What are the three gems that deserve more recognition? [My personal favorite cars of 2025]

BEVs may be more attractive in some cases

Thanks to you, I was able to test drive a lot of cars this year. Not only new models, but also facelifts, special editions, and even old and new owner cars, and even extremely rare models. I haven’t counted the total number, but I’ve tested over 200. I’m proud to say that I used 33 of them for the long-distance test drive from Tokyo to Kyoto. I’m confident that there is no other writer who has test driven such a wide variety of cars, from kei cars to supercars, over such a long distance. At the very least, I’m unique in Japan ( for a glimpse of my activities, please take a look at the new series “Nishikawa Jun’s 1-Week Car Diary” that has just started on “Genroku Web” ).

That aside, this year, of the 33 models I drove on my test drive to Kyoto, a whopping one-third, or 11 models, were BEVs. BEVs are at the mercy of European political strategies, but they are certainly evolving, and I feel that if we can just set aside issues like economic strategy, environmental issues, energy issues, and infrastructure issues, which are too big for us to worry about personally, more and more people will simply realize that BEVs are more attractive. They say this is actually happening among the younger generation, and among the 11 vehicles used for the long-distance test, there were certainly several that I would consider buying myself.

Kyoto Drive 33 Model

Since I had the chance to choose the “Hidden Cars of 2025,” I decided to choose from the 33 models that I had on my Kyoto drive.

January LBX MRR, G580 byEQ

February Civic RS

March M330i, LBX Bespoke, Passat Variant TDI, Alpina B4GT

April A5 TFSI, Vanquish

May Continental GTC, Abarth 500e, Q4 E-Tron, Alphard PHV

June GranCabrio, Model Y, 280SL (Pagoda)

July 220d Gran Coupe, Urus S, ID:Buzz

August Cooper E

September Forester, Junior Elettrica

October GT-R Nismo, 12 Chilindori, Lyric

November Vantage Roadster, LX700h, LM500h, M5 Touring, iX

December X3 20d, Taycan GTS, A6 E-Tron Avant

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The car that surprised me with its #1 ranking

Let’s choose three from these. Nishikawa’s third place is the BMW iX, which has undergone a minor change. They say the face and other features have changed, but the style still doesn’t really resonate with me. However, when I drove it, I was surprised, and it made me realize that European BEVs have finally entered a new phase. The battery control, which is all-important, is particularly impressive.

In second place would be the Maserati GranCabrio. With the introduction of the V6 Nettuno, it has lost its enthusiastic fans (those who love the roar of a V8), making it less conspicuous, but that’s what makes it appealing to connoisseurs. The car’s high level of perfection is unmatched by the previous model, and the ride is also excellent. It’s both a well-made GT and a fun FR sports car.

And my personal number one is the Cadillac Lyriq. I was truly amazed by this car. I wonder why it didn’t make it into the top 10 Car of the Year (everyone, please drive it properly). If it had been there, I would have definitely given it 25 points (number one). With its excellent interior and exterior design, excellent battery consumption, and meticulous dynamic control, it’s no wonder that it’s the latest creation from the giant GM.

I was also impressed by the deep ride quality of the BMW Alpina B4GT, and the Mini Cooper E exuded the appeal of a high-quality, practical vehicle (though it doesn’t quite live up to the cliché of “small luxury car”). The latest models from Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Lamborghini gave me a sense of what cutting-edge luxury should be. Each of Audi’s new models has something to offer, giving me hope that the brand will once again become a hot topic.

However, looking at the overall picture, both domestic and imported cars are of the same calibre, but on the other hand, they are all about the same quality. Many new models are scheduled to debut in 2026. We hope to see even more excitement than ever, including new models that will be released in 2025 and available for testing.

Related reading

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.