Nissan Leads Popular Brands with Five Awards
Acura, Genesis, and Lexus Top Premium List with Two Best Buys Each
Morton Grove, IL. December 3, 2024 – Consumer Guide® Automotive, the leading publisher of authoritative, unbiased new-car reviews for 58 years, today announced the recipients of its 2025 Best Buy Awards. A Consumer Guide Best Buy represents the finest balance of attributes and value in its class. For 2025, 37 Best Buys have been awarded in 14 classes, providing clear, easy choices for consumers.
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Nissan is Consumer Guide’s most awarded brand for 2025—earning an impressive five Best Buy awards.
“Nissan has a broad product lineup, offering something in almost every category. Our editors have determined that five vehicles from Nissan are among the best products in their respective segments,” said Consumer Guide Publisher Tom Appel, who led the editors’ selection process for this year’s list.
Among premium brands, Acura, Genesis, and Lexus topped the list, each having been awarded two Best Buy trophies for 2025.
The complete list of Consumer Guide 2025 Best Buy Awards can be viewed below.
Listen to a complete rundown of this year’s Best Buys on an upcoming episode of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast, available for download on all major podcast platforms.
Since 1967, Consumer Guide Automotive’s award-winning editorial team has used a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process to identify the vehicles worthy of serious consideration by consumers. The editors utilize objective criteria, such as price, features, performance, accommodations, fuel economy, reliability records, and resale value, to assess each vehicle.
The key to Consumer Guide Automotive’s annual Best Buy Awards is the careful evaluation of every aspect of each vehicle as it relates to consumers’ real-world driving experience. It is this thoroughness that leads consumers to check Consumer Guide Automotive reviews before buying a new vehicle.
Consumer Guide’s editorial team drives more than 50,000 miles every year evaluating what these vehicles do well—and what they don’t. Whether it is driving through the city, on highways, in rural areas, on long trips, or simply picking up the kids at school, these vehicles are tested in the same way that typical car buyers would use their vehicles.
Complete reviews of the winning vehicles, as well as other pertinent information for in-market car buyers, can be found at Consumerguide.com. For a daily dose of automotive news, test-drive reviews, humor, and history, visit the CG Daily Drive blog at Blog.Consumerguide.com.
For more information, please contact Tom Appel at tom@cgauto.com or by phone at 847-502-5373.
2025 Consumer Guide Best Buys
Subcompact Crossover
Buick Envista
Why it’s a Best Buy: Premium look and feel, plenty of passenger space, value price
But… Not available with AWD
Chevrolet Trax
Why it’s a Best Buy: Sporty character, ample space, excellent fuel economy, bargain price
But… Not available with AWD
Hyundai Kona
Why it’s a Best Buy: Modern design, excellent road manners, roomy cabin
But… Not the bargain it used to be
Kia Soul
Why it’s a Best Buy: Fun design, excellent use of space, refined road manners
But… Optional turbocharged engine no long offered
Nissan Kicks
Why it’s a Best Buy: Excellent value, surprising refinement, ample space, AWD now available
But… Some cabin noise at highway speed
Subaru Crosstrek
Why it’s a Best Buy: Practical design, excellent snow capability, practical design, spunky character
But… Wants for power with standard 2.0-liter engine
Premium Subcompact Crossover
BMW X1
Why it’s a Best Buy: Expected BMW character at a reasonable price, surprising passenger and cargo space
But… Options add up quickly
Compact Crossover
Kia Sportage
Why it’s a Best Buy: Premium feel for Kia price, excellent available hybrid powertrain
But… Rear seatbacks don’t fold flush with load floor
Nissan Ariya (EV)
Why it’s a Best Buy: Modern design, easily embraced controls, impressive range
But… Pricey in top trim levels
Nissan Rogue
Why it’s a Best Buy: Near-perfect balance of comfort and utility, excellent fuel economy
But… Engine can sound crude at low speeds
Premium Compact Crossover
Acura RDX
Why it’s a Best Buy: Functional and fun to drive, strong value in the class
But… Lack of stand-along option offerings limits customization
Midsize Crossover
Hyundai Santa Fe
