Our editorial team has concluded its selection of Top 12 Best Buys for 2025 ahead of the year, making this a definitive guide for prospective buyers seeking a new set of wheels. Have a look at our selections below and click on each article link for more details and information.
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Budget Car
The new Suzuki Swift recently rocketed to the top spot in the local new car sales chart, and with good reason, too. While it doesn’t radically deviate from what made its similarly strong-selling predecessor such a hit (keen pricing, frugal powertrains and enjoyable driving characteristics among them) it gently improves upon each of them, making it feel slightly more upmarket and refined in the process.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Budget Car – Suzuki Swift

Budget Crossover
The Sonet has been a longtime favourite at CAR owing to its easy-going road manners, solid construction and good levels of standard specification.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Budget Crossover – Kia Sonet

Small Car
Even in an automotive landscape where SUVs and crossovers are largely holding sway, the Polo remains a respected and relevant fixture. The locally assembled, sixth-generation model is perhaps one of the most well-rounded offerings in its segment – encompassing the solid yet basic likes of the 75 kW entry-level model, all the way up to the 147 kW GTI: a capable hot hatch that’s becoming a rarity in our market.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Small Car – Volkswagen Polo 

Compact Crossover
The T-Cross has rightfully gained many plaudits for being the most refined and sophisticated member of its segment since its introduction in 2019, so come update time, Volkswagen was never going to mess with the formula too much, and that’s a good thing.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Compact Crossover – Volkswagen T-Cross

Midsize SUV
One of the most eagerly anticipated releases of recent years, the third-generation Tiguan has built upon the impressive perceived quality and sophisticated road manners of its predecessor, successfully evolving to incorporate advanced driver assistance technology and more future-focused design in a package that’s at once familiar and fresh.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Midsize SUV – Volkswagen Tiguan

New Energy Vehicle
The plug-in hybrid NX offers what we see as a best-of-both-worlds package, with a useful 66.5 km of all-electric range that ably covers most motorists’ everyday driving requirements, allied with the long-distance assurance of its internal combustion powertrain.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: New Energy Vehicle – LEXUS NX450h+ F Sport

Premium Midsize SUV
Assembled at BMW South Africa’s Plant Rosslyn, the X3 reclaims the top spot in this segment after relinquishing it to its otherwise excellent X1 sibling in our 2024 voting.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Premium Midsize SUV – BMW X3

Adventure SUV
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado One of the most highly anticipated new vehicle introductions of the past twelve months, the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado has certainly lived up to its hype.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Large Adventure SUV – Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 

Luxury Car
The longstanding champion of this category is usurped this year by its arch-rival from Munich. Noted for its refinement, effortless sophistication and focus on comfort – most notably for its rear seat passengers – the Mercedes-Benz S-Class loses its crown to the unapologetically audacious presence of the modern BMW 7 Series.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Luxury Car – BMW 7 Series

Luxury SUV
As showcased by the British Royal Family, while the modern Range Rover may tick many boxes for ultimate comfort, luxury and stateliness, it’s the nimbler Range Rover Sport sibling we’d park in our driveway.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Luxury SUV – Range Rover Sport

Performance Car
As was broadly speculated from the moment Porsche introduced the original mid-engined Cayman in 2006, the potential of this lower-ranking product to usurp the more glamorous 911, should it ever be granted the opportunity, had long been a topic of debate.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Performance Car – Porsche 911 Carrera

Double-Cab Bakkies
The best-selling double-cab in South Africa is also the most comfortable and composed in most driving conditions, it offers impressive interior space and introduces several convenience features, including a massive infotainment display and a sliding roll hoop that remain broadly unrivalled.
Top 12 Best Buys 2025: Double Cab – Ford Ranger

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