Celebrating 20 years of recognising Australia’s best new vehicles, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has been crowned the 2025 Drive Car of the Year.
“The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid emerged as a standout this year with its fuel-efficient hybrid lineup, enhanced safety and technology, and bold design. It meets the evolving needs of Australian families and sets a new standard for SUVs, making it a worthy winner of the top award,” Drive director of content James Ward says.
The Drive New Car Awards program covers 19 key vehicle categories and addresses buyers’ needs across all market segments. Hyundai celebrations are not limited to the overall award.
For the first time in the program’s 20-year history, a single brand has been awarded three wins in Australia’s much-loved SUV categories: Best Small SUV Under $50K, Best Medium SUV Under $50K, and Best Large SUV Under $80K.
“We are elated to receive the prestigious 2025 Drive Car of the Year award for the Santa Fe model range,” said Hyundai Motor Company Australia chief executive Officer Ted Lee.
“It is also a wonderful acknowledgement of the quality and appeal of the whole Hyundai SUV range that Santa Fe, Tucson and Kona have won a clean sweep of awards in the small, medium and large SUV categories,” he said.
In a sign of the times, all Hyundai category winners are hybrid models, reflecting Australia’s growing demand for more efficient vehicles. New research from Drive shows that almost 50%* of Australians are considering a hybrid for their next car.
For two decades, the Drive Car of the Year awards have been Australia’s most trusted and comprehensive guide for consumers shopping for new cars. Nearly 500 vehicles pass through the Drive garage annually, and tens of thousands of kilometres are covered in intensive testing to determine the best vehicles for everyday Australians across all segments.
“When Drive Car of the Year launched in 2006, the awards were designed to be the most comprehensive assessment of the new car market. This ambition has continued over the last 20 years, and we’re proud to be the custodians of Australia’s most respected awards program,” Drive chief executive Simon Halfhide says.
“Today, buyers prioritise value, technology, and fuel efficiency, with cost-of-living pressures playing a huge role in purchasing decisions. The vehicle’s cost of ownership is now a primary consideration for many families,” Ward says.
“This year, we expect more buyers looking for brands offering great value and long-term ownership benefits. The growing normalisation of vehicle electrification powertrains brings exciting new options, with 12 of our 19 category winners either hybrid or fully electric vehicles,” he says.
Brands such as Chery, Polestar, Mini, and Chevrolet have won their first awards this year. A new category, Best Large Dual-Cab Ute Under $150K, was introduced to recognise the segment’s growing appeal.
“Buying a new car is an exciting experience, and the Drive team has done an exceptional job recommending a range of Australia’s best cars consumers of all market segments should seriously be considering this year,” Halfhide says.
2025 Drive Car of the Year Finalists:
| CATEGORY | FINALIST |
| Best Electric Vehicle under $50k | BYD Seal Dynamic |
| Best Urban Car under $30k | Chery Tiggo 4 Pro |
| Best Large Dual-Cab Ute under $150k | Chevrolet Silverado |
| Best Off-Road SUV under $80k | Ford Everest |
| Best Dual-Cab Ute under $100k | Ford Ranger |
| Best Medium SUV under $80k | Genesis GV70 |
| Best Urban Car under $50k | Honda Civic e:HEV L |
| Best Small SUV under $50k | Hyundai Kona |
| Best Medium SUV under $50k | Hyundai Tucson Hybrid |
| Best Large SUV under $80k | Hyundai Santa Fe |
| Best Family Car under $80k | Kia Carnival |
| Best Luxury Off-Road SUV under $150k | Land Rover Defender 110 |
| Best Small SUV under $80k | Mini Countryman |
| Best Luxury Car under $100k | Polestar 4 |
| Best Luxury SUV under $150k | Porsche Macan Electric |
| Best Luxury Electric Vehicle under $150k | Porsche Macan Electric |
| Best Dual-Cab Ute under $50k | SsangYong Musso |
| Best Urban Electric Vehicle under $100k | Tesla Model 3 |
| Best Family Electric Vehicle under $100k | Volkswagen ID. Buzz |
| 2025 DRIVE CAR OF THE YEAR | Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid |
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