Three cars of the year that a British automotive journalist wants to properly report on [Personally impressive cars of 2025]

Chauffeur to function as a luxury car

The year 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Rolls-Royce’s flagship, the Phantom. The fact that the Phantom was the first car unveiled by the new Rolls-Royce, which was relaunched at Goodwood, in 2003, shows just how special it is.

The current model is the eighth generation, seven years after its release. Its aluminum space frame chassis, known as the “Architecture of Luxury,” eight-speed automatic transmission, 6.75-liter V12 twin-turbo engine, and rear-wheel steering are the same mechanically as the Ghost, so I didn’t think there was anything particularly new about it, but I was surprised when I drove it for the first time in a while. Everything moves slowly, and trying to drive normally is jerky. But when I shifted my focus from the driver’s seat to the rear seat, it was a miracle. The slightly direct driving position, along with the steering and accelerator “load” functions in a positive way, and the car suddenly moves smoothly.

Just because something is big or luxurious doesn’t mean it’s luxury… but it only functions as a luxury car when the chauffeur behaves accordingly. Learning this, I understood why Rolls-Royce continues to be the world’s number one luxury car, and I felt like I understood a little bit why other manufacturers around the world have not been able to catch up, even after 100 years.

Given its good features, expectations are high for a hybrid model

As a Lotus fan, I honestly had reservations about calling the Eletra a Lotus. After all, Lotus’s hallmark is a light, small sports car derived from a racing car. In that sense, the Eletra is surprisingly fast and lively for an SUV weighing over 2.5 tons, but my first impression was that its large, heavy body was too much.

I didn’t have a chance to ride it for a while after that, but I was blessed with the opportunity to travel from Tokyo to Fuji Speedway and back for the “LOTUS 77th Anniversary Track Day” the other day. I drove the 603HP Eletre S. The first thing I noticed when I first drove it in a while was the naturalness of the power delivery and the comfortable handling, which was sharp but never nervous. This comfortable feeling is best experienced on long, high-speed tours rather than around town or on winding roads, where the exceptional quietness, the sense of stability provided by the long wheelbase, and the excellent rear-wheel steering that offset these drawbacks made for a surprisingly stress-free ride.

What’s more, I was surprised at how long it lasted, with 48% of its charge remaining on the round trip from the city center to FSW. With such good features, there may be high hopes for the hybrid version that is rumored to be released soon!

A decent car

The third car was a 1990 Eunos Roadster V Special, which I decided to cheat. It was a Mazda press car I borrowed for a magazine interview, but the moment I rolled it over, I was knocked out. The memory of when I first learned of its existence in 1989 flashed back into my mind, and I was once again impressed by how “refined it was as a car.”

The driving position is simply fantastic. The seats are comfortable yet supportive, the steering is slim, and the gears and pedals are perfectly positioned and easy to operate – all of these are the very essence of a sports car. Add to that the light 1.6-liter inline 4-cylinder DOHC engine, front and rear double wishbone suspension, and a chassis that feels incredibly rigid despite being an open-top, and you get a nimble, confident ride that would hold its own even in today’s market.

What I also found great was that while the car has a sporty design that leaves the driver “room for control,” it also has the character of a roadster that is not too tight and can be enjoyed with ease, giving it a strong “flavor” reminiscent of the classic Porsche 356 Cabriolet and MGB. This “roominess” is a virtue unique to the NA model that is not even available in the current ND model. I really want one now, so I’m looking for one for sale.

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Automotive writers choose one car each from the EV, gasoline-powered vehicle, and PHEV categories [Personal Hidden Cars of 2025]

In 2025, there were almost no new B-C segment hatchbacks with internal combustion engines that I could personally target, and I have had more and more opportunities to drive new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) little by little. When I look back on a topic like this, I try to choose models that I could consider as options as much as possible, but I have simply picked out three cars that made an impression on me without any prerequisites.