As we enter the 2025 award season, it’s evident that the automotive field is at a crossroads and changes are afoot. It’s clear that buyers want more environmentally positive choices and this has driven enormous interest in electric vehicles on the part of consumers, government, and the auto industry. Some drivers are ready to go all-in with battery electric vehicles. Others prefer to ease into electrification with a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. It’s all good because that means we’re heading in the right direction. This year’s outstanding Green Car Awards winners and finalists are a reflection of this interest and the wide range of new electrified models now available.
Honoring the best and the brightest of these vehicles, Green Car Journal has awarded six prestigious 2025 Green Car Awards™ to environmentally positive models from Chevrolet, Dodge, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and Volvo. Four award winners are powered exclusively by batteries, one is a gas-electric hybrid, and another champions plug-in hybrid power.
Green Car of the Year
Rising to the top to claim the coveted title of 2025 Green Car of the Year®, Toyota’s all-new generation Camry sedan is a stylish, highly efficient, and tech-rich evolution of Toyota’s popular mid-size sedan. The new Camry is available in front- or all-wheel drive and exclusively powered by Toyota’s fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System, which delivers up to a combined 51 mpg and a driving range of 663 miles. Finalists and recipients of the 2025 Green Car Product of Excellence award are the Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda CR-V e:FCEV, Tesla Model 3, and Volkswagen ID. Buzz.
Performance Green Car of the Year
The all-new Dodge Charger Daytona powers its way to recognition as Green Car Journal’s 2025 Performance Green Car of the Year. This brand’s first ell-electric model features an appealing muscular design, zero-emission electric drive with up to 670 horsepower, and the kind of image and muscle car performance that has long been a signature of the brand. Finalists and recipients of the 2025 Green Car Product of Excellence award are the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Porsche Macan EV, and Tesla Model 3 Performance.
Luxury Green Car of the Year
Taking 2025 Luxury Green Car of the Year honors is Volvo’s EX90, this automaker’s new electric flagship SUV. Along with its captivating design and all-electric operation, the U.S.-built EX90 features a high-tech cabin, a premium interior, three row seating, and a pair of twin-motor options delivering 402 to 510 horsepower. It features an electric driving range of 308 miles. Finalists and recipients of the 2025 Green Car Product of Excellence award are the Acura ZDX, Cadillac Optiq, Genesis Electrified GV70, and Polestar 3.
Green SUV of the Year
Honored as the 2025 Green SUV of the Year is the Chevrolet Equinox EV, a mainstream electric SUV offering a sporty design, a fun-to-drive nature, and an affordable point of entry for a great many buyers interested in going electric. It offers up to 319 miles of battery electric driving range in its standard front-wheel drive configuration. Dual motor all-wheel drive is also available. Finalists and recipients of the 2025 Green Car Product of Excellence award are the Dodge Hornet, Honda Prologue, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Kia EV9.
Family Green Car of the Year
Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV takes the magazine’s 2025 Family Green Car of the Year honor, the third time this automaker’s flagship plug-in hybrid model has been distinguished with this award. Its combination of attractive style, three row seating, Super All-Wheel Control for navigating all driving conditions, and PHEV operation make it ideal for family-friendly use as an EV around town or a hybrid on longer drives. Finalists and recipients of the 2025 Green Car Product of Excellence award are the Kia Carnival, Lexus TX 550h+, Mazda CX-90 PHEV, and Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid.
Commercial Green Car of the Year
Chevrolet BrightDrop earns the magazine’s 2025 Commercial Green Car of the Year award with its battery-powered BrightDrop 400 and 600 commercial vans. Now a Chevrolet product sold and serviced through Chevrolet’s commercial vehicle network, these electric vans aim at zero-emission delivery and feature a 159 to 272 mile electric driving range, depending on model and battery configuration. Finalists and recipients of the 2025 Green Car Product of Excellence award are the Ford E-Transit, RAM ProMaster EV, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter EV, and Rivian Delivery Van.
The Green Car Awards
Widely recognized as the most important environmental awards in the automotive field over the past 20 years, Green Car Journal’s Green Car Awards™ honor new, or nearly new, models that stand out as champions of greater efficiency and environmental achievement. Still to come: 2025 Green Truck of the Year, 2025 Urban Green Car of the Year, and additional Green Car Awards to be announced shortly.