All the finalists for UK Car of the Year 2025

All the overall UK Car of the Year finalists

The cars and SUVs in contention for the prestigious UK Car of the Year 2025 Awards (UKCOTY) have been revealed. A panel of 30 expert judges, including Tim Pitt of Motoring Research, will now be tasked with making a decision on their top choice car for 2025.

Electric vehicles have proven popular in recent years with UKCOTY judges. Last year, the Kia EV9 collected the overall prize, while the MG4 EV emerged victorious in 2023.

Read on to discover more about the seven UKCOTY 2025 finalists and why they were nominated.

Small Car – Suzuki Swift Hybrid

Each of the seven finalists in the UKCOTY 2025 Awards is already a winner, having claimed victory in its respective category.

The new fourth-generation Suzuki Swift was the top-ranked model in the UKCOTY ‘Small Car’ category for this year.

It beat strong rivals such as the new Mini hatchback, Hyundai Inster and Dacia Spring affordable EV.

Suzuki Swift Hybrid

Launched at the end of 2023, the latest Suzuki Swift retains the same platform as its predecessor, but offers updated technology and a new mild-hybrid engine.

The 82hp 1.2-litre three-cylinder motor brings an eight percent improvement in fuel consumption versus the previous Swift, with the manual version able to average 64.2mpg.

A CVT automatic gearbox is available as an option, with Suzuki also offering its Allgrip four-wheel drive on the range-topping Ultra model.

Suzuki Swift Hybrid

Standard equipment for the new Swift is generous, with LED headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, a 9.0-inch central touchscreen, satellite navigation, heated front seats and a reversing camera all included on the entry-level Motion.

Such a strong spec partly explains why the starting price for a Swift has crept upwards to more than £19,000.

With the Swift now part of Suzuki’s range in Britain for 40 years, the brand will hope it can bring home the UKCOTY trophy.

Family Car – Skoda Superb

We go from the smallest car in the UKCOTY 2025 Awards final to one of the largest.

Describing the Skoda Superb as a ‘Family Car’ almost undersells it, with its category also featuring contenders such as the BMW 1 Series and Toyota Prius.

However, it was the hugely accommodating fourth-generation Superb that emerged as the top choice in the Family Car class.

Skoda Superb

Families will certainly be well catered for in the latest Skoda Superb. The hatchback version boasts 645 litres of luggage space, which swells to 660 litres for the Superb Estate. Don’t forget the limousine-like rear legroom, too.

The new Skoda Superb is about more than just impressing with a tape measure, though.

A host of powertrains include the company car driver-pleasing plug-in hybrid iV model. With 204hp, it offers official CO2 emissions of just 8g/km, and can travel up to 80 miles on battery power alone.

Skoda Superb

On the inside, the new Superb has continued Skoda’s march upmarket. Even the entry-level SE Technology comes with massaging front seats, while the range-topping Laurin & Klement boasts faux wood grain trim and ambient interior lighting.

The Superb possibly deserves a place in the UKCOTY Awards final solely on the strength of its ‘Smart Dials’, found on the centre console. Used to control the air conditioning, each of the three knobs has a small screen inside it, which changes the function depending on whether it is pressed, pulled, or twisted.

In an age dominated by touchscreens, sometimes simpler solutions are better.

Small Crossover – Kia EV3

Despite only being launched in May last year, the fully electric Kia EV3 has been hoovering up awards ever since.

It took a strong runner-up position in the 2025 European Car of the Year Awards, and is also a finalist for the 2025 World Car of the Year prize.

For the ‘Small Crossover’ class of the UKCOTY 2025 Awards, the EV3 faced plenty of rivals, including the Ford Explorer, Mini Aceman and Dacia Duster.

Kia EV3

What’s made the Kia EV3 such a formidable competitor in the compact SUV world is that it makes driving an electric car as easy as possible.

Range for the 58.3kWh battery is a useful 270 miles in official tests, while the larger 81.4kWh option sees this extended to 367 miles. In the real world, it should remove range anxiety for all but the most demanding of drivers.

Kia’s 400-volt battery technology also means that recharging from 10 to 80 percent only takes around 30 minutes when connected to a suitable rapid charger.

Kia EV3

Kia’s famed seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty (whichever comes soonest) remains in place, with the EV3’s battery covered separately for eight years to alleviate concerns.

Standard levels of equipment are strong, there is more space in the front and rear compared to its rivals, and the EV3 has even been designed to tow a small trailer.

All of this explains why Kia may be already making room to accommodate another potential piece of silverware…

Medium Crossover – Mini Countryman

It’s the biggest model to ever wear the Mini badge, so feel free to get those “not very mini any more” comments out of the way first.

The third-generation Countryman is thus quite a sizable SUV, placing it into perhaps the most competitive sector in the current automotive market.

