{"id":35373,"date":"2025-12-11T11:26:45","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T15:26:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=35373"},"modified":"2025-12-11T11:26:45","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T15:26:45","slug":"2025-detroit-news-vehicle-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/2025-detroit-news-vehicle-of-the-year","title":{"rendered":"2025 Detroit News Vehicle of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Car shoppers had plenty of choices in 2025 as auto grocery shelves were teeming with goodies. If the food market has ice cream, beverage, fruit, and meat aisles, then auto stores offer trucks, SUVs, small cars and EVs.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s something for everyone at every price point (well, unless you wanted sub-$20K subcompacts).<\/p>\n

We here at The Detroit News are biased toward value, style, innovation and performance.\u00a0 And we choose our Vehicle of the Year accordingly. As The News auto critic, I tested 59 new cars this year, running the spectrum from the compact $23,645 Nissan Sentra gas-sipper to the posh $81,550 Lucid Gravity electron-guzzler.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/div>\n

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The Sixpack-powered 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack is easy on the eyes and a blast to drive fast with AWD and head-up display with gear indicator.<\/em><\/div>\n

Stellantis, \u00a9 2025 Stellantis<\/em><\/p>\n

True to industry trends, 60% of the vehicles were utes, including an English startup (Ineo Grenadier), all-new electric vehicles (Hyundai Ioniq 9, Volvo XC30, Polestar 4) and fresh riffs on old nameplates like the VW Tiguan and Honda Passport. Only three of my testers had sticks, as manuals have become a niche performance feature.<\/p>\n

Speaking of niches, EV sales stalled even before federal incentives dried up \u2014 their appeal aimed at upscale buyers with multi-car garages. Nevertheless, it was a good year for EV buyers as The News\u2019 2018 VOY, the Tesla Model 3 (and sister Tesla Model Y), received their first major upgrades, and Cadillac introduced its entry-level Optiq EV. Don\u2019t look now, America, but the leading premium EV brands are Made in the USA.<\/p>\n

It was a quiet year for trucks (the return of the growly V8-powered Ram 1500 aside), but dang if the Ford Maverick (VOY 2021\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a02022) wasn\u2019t on my short list again with its new, rowdy Lobo variant. Maverick is the gift that keeps on giving.<\/p>\n

Here are our three favorites for 2025 Detroit News Vehicle of the Year, saving the tastiest for last.<\/p>\n

Second runner-up: Mazda CX-30 Turbo.<\/strong>\u00a0In a year when the average price of a new car crested $50K, the CX-30 was a welcome example of how a $27,470, entry-level subcompact SUV can still be stylish, high-tech, affordable.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s this year\u2019s best all-around player.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Mazda CX-30 starts at just over $27k and offers this AWD Turbo Carbon version with features and performance to match a BMW X2.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

With its sporty looks and crisp handling, CX-30 (introduced in 2020) was already a mainstream SUV rivaling the BMW X2 luxe-benchmark in performance for half the price while offering similar standard features: AWD, blind-spot-assist, adaptive cruise control and rear cross traffic alert. With its 2025 refresh, CX-30 made crucial updates to its infotainment system. Like the stick shift, the remote rotary-controlled screen is headed out the door as smartphones take over cars, so Mazda adapted by upgrading to a 10.25-inch touchscreen and improved voice commands when using Android Auto\/Apple CarPlay.<\/p>\n

With this crucial detail fixed \u2014 \u201cHey, Google, navigate to Hell, Michigan!\u201d \u2014 customers can focus on the joy of driving. CX-30 is that rare SUV that makes driving fun, embodying the brand\u2019s Miata-inspired ZOOM ZOOM spirit.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The posh interior of the $35k 2025 Mazda CX-30 Turbo Carbon belies its affordable price.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

Choose the $35K Turbo Carbon model with an impressive 310 pound-feet of torque, and the Mazda is a match for Michigan snowstorms \u2014 and that Bimmer next to you at a stoplight.<\/p>\n

Runner-up: Chevy Corvette ZR1.<\/strong>\u00a0The best vehicle I drove this year was the McLaren 750S, a carbon-chassis, twin-turbo-V8-powered exotic.<\/p>\n

But for\u00a0half<\/em>\u00a0of the McLaren\u2019s $320K sticker, you can have the Corvette ZR1.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 is competitive with exotic hypercars costing many times more.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

The ZR1 is the ultimate expression of Corvette\u2019s affordable supercar mantra. Its numbers alone are VOY-worthy: 1,063 horsepower, 0-60 mpg in (hold on!) 2.2 seconds, top speed of 233 mph, the fastest American car ever made. On the back straight at Formula One\u2019s circuit of the Americas track in Austin, Texas, I hit 176 mph \u2014 30 mph quicker than the standard 495-horse C8. Good gravy.<\/p>\n