Car and Driver's 10 Most Popular Stories of 2025
This year's top reads included the arrival of new hybrids, from a supercar to a bestselling SUV, as well as comparison tests between popular new vehicles.
2025 was another hectic year in the automotive world, and as 2026 looms ever nearer, we're gazing back on the hundreds of articles we published this year. We've rounded up the stories that you, the reader, clicked on the most over the past 12 months, covering a wide range of topics, from the reveal of a new hybrid supercar to comparison tests between hybrid SUVs and our annual track-car shootout at Virginia International Raceway.
2026 Chevy Corvette ZR1X Hybrid Packs 1250 HP and All-Wheel Drive
As if the new Corvette ZR1 and its 1064-hp twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8 weren't enough, Chevy decided to up the ante with the hybrid ZR1X. With a more potent version of the electric motor from the E-Ray mounted on the front axle and the ZR1's LT7 V-8, the ZR1X combines for an insane 1250 hp, promising a zero-to-60-mph time of less than 2.0 seconds and a quarter-mile run of under 9.0 seconds. We can't wait to strap on our testing equipment.
2025 Ford F-150 Lobo Is the Street Truck We've Been Waiting For
While Ford has been churning out performance trucks with the off-road-ready Raptor models, the return of the street-oriented sport truck drew a lot of interest. While the V-8 engine's 400 hp isn't more than found in other eight-cylinder F-150s, the Lobo gets a reworked, lowered suspension, a rear-wheel-drive mode for executing sweet burnouts, and an aggressive body kit.
Lightning Lap 2025
Each year, we round up the best new performance cars and head down to Virginia International Raceway to push them to their limits. This year's lineup included everything from the 181-hp Mazda MX-5 Miata to the 1001-hp Lamborghini Revuelto, and even EVs such as the Lucid Air Sapphire and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. And there was a special guest in the form of the Ford Performance F-150 Lightning SuperTruck, a 2200-hp race car with one of the largest rear wings ever to grace the pavement at VIR. No wonder this was one of the most popular stories of 2025.
Sand Fight: 2025 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison vs. Ford Ranger Raptor vs. Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro in the Desert
America loves pickup trucks, so we're not surprised this showdown between dune-bashing mid-sizers earned a spot on this list. We pitted the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison against the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and the Ford Ranger Raptor in the dirt near California's Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Click the link below to see which bruiser came out on top.
2026 Subaru Outback Raises the Roof on a More Rugged Design
The arrival of the new, seventh-generation Subaru Outback generated a lot of attention, not all of it positive. The boxy, more SUV-like styling was divisive, and while the cabin is a big improvement over the previous model, the Outback's powertrains carried over with minimal changes. A hybrid model should arrive soon to add more appeal to Subaru's mid-size SUV.
Comparison Test: Honda CR-V Hybrid, Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, Subaru Forester Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
The compact SUV has become the default family car in the United States, and with the segment now littered with hybrid options, we set out to determine the best. Toyota's overhauled RAV4 now comes exclusively with a gas-electric powertrain, and it challenged the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-50, and Subaru Forester. We won't spoil the results, so click below to find out which SUV won.
Facelifted Tesla Model Y Juniper Finally Revealed
Just after the calendar flipped over to 2025, Tesla pulled the covers off the refreshed Model Y. The bestselling EV in the United States gained a sharper face inspired by that of the Cybertruck, along with improved cabin materials and more range.
2026 Toyota RAV4 Goes Hybrid Only, and the PHEV Now Packs 320 HP
While the Model Y is the most popular EV, the Toyota RAV4 is the third-biggest-selling vehicle in the entire country, trailing only the full-size trucks from Ford and Chevy. The debut of the sixth generation was a big deal, as the RAV4 transitioned to a fully hybrid lineup, with a standard 226-hp hybrid model augmented by a 320-hp plug-in hybrid.
2027 Slate Truck EV Will Be Very Customizable, Priced Under $28,000
The Slate Truck's reveal was a surprise. The new Amazon-backed startup is seeking to disrupt the auto industry with a back-to-basics, affordable EV. The claimed sub-$20,000 starting price required taking advantage of the now-eliminated federal EV tax credit, so Slate's path towards success has grown murkier, but there's no denying the splash Slate made with the announcement of its tiny pickup that eschews a giant touchscreen and features manual, crank-style windows.
Comparison Test: Honda CR-V Hybrid vs. Mazda CX-50 Hybrid
Before the new RAV4 burst onto the scene, we had two of our favorite compact hybrid SUVs do battle. The CR-V Hybrid, a stalwart of the 10Best Trucks and SUVs list, faced off against the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, a gas-electric version of one of the sweetest-driving SUVs on sale. This face-off earned the title of our most popular article of the year and was one of our closest comparison tests yet.
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
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