that costs, what, around fifty-ish grand ($50k maybe?), could it please have an interior that doesn’t feel like an Ikea desk? not gonna lie though, the quietness freaks me out in parking lots. like a ghost car.

Toyota Tacoma

man, the Tacoma’s like that one friend who never texts back but shows up when you’re moving houses. dependable, kinda rough, smells like old tools and freedom. I drove one once with the window stuck halfway down in the rain, and still loved it. they’re asking like thirty-something grand for the base model ($34k I think?) which is… fine. people who buy these don’t care about money. they care about torque and campfires and pretending they’re in a commercial.

Ford Mustang GTD

dude, this thing’s insane. it’s what happens when a muscle car grows up but still hits the gym six times a week. it looks mad even when parked. Like snarling. price tag’s stupid though ($300k??), but somehow it feels worth it just for the noise it makes when it breathes. and yeah I said “breathes.” my neighbor has one, or maybe just revs something that sounds like it, and I both love and hate him for it.

Porsche 911 S/T

okay this one’s… emotional. because every time I see a 911, I think of the smell of leather mixed with something slightly burnt like old wiring but fancy? you don’t buy a Porsche with your brain; you buy it because your 13-year-old self promised you’d have one someday. it’s nearly $300k though, so yeah, that kid inside me can chill for now.

Rivian R1S

the Rivian feels like nature decided to build an SUV itself. everything in it screams “adventure,” but honestly, I just wanna take one to Costco, not the Rockies. I saw someone charge one at Target and they looked so… content. $80k-ish for serenity, I guess. I’d buy one if it came with a guarantee that I’d suddenly start hiking.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

this one’s weirdly cool. it looks retro-futuristic, like 1980’s Japan imagined 2025 and somehow got it right. it’s fast too, scary fast for something that looks like a hatchback that loves synthwave. around $60k? I’d totally get one if the seats didn’t feel like they were judging my bad posture.

BMW M2

so tiny. so angry. I swear BMW built it just to remind people it still knows how to make chaos. it’s around $65k but you’ll probably spend another five just replacing tires you’ve destroyed. I drove one for like five minutes and came back grinning and nauseous. both good signs, I think.

Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray

man, this one feels like the car equivalent of a midlife crisis handled well. hybrid, fast, flashy, maybe trying too hard like it has something to prove. for about $104k, it’s a statement more than transportation. but eh, I respect it. it’s America being loud and smart at the same time, and that’s rare.

Kia EV9

you know, I didn’t expect to like it. big chunky SUV, electric, from Kia but here we are. something about the vibe, the calmness, the pseudo-luxury thing going on. costs fifty-five or sixty grand depending on trims but you sit in it and kinda forget you’re in a Kia. which is… the point I guess.

Mazda CX-50 Hybrid

and here’s the sensible one. the one your friend buys “just for now” and still has in ten years. I don’t know why but Mazdas always feel like they’re made by people who actually like cars. it’s under $40k and actually feels honest. I like honesty. smells like warm cloth seats and mild optimism.