Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Luxury Electric Vehicle Under $150K finalists announced – UPDATE

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Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Luxury Electric Vehicle Under $150K

UPDATE, 20 December 2024 – FINALISTS CONFIRMED

One of the hardest categories to deliberate this year was the Best Luxury Electric Vehicle Under $150K award, given the breadth of choice and high quality of the contenders.

However, after much toing and froing, the Porsche Macan, Cadillac Lyriq and Polestar 3 emerged as front-runners for a category that looks at the best of tomorrow, available today.

In Porsche’s corner, the new Macan blends family SUV practicality with sporting performance – all built atop a new-generation electric vehicle (EV) platform that offers faster charger and impressive driving range.

Available now in 4 and Turbo variants, priced at $134,400 before on-road costs and $184,400 respectively – the former the only grade eligible for this award due to the price cap – the new Porsche electric SUV line-up will be bulked out next year with the base rear-wheel-drive Macan (from $128,400) and 4S (from $149,300).

All versions are equipped with a 96kWh battery, with a driving range of up to 654km depending on grade to ensure the end of range anxiety.

And, of course, as a Porsche, potent performance and a premium feel are a given.

Read more about the Porsche Macan.

As for the Lyriq, it will be the first modern-era model from Cadillac to officially arrive on local soil, priced from $117,000.

This makes the US luxury car more affordable than similarly sized large SUV rivals from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi, while still offering an attractive equipment list and upmarket presence.

Fitted with a 102kWh battery, and with a 388kW/610Nm output, the Lyriq can travel a claimed 530km before needing to find a charger, and even then it can recoup about 128km of range in just 10 minutes when using a DC fast charger.

Naturally, as an American interpretation of luxury, the Cadillac is fitted with a bevy of upmarket and high-tech gear such as a 19-speaker sound system, 33-inch infotainment and instrument cluster display, all-leather interior, and tri-zone climate control.

Read more about the Cadillac Lyriq.

The Polestar 3 also emerged as the last finalist in this category, representing strong luxury credentials from an emerging brand in Australia.

Priced at $132,720 before on-road costs for the most affordable MY25 dual-motor grade available now, it presents a tempting alternative to German models like last year’s winner, the BMW iX – which was a contender this year but ultimately deemed uncompetitive against fresher models.

Standard equipment highlights include adaptive air suspension, three-zone climate control, and a panoramic glass roof, while upmarket touches available in option packs include nappa leather seats and soft-close doors.

Read more about the Polestar 3.

The Drive Car of the Year Best Luxury Electric Vehicle Under $150K winner will be announced on 24 February 2025.

The below was published on 19 November 2024:

Electric cars are the future of motoring, and while this year has revealed tailpipe-emissions-free models might not take over overnight, EVs will still no doubt grow their market share in the coming years.

To that end, there is no other segment on the forefront of what electric vehicle (EV) technologies will look like more than in the Luxury Electric Vehicle Under $150K, as electric powertrains currently attract a price premium that push them – sometimes – substantially over their petrol or diesel counterparts.

To put it another way, this category looks at the best of tomorrow, today.

With a focus on style and status without any compromise, last year’s winner was the BMW iX, which encapsulated the key attributes of the Best Luxury Electric Vehicle Under $150K category best.

Defending its title this year, the iX will have to fight against exciting newcomers from all corners of the globe.

Stepping up to the plate this year is not only one but two Polestar models, namely the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4.

The Polestar 3 is a large luxury SUV, designed to compete directly against last year’s winner, as well as the likes of the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.

As a more in-vogue body style compared to the Polestar 2, the Polestar 3 might find a larger audience, but most likely it will be the mid-sized Polestar 4 that becomes the brand’s new best seller.

The right size and shape for many small families to dip their toes into the electric car space, the Polestar 4 does have its quirks – such as a lack of rear windshield – but the balance of efficiency, performance, price, and its premium positioning means it has a real shot at taking out the title this year.

Outside of Polestar, the Porsche’s new Macan has also gone all-electric, and as the brand’s best-selling model, has a real chance of substantial cut-through and significant customer uptake.

Porsche buyers being less sensitive to price increases means most existing Macan buyers are willing and able to shell out the near $130,000-plus for a Macan EV, and, of course, any model from the Stuttgart brand means sporty performance mixed with upmarket appointments.

American luxury manufacturer, Cadillac makes its return to Australia, but in place of the large petrol-powered cars from its iconic past, the new Cadillac Lyriq promises high-performance, high-luxury comfort, with a stand-out styling edge.

But the biggest change to the Australian car market is the influx of a number of new brands from China, with Zeekr, owned by Geely who also controls Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus, aiming to take the fight to the established premium players.

Despite Zeekr’s aspirations, its second model, the 009 electric people mover, is loaded to the brim with all the latest equipment and technology you would want out of a car, as well as accommodating up to seven passengers in comfort.

However, it still remains to be seen if it can trump the field in key attributes such as status and upmarket appeal.

Finally, the Mercedes-Benz EQV is also in the mix, though it remains to be seen if the van-based model will make it to market before the Drive Car of the Year 2025 cut-off.

FAQs

Which cars are eligible for this category?

Drive's rules require that, for a car to be eligible, it must:

1. Be all-new or significantly updated.
2. Be on sale with customer deliveries commenced by 31 December 2024.
3. Retail examples be made available for Drive to road test before that cut-off date.
4. Pricing cut-offs exclude discounts and limited-time offers.

To be eligible to complete in the Best Luxury Electric Car Under $150K, the contenders need to meet strict criteria.

Of course, the recommended retail price (RRP) before on-road costs of under $150,000 and an all-electric powertrain is a given, even if the former edges over the threshold after factoring drive-away additions.

All potential winners also need to be all new to the Australian market, or significantly updated, and be available for on-road evaluation before the December 31, 2024 deadline.

What are the next steps?

The winner of the 2025 Drive Car of the Year – Best Luxury Electric Vehicle Under $150K will be announced in February 2025.

Before then, we will announce the finalists, all of which deliver the ultimate blend of style and status without compromise.

However, it is important to note that the winner still needs to represent good value for a customer, meaning its blend of equipment, performance, and on-road appeal still needs to be fairly priced amongst its rivals.

Read more: 

Drive Car of the Year 2025 is a go!
Drive Car of the Year Overview
Drive Car of the Year 2024 winners

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