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48 Phonebox Magazine | January 2026The motor industry is relentless. A constant stream of new and exciting cars are launched year after year, into all sectors and to suit all budgets and needs. And 2025 was no exception %u2013 it was a brilliant 12 months of reveals. Here are some of Phonebox Magazine%u2019s favourites from last year.WHAT A YEAR THAT WASAround 1.9 million new cars are bought in the UK every year. That fi gure tells its own story %u2013 British drivers are hungry for the latest motor. They want the next thing, the newest development, the safest, the cleanest, the quickest.And the same is happening right across the globe, with millions of new buyers scanning the adverts and test reviews in Europe, America, Asia and beyond, before making a choice on their next set of wheels. The world%u2019s car manufacturers know all this of course, and it%u2019s a constant and relentless job to continually design and develop their next generations of models. And that%u2019s great news for car buyers because it means a wide range of choice across all sectors of the market for them to choose from. This year was a great example of how the industry is meeting the challenge of bringing new and exciting models to the roads. 2025 was a brilliant year for new cars. Here is our pick of the best.1. Abarth 600eThe sporty SUV (sport utility vehicle) from Italian giant Fiat%u2019s sports department is bold, brash, quick%u2026 and quiet. That%u2019s because it%u2019s fully electric. Abarth are known for their nippy little speedsters like the 500 and the 124 Spider, so this is a welcome departure with much more room inside. Based on Fiat%u2019s 600 model, the Abarth gives you fi ve seats and a full-sized boot area, so it%u2019s a better bet if you have a family to move around. But with 0-62mph acceleration of around six seconds and a sporty, agile feel to the drive, there%u2019s plenty of fun to be had too. The car%u2019s snappy and bright looks will turn heads for sure and there%u2019s plenty of choice and options if you want to customise your own vehicle.Top speed: 124mph / Price guide: %u00a336,0002. BYD Sealion 7Another electric SUV, the Sealion 7, comes from China%u2019s BYD (Build Your Dream) factory, which has previously brought us the Seal and Dolphin. You get tons of standard equipment in this sporty family car. There%u2019s a big 15-inch infotainment screen for example, which will rotate 90 degrees with one button push. Driver and passengers can relax in a choice of ambient lighting modes, make use of all-round cameras when parking, enjoy heated seats for everyone, climate control and adaptive cruising. And performance won%u2019t leave you wanting either %u2013 even the entry-level model gets to 62mph in under seven seconds, but the higher-spec cars will do that dash in about four and a half. Comfort is high on the list thanks to supportive seating and a premium feel to the interior.Top speed: 133mph / Price guide: %u00a345,0003. Citroen C5 AircrossComfort is the order of the day here. The French constructor is wellknown for its smooth and bump-free ride, and the popular C5 makes full use of this. The latest version comes with a range of upgrades over the previous model, including a facelift, more space and a greater choice of engines, including hybrids and a full electric off ering.That means a range of performances too, but the C5 will return brisk acceleration of between eight and 11 seconds depending on which power source you choose. As well as the immaculate ride, you should feel very comfortable behind the wheel with an excellent seat height, steering wheel position and pedal set-up to make for a very good experience for the driver. Passengers are similarly looked after.Top speed: 125mph / Price guide: %u00a331,0004. Dacia BigsterRomanian manufacturer Dacia%u2019s design people have done a wonderful job over the last few years, turning value-for-money but rather drablooking cars into models that you can be proud to drive. Their smart front ends and neat headlights are just part of the story. French giant Renault, who began running Dacia 25 years ago, can take some of the credit for that. This version isn%u2019t called the Bigster for nothing %u2013 it%u2019s a big car. Longer and taller than its popular cousin the Duster, this Dacia off ers acres of interior seating and a generous boot size. Bigsters come with a petrol engine and hybrid technology alongside. Performance isn%u2019t earth-shattering, but its 0-62mph time of nine seconds is fi ne for the undoubted family work it will get. Top speed: 112mph / Price guide: %u00a327,0005. Ford Puma Gen-EFord has had a head start with this electric car %u2013 its petrol-powered sisters were among the best-selling and most popular models in the UK. It%u2019s the fi rst all-battery Puma ever built and is instantly recognisable by its non-grille style front. Inside is a step up from the original petrol Puma too, with a more modern dashboard dominated by a large infotainment and control screen. It%u2019s a fun car to drive with plenty of boost from standing, a 0-62mph time of under eight seconds, crisp, sure-footed handling and excellent brakes. They%u2019re helped by a regenerative braking system which stops the car without having to use the pedal. There%u2019s plenty of technology available too, with items such as 360-degree parking cameras, an infotainment centre, wireless phone charging and a 10-speaker sound system.Top speed: 99mph / Price guide: %u00a332,0006. Hyundai Ioniq 9The South Korean car maker already builds the superb Santa Fe family wagon, capable of carrying up to seven people, but that%u2019s a hybrid not Cars shown in numerical order from left to rightPhonebox Motoringwith Tom Johnston