Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Medium SUV Under $50K finalists announced – UPDATE
Yesterday at 11:54 PM
Here are the finalists in the running for the Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Medium SUV Under $50K category.
Drive Car of the Year 2025
Now in its 20th year, the annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer's most-trusted advisor.
At Drive, we test drive more than 200 new cars every year, evaluating each against its innate promise to sort the best from the rest. We divide the 400-plus new passenger cars, SUVs, 4WDs and utes into 19 price-banded categories focused on the end-user. Then we analyse the strengths and weaknesses of every car to find the cream of the automotive crop.
Drive Car of the Year 2025 is a go!
Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Medium SUV Under $50K
This is the category that means the most to the largest number of Australian new-car buyers. The medium SUV is tasked with transporting everyone – from the elderly to the newborn – in comfort on all kinds of terrain, while keeping them occupied with top-tier equipment and features.
In 2025, more value is being offered than ever. This is why challenger brands such as MG with its HS, and BYD with its new Sealion 6, are getting a look in. They'll fight a more conventional rival in the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid.
The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid was quick to earn praise among Drive judges thanks to its new facelift and hybrid powertrain under the bonnet. Pairing the popular 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with hybrid assistance was a no-brainer, and the resulting combination was smooth, efficient, and quiet on test.
We also loved the fact that all model grades have the choice of a hybrid powertrain – not a common occurrence in the medium SUV market. The interior is practical and vibrant, while low fuel bills are a huge plus for buyers.
Read more about the Hyundai Tucson here.
The MG HS slides in at the budget end of the medium SUV segment, but packs a punch in the value-for-money stakes.
Although it doesn't have hybrid power just yet – a petrol-electric variant is due in 2025 – the standalone 1.5-litre turbo engine in the model on sale now was punchy enough and the interior was practical in both rows, joined by a spacious boot.
This is arguably MG's best car yet and we're encouraged by the looming hybrid version next year.
Read more about the MG HS here.
It’s fantastic to see a plug-in hybrid medium SUV priced below $50,000 in 2025.
The BYD Sealion 6 was introduced mid-way through 2024, and has quickly climbed the charts to rival the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV as the country's most popular plug-in hybrid, thanks to its impressive technology, long list of safety features, large cabin, and frugal petrol use.
Read more about the BYD Sealion 6 here.
The Drive Car of the Year Best Medium SUV Under $50K will be announced on 24 February 2025.
The below was published on 14 November 2024:
The Australian new-car sales race is won and lost in the Medium SUV category for manufacturers. There are more buyers scoping out their next medium SUV purchase more than any other car type, and car manufacturers are only too willing to provide compelling options – even priced under the $50,000 barrier.
To satisfy the Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Medium SUV Under $50K award, the winning SUV must deliver the best mix of equipment, safety and efficiency at a sharp price, all in a versatile and practical body.
Buyers shopping for an affordable medium SUV are chasing a fuss-free purchase upfront, but they also want a seamless ongoing experience for servicing, warranty, and roadside assistance. Manufacturers simply must offer the ‘full package’ if they want to be serious about winning buyers in this arena.
There is a lot of change in this category and our awards reflect as such. The Kia Sportage won the category in 2022 (and the overall DCOTY award), before it was overthrown by the Nissan X-Trail in 2023. Last year, the Honda CR-V won the category from Nissan’s X-Trail. It goes to show how much movement there is in this contested category.
Sub-$50K is a sharp price point for this size of car and manufacturers need to offer the right balance of affordability, value, space and practicality.
In 2024, Chinese options such as the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and BYD Atto 3 were represented, fighting off conventional rivals such as the Honda CR-V and ZR-V twins. Of course, the Nissan X-Trail was invited back to defend its crown.
This year, the Honda CR-V will make an appearance to do the same. It’ll find its competition in the BYD Sealion 6, which has effectively become the country’s best-selling plug-in hybrid SUV, and the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max, which offers seven seats.
Segment stalwarts such as the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson return with hybrid powertrains, making for a strong play in the running-costs stakes. Plus, the new MG HS and SsangYong Torres round out the competition in this category for 2025.
It’s interesting to see hybrids proliferating across manufacturer’s model line-ups. Especially as consumers face cost-of-living pressure, it seems car makers are responding to more fuel-sipping variants, which is great to see.
FAQs
Which cars are eligible for this category?
Drive's rules require that, for a car to be eligible, it must:
- Be all-new or significantly updated.
- Be on sale with customer deliveries commenced by 31 December 2024.
- Retail examples be made available for Drive to road test before that cut-off date.
- Pricing cut-offs exclude discounts and limited-time offers.
There are car-makers from all corners of the globe offering strong medium SUV options. It’s traditionally a category of car that Japanese manufacturers have excelled with in the past, though new alternatives from South Korea and China provide some viable alternatives.
Keep note, the price bands of some model ranges extend beyond our $50,000 barrier. In this case, only the variants with retail prices less than $50,000 are considered worthy of the Best Medium SUV Under $50K category.
| Eligible | Not here in time |
| – Cars that are all-new or significantly updated since they last contested Drive Car of the Year. – New categories are open to all cars that fit category requirements. – Last year's winner is an automatic inclusion. | – These cars meet category requirements, but are not due to arrive in time for Drive Car of the Year 2025 judging. |
| BYD Sealion 6 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Honda CR-V (defending) Hyundai Tucson KGM Ssangyong Torres Kia Sportage Hybrid MG HS | None |
What are the next steps?
The winner of the Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Medium SUV Under $50K will be announced in February 2025.
Before then, we will announce the finalists, all of which deliver on the buyer's expectations for cost-effective urban motoring. One thing is certain: this category promises to be one of the toughest confronting our experienced judges.
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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