We tested a tonne of new vehicles this past year, but ask our writers and editors and these dozen-plus stood out in particular
It’s the day before we flip the calendar, and we’ve got another top-10 list we’ve got to get out before 2025 arrives: our contributors’ favourite drives of 2024. The writers, editors, and freelancers whose bylines you see here at Driving.ca drive dozens of different new (and old) cars each year, from a wide variety of segments and price-points.
Asking them for their highlights of the last 12 months, it’s typically easy to name some of the costlier nameplates they got to wheel—that’s why you’ll see several contributors below also list a runner-up pick that’s a little more mainstream.
The variety of cars tested is reflected, too, in the variety of our writers’ faves—there’s almost no overlap, as Driving‘s contributors also have some rather distinct tastes. From the requisite cutting-edge EVs and family-hauling SUVs to the more niche enthusiast cars and off-road machines, here’s where Driving.ca‘s roster of reviewers settled on their favourite vehicles from 2024.
Stephanie Wallcraft: 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
And given the number of people who stopped to express adoration, ask questions, and take photos with the Buzz during our time with it, it’s clear that feeling is widespread. The world needs more joy these days, and that’s one thing the VW ID.Buzz delivers in spades.
Andrew McCredie: 2025 Polestar 3, 2024 Lexus RZ 450e, and 2025 BMW M5 Touring
Matthew Guy: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Clayton Seams: 1974 Porsche 914
Brian Harper: 2025 Aston Martin Vanquish and 2025 Honda Civic Sport Hybrid
No road-wimp, its powertrain pushes out a robust 200 hp and a very usable 232 lb-ft of torque. Honda says it’s “the most powerful non-Type R Civics ever,” with a zero-to-100-km/h sprint time of 6.3 seconds, even quicker than the Civic Si, despite its additional weight. As for fuel economy, an NRCan combined mileage rating of 4.9 L/100 km adds efficiency to fun — the car is an entertaining drive.
Renita Naraine: 2024 Kia EV9
Elle Alder: 2003 TVR Tuscan and 2025 Ineos Grenadier
Sami Haj-Assaad: 2025 Ford Explorer ST
Take a mild-mannered and seemingly anonymous-looking crossover and load it with a punchy turbocharged engine with 400 horsepower, and you’ve got my attention. It keeps my eyebrows raised with the massage seats, spacious interior for my family and their gear, and the hands-free Ford Blue Cruise system for added convenience.
I used to never really give the Explorer a second thought, but this year the ST has changed my mind about the American crossover.
Jil McIntosh: 2025 Audi S6 e-tron and 2024 Chevrolet Trax
Brendan McAleer: 2025 Hyundai Elantra N and Ioniq 5 N
Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X, Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.