New Year, New Car
If you’re thinking about buying a car in 2025, you’ll be thrilled to hear there are still plenty of good deals going around. With that in mind, here are the 10 best and 10 worst cars to consider this year.
1. 2025 Honda Civic
With a reasonable starting price of only $25,000, it makes sense that the Honda Civic is top of the line in terms of affordability and performance. The vehicle now comes in a hybrid form and still has the easy-to-use features that make it highly accessible.
2. 2025 Toyota GR86
Toyota is a giant of the industry that’s often revered for its high safety standards and reliability. The most recent GR86 is boosted by its driver-friendly interior, quick-shifting transmission, good power output, and, of course, the easy handling for drivers of various skill levels.
3. 2024 Volkswagen GTI
Starting at just over $30,000, it’s surprising to see Volkswagen back among the top performers. What sets the GTI apart is its sport performance matched with top-tier handling. Plus, the high-quality interior and ample cargo space make it the ideal car for the busy urbanite.
4. 2025 Kia K5
With prices beginning at a reasonable $24,000, the Kia K5 is the perfect pick for those who want to blend a sleek design with cutting-edge interfaces. This Kia has all the bells and whistles, from an infotainment system to a spacious interior.
5. 2025 Acura Integra
Starting at $31,000, the Integra is making quite a name for itself with its premium interior and sleek design. Plus, it has all the advanced safety features you want if you’re a busy mom or family man.
6. 2025 Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is another staple that has been around for a while, and the 2025 model starts at only $27,000. The interior is both spacious and comfortable, and the car comes equipped with comprehensive safety features and a smooth powertrain.
7. 2025 Hyundai Elantra
One of the most affordable cars on this list is undoubtedly the Hyundai Elantra, which offers hybrid models known for their fuel efficiency. Plus, you can tick off your list of standard features with this spacious and classy car.
8. 2025 Dodge Charger
If a powerful engine is what you want, then there’s no better pick than the Dodge Charger. Starting at $32,000, this car comes packed with a spacious interior and a cutting-edge infotainment system that will make sure you’re never lost.
9. 2025 Nissan Versa
With a very affordable starting price, the Nissan Versa makes up for its limited engine power and cargo space with great fuel efficiency. Plus, it’s easy to use and accessible, making it a great choice for first-time drivers.
10. 2025 FIAT 500e
The 2025 Fiat 500e is fully electric and comes with an estimated range of 150 miles. Plus, the compact build and retro-inspired design make it perfect for maneuvering through urban cityscapes without a second thought.
Now that we have talked about the best deals of 2025, here are 10 cars to think twice about.
1. Ford F-150 Hybrid
While the Ford F-150 has a classic look and a major fanbase, the reality is that it’s a very unreliable car, with issues in its battery, transmission, and electrical accessories.
2. Volkswagen Jetta
While the GTI is a great car, the Jetta is definitely better off left behind. Despite the approachable price of $21,000, the Jetta is hindered by poor brakes and a meager climate system that definitely needs some improvements.
3. Jeep Wrangler
Everyone loves the look of the Jeep Wrangler, as it’s a hyper-masculine and outdoorsy car with quite the reputation. However, the latest model has a very low reliability score and is quite expensive due to its high gas consumption.
4. Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
It’s certainly not Chrysler’s year, with their latest Pacifica Hybrid costing over $39,000 despite having numerous issues with electrical charging, the battery, and motors. There are certainly better cars out there if you want a hybrid.
5. Nissan Frontier
Nissan is another brand with both winners and losers, and the Frontier is everything you don’t want in a car. Despite the $30,000 price tag, the Frontier has poor transmission and unreliable body hardware.
6. GMC Canyon
While not the worst car of the year, the GMC just doesn’t seem to do anything super well. It has lackluster fuel efficiency and a questionable warranty that makes it not worth the risk.
7. Rivian R1T
You might not have heard of Rivian, and with prices starting at $69,900, it’s probably outside most people’s budgets. But even for those who can afford it, it’s a major disappointment with numerous noise leaks and a terrible drive system.
8. Volkswagen Taos
Another failure to avoid is the Taos. Despite its reasonable $23,000 starting point, this car is plagued with brake issues, which explain why it scores very low on reliability.
9. Jeep Grand Cherokee
It really isn’t Jeep’s year, with the Grand Cherokee also scoring very low in terms of reliability. Additionally, some key points of trouble are the noises and leaks, as well as the lackluster drive system.
10. Volvo XC60 Plug-In Hybrid
One final hybrid you might want to avoid is Volvo. Despite their branding as a semi-luxurious car, this hybrid has a poor climate system and needs some fixes before its electrical charging and battery are up to par.