For the UKCOTY 2025 Awards, this saw it pitted against contenders such as the Volkswagen Tiguan, Ford Capri and Vauxhall Grandland.

However, the new Mini Countryman emerged victorious as the top ‘Medium Crossover’.

Mini Countryman

The third-generation Countryman comes with a wealth of powertrain options, with buyers able to pick from petrol or electric power. Other markets still get offered a diesel engine, but the UK is denied one.

At the top of the tree is the sporty John Cooper Works, powered by a 300hp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. With all-wheel drive as standard, it can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 5.4 seconds.

The 313hp electric Countryman SE offers similar performance, but with zero emissions and a range of up to 286 miles.

Mini Countryman

Being bigger than ever before means the latest Mini Countryman has more space for people and their baggage. With the rear seats in place, up to 450 litres can fit in the boot, while taller passengers will feel less claustrophobic in the Countryman’s second row.

The circular 9.6-inch OLED touchscreen looks impressive, and fits with Mini’s futuristic updating of its classic brand image.

A starting price of less than £30,000 makes the new Countryman look relatively affordable, at a time when almost everything else seems expensive.

Large Crossover – Hyundai Santa Fe

The ‘Large Crossover’ category for the UKCOTY 2025 Awards boasts contenders ranging from the Peugeot 5008 through to the Volvo XC90 – and even the Ineos Quartermaster pick-up.

However, the radically updated seven-seat Hyundai Santa Fe was the winner here, adding to the trophies it has collected since launch last year.

Hyundai Santa Fe

Part of the Santa Fe’s appeal is a new bold and boxy look, even if it sits on the same platform used by its predecessor.

Buyers can choose between two flavours of a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine, with either hybrid or plug-in hybrid electrification. Forget any ideas of diesel here, too.

A host of safety features, active aerodynamics and Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited mileage warranty are all included.

Hyundai Santa Fe

Where the Hyundai Santa Fe really appeals is with its spacious interior. Offered with a choice of five-seat, six-seat and seven-seat arrangements, even the Santa Fe’s third row is roomier than many of its rivals.

A pair of 12.3-inch displays dominate the dashboard, with another 6.6-inch touchscreen used to operate the climate control system.

Prices start from around £47,000, which gets you 20-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery and an electric tailgate.

Executive – Polestar 4

The prominence of crossovers and SUVs means that the ‘Executive’ category for the UKCOTY 2025 Awards features an eclectic collection of vehicles.

Contenders included the Lexus LBX luxury MPV, Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet and electric Lotus Emeya saloon.

Out of this diverse range of cars, the Polestar 4 EV was crowned as the top Executive option for 2025.

Polestar 4

Bigger than the popular Polestar 2 electric SUV, the Polestar 4 features curvaceous coupe-esque styling and no rear window. It certainly looks like little else on the road.

Polestar’s coupe crossover is offered with a choice of single- or dual-motor setups, with the latter bringing a combined total of 544hp to the party. That is sufficient for 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds.

Polestar 4

In common with other Polestar products, the interior of the 4 is dominated by a touchscreen to control all main functions. This continues the Scandi-minimalism the brand has become known for, but might frustrate those who prefer traditional dials and buttons.

Ditching the back window for a digital rear-view mirror and a reversing camera is likely to take some adjustment, too.

At least the cabin is spacious, the standard panoramic roof floods it with natural light, and build quality lives up to the £60,000 starting price.

Performance – Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

What could be better than a Ferrari 12Cilindri, Aston Martin Vanquish and a BMW M5 in the eyes of the UKCOTY 2025 Awards panel? An electric Hyundai SUV, of course.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is no ordinary EV, though. It has already been crowned 2024 World Performance Car of the Year, so being selected as the winner of the ‘Performance’ category here should come as no surprise.

The South Korean marque has developed a reputation for building engaging fast cars, and the N division clearly paid close attention to the Ioniq 5 N.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

With the Ioniq 5 N, Hyundai has crafted a gigantic hot hatchback, bringing more than just the usual electric straight-line performance to the table.

A pair of electric motors generate 609hp together, with potential for 650hp in the appropriately named ‘N Grin Boost’ mode. As a result, this 2,200kg EV can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds.

An N e-shift function replicates the sound and sensation of an eight-speed paddle-shift transmission, complete with gaps in torque and the thump of ‘gears’ being engaged.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

We should perhaps mention that the Hyundai has even given the Ioniq 5 N a ‘Drift Optimiser’ function, thanks to its electronically controlled limited-slip differential. Make no mistake, this is a serious performance car.

Exterior styling tweaks include flared wheelarches, a dramatic rear diffuser and plenty of other aerodynamic details. Alcantara sports seats, and a steering wheel with buttons to engage the various N modes are found inside.

All in all, it’s enough to see the Ioniq 5 N outrank a Ferrari and an Aston Martin for 2025. Impressive.