The 10 best vehicles Ars Technica drove in 2025

Of all the cars we've driven and reviewed this year, these are our picks.

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[ca14129]

I test drove a ‘25 Civic Hybrid. Truly amazing drivetrain but the almost mandatory Google infotainment account was a showstopper for me. Turn over another part of my life to Google? I did my best to find and read through the user agreements and privacy give-aways I’d need to submit to just to listen to some tuneage while I drive. Maybe there are work-arounds involving Bluetooth or some other I/O that Google could take away with a simple update? Nooooo .. they’d never do something like that, would they? Too costly a purchase to take a flyer. Civic Hybrid … no thanks.

My '25 hybrid + iPhone12mini + Carplay disagrees with your assertion. *

* granted, different cult.. but at no point was I entering Google login stuffs.

 

[ca14129]

I don't think that's true. Pretty sure it's got a CVT

.. uum. no?

https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-a...378955-honda-two-motor-hybrid-electric-system

tldr: its an interesting transmission setup with inline motor/generator setup with an additonal 'high speed lockup clutch' to direct-drive from the atkinson-cycle engine directly when it makes sense (which seems to be highway speeds). I still would like to find a graphic diagram.. but no, i dont think there is any cvt/belt-type drive involved.

and fwiw.. fully admit my bias: i LOVE mine. Previously owned Toyota Tacomas (truck being a side-effect requirement of riding motorcycles) and this thing is just a blast to drive, even as an econo-car. I make a game of the mileage stuff though; still trying to make it go over 60mpg but the winter weather has really drivent it down (but 'driven down' being 40s-mpg compared to V6-Tacoma 20mpgs? good lord i'll take it).