10 passenger products from around the globe.

CONSIDERATIONS for the national motoring award have been announced.

Ten finalists are in the running for New Zealand Car of the Year, an annual prize delivered by the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild since 1988.

Up for consideration for the 2025 award are, in alphabetical order: Audi A5, Cadillac Lyriq, Geely Starray EM-i, Kia EV3, Mercedes-Benz G580, MG QS, Mini Aceman, Nissan Ariya, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen ID.Buzz.

The finalists span a wide range of vehicle styles within the passenger sphere - so commercial models including utilities are not considered - with SUVs and crossovers to the fore.

Six present purely in fully-electric guise, two deliver as hybrids, one is in hybrid and pure petrol and another only avails in fully internal combustion.

Price points span from less than $50,000 for three models available; another three carrying six-figure price tags, the most expensive being the G580, which lists for $276,000.

The finalists were shortlisted from almost 40 new models released in the past 12 months.

“While electrification is a common feature of all but one of the finalists, they otherwise represent significant variety,” says Guild president Matthew Hansen.

“There are conventional cars, SUVs, and even – with the ID Buzz – a contemporary interpretation of the classic VW Combi.

"The Subaru Forester is the new generation of the model that won NZCOTY honours in its previous generation, the Kia EV3 is the current World Car of the Year. Cadillac Lyriq and Geely Starray EM-i are the first models from those brands to make the cut as NZCOTY finalists.

“To have such a mixture of different price points, silhouettes and carmakers present amongst this year's nominees underlines the exciting and fluid state of the motoring industry in 2025.”

The award’s winner will be decided by the Guild over the coming months and announced on TVNZ’s Seven Sharp current affairs programme in February.

Guild members assess the finalists on a specified range of criteria. These span how the vehicle performs its intended role; its styling, interior design and accommodation; fit, finish and quality; ride and refinement; performance; road-holding and handling; value for money; active and passive safety and environmental responsibility.

NZCOTY is the country’s longest-running motoring award, the only fully national motoring prize and is also celebrated for being free from commercial involvement.

The current holder is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.