Why it’s a Best Buy: Modern design, excellent road manners, fun to drive
But… Limited 3rd-row passenger space, significant price increases over previous-generation
Mazda CX-70
Why it’s a Best Buy: Plenty of passenger and cargo space, European-style road manners for Mazda money
But… Available plug-in hybrid powertrain wants for refinement
Mazda CX-90
Why it’s a Best Buy: Plenty of passenger and cargo space, European-style road manners for Mazda money
But… Available plug-in hybrid powertrain wants for refinement
Subaru Outback
Why it’s a Best Buy: Roomy, nicely finished cabin, off-road/foul-weather prowess, plenty of power from available turbocharged engine
But… CVT-automatic a little too busy at low speed
Toyota Highlander
Why it’s a Best Buy: Roomy and comfortable, plenty of power, highway composure
But… Cabin not as upscale as like-price competitors
Toyota Grand Highlander
Why it’s a Best Buy: Roomy and comfortable, plenty of power, easy on the gas
But… Cabin not as upscale as like-price competitors
Premium Midsize Crossover
Cadillac Lyriq (EV)
Why it’s a Best Buy: Modern design, stress-free EV experience, surprising dollar value
But… Small rear-door openings
Infiniti QX60
Why it’s a Best Buy: Vastly better vehicle than previous generation, drivetrain now appropriate for luxury class
But… Requires premium fuel
Lincoln Nautilus
Why it’s a Best Buy: Modern cabin, Extreme refinement, long-drive comfort
But… Lack of driver engagement
Small Car
Honda Civic
Why it’s a Best Buy: Sporty, roomy, easy on the gas
But… Base standard 2.0-liter engine lacks punch
Hyundai Elantra
Why it’s a Best Buy: Exceptionally roomy and comfortable, outstanding fuel economy in hybrid guise
But… Standard models could be quicker
Nissan Versa
Why it’s a Best Buy: U.S. market’s most affordable cars is also practical and fun to drive
But… No surplus of power, plenty of engine noise
Toyota Corolla
Why it’s a Best Buy: High-value compact sedan that feels like a midsize car
But… Less fun to drive than Civic
Premium Small Car
Genesis G70
Why it’s a Best Buy: Beautiful cabin, sporty character, priced below German competition
But… Limited rear-seat space
Acura Integra
Why it’s a Best Buy: Engaging to drive, easy on the gas, reasonably priced
But… Cabin looks and feels like the Civic on which Integra is based
Midsize Car
Honda Accord
Why it’s a Best Buy: A nearly perfect blend of driver engagement and midsize practicality
But… Potent 2.0-liter turbocharged engine no longer available
Toyota Crown
Why it’s a Best Buy: Modern design, roomy cabin, excellent road manners
But… Despite rakish profile, Crown is not a hatchback; cabin materials only average
Premium Large Car
Genesis G90
Why it’s a Best Buy: Avant garde design, class-leading refinement, impressive power
But… Strong value in class, but no longer a bargain
Lexus ES
Why it’s a Best Buy: Supreme highway ride and quietness, plenty of adult stretch-out room
But… Not especially sporty
Lexus LS
Why it’s a Best Buy: Top-notch assembly quality, long-trip comfort, quiet cabin
But… Not as roomy as exterior size suggests
Small and Midsize Pickup Trucks
Nissan Frontier
Why it’s a Best Buy: Smooth power deliver, general refinement, value pricing
But… So-so fuel economy
Large Pickup Trucks
Ram 1500
Why it’s a Best Buy: Luxury-car refinement, Plenty of smooth power from “Hurricane” engines
But… The price is the price, Hurricane engines requires premium-grade gasoline
Sporty/Performance Car
Ford Mustang
Why it’s a Best Buy: Spirited performance, rewarding to drive
But… Performance options add considerably to the bottom line
Subaru WRX
Why it’s a Best Buy: Thrilling to drive, available manual transmission
But… Glitchy Bluetooth connectivity, requires premium gas
Minivan
Chrysler Pacifica
Why it’s a Best Buy: Available plug-in hybrid efficiency, excellent array of family-friendly convenience features, spacious cabin with upscale trimmings
But… Hybrid loses Stow ‘n Go seating
Kia Carnival
Why it’s a Best Buy: Excellent passenger room and comfort; satisfying acceleration; very respectable highway fuel economy for a vehicle of this size and power, newly available hybrid powertrain
But… Second-row reclining “lounge” seats of dubious value and can’t be removed
Listen to the Car Stuff Podcast
2025 Consumer Guide Best Buy Pictures
Click below for enlarged images
Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast Episode 205: 2024 Consumer Guide Best Buy Podcast
