Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Small SUV Under $50K finalists announced – UPDATE
A rush of new and updated models sees the affordable Small SUV category grow yet again. Here are the finalists for the Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Small SUV Under $50K category.
Drive Car of the Year 2025
Now in its 20th year, the annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer’s most-trusted advisor.
At Drive, we test drive more than 200 new cars every year, evaluating each against its innate promise to sort the best from the rest. We divide the 400-plus new passenger cars, SUVs, 4WDs and utes into 19 price-banded categories focused on the end-user. Then we analyse the strengths and weaknesses of every car to find the cream of the automotive crop.
Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Small SUV Under $50K
UPDATE, 17 December 2024 – FINALISTS CONFIRMED
The starting line-up has been announced, with Drive Car of the Year judges nominating the finalists that will battle it out for the title of Best Small SUV Under $50K in this year’s awards.
From an eligible field of 11 vehicles, covering a variety of price points and powertrain types these three stood out as highlights in a competitive segment.
The Hyundai Kona returns for the 2025 awards to defend its 2024 title. Last year the Kona range was crowned Best Small SUV Under $50K thanks to its comprehensive standard equipment, spacious interior despite compact external dimensions, and its available hybrid powertrain.
As the defending entrant in this segment, the Kona faces stiff competition, but even still Hyundai hasn’t rested – rolling out improved driver-assist features to make the Kona a more user-friendly vehicle in the urban environments it's likely to be found in.
At the more premium end of the segment, the compact Lexus LBX slides in under the price limit for the class, and brings with it a polished and premium presentation that Lexus is so well known for.
It's compact on the outside for easy manoeuvring on tight city streets, but with a generous list of standard features.
Lexus has ensured its refinement and smoothness have been translated into its smallest model yet. Of course, the hybrid powertrain ensures the LBX minimises its impact on both the environment and the hip pocket.
In its previous generation, the MG ZS was a star for its low purchase price, but the all-new model isn’t just cost-effective, it’s also well equipped and up to date. There’s a frugal hybrid engine and a long list of standard safety features in this model.
MG’s focus on value extends beyond just purchase price too, with a 10-year warranty and affordable capped-price servicing ensuring the value for money ethos carries on beyond the initial purchase.
The Drive Car of the Year Best Small SUV Under $50K will be announced on 24 February 2025.
The below was published on 14 November 2024:
From city centres to rural towns, small SUVs are as omnipresent on Australian roads as the more identifiably Aussie ideal of a dual-cab ute.
As something of a bridging category, the small SUV fills the needs of a number of buyers. From retirees looking for easy access, to first-time buyers looking for something frugal to run. Of course growing families (or those after a second car), young couples with active lives, and just about every buyer profile in between can probably make use of a good small SUV.
As broad as that sounds, the $50,000 price cap on this segment means that value is key. Going small isn't code for going cheap. A car must offer strong levels of safety, and expected mod-cons, while still being comfortable and versatile.
With a higher price bracketed Best Small SUV Under $80K class above this one, the focus here is very much aimed at budget brands and entry level models from established marques.
Last year the 2024 Hyundai Kona Hybrid took the prize. Its eye-catching style gets attention, but the more important aspects like interior spaciousness, comprehensive safety and driver-assist technologies, and a generous list of standard equipment elevated it above its competition.
This year it returns to defend its title, but wades into a class with a significant number of compelling challengers.
At the more price-sensitive end of the market, the updated GWM Haval Jolion and MG ZS show that spending less doesn't automatically mean getting less in your new car. Similarly Chery offers an electric model for the first time with the Omoda E5, and it's matched by the electric version of the Hyundai Kona which wasn't on sale in time for last year's award.
Other well-known competitors are also under consideration including the facelifted Honda HR-V, Peugeot 2008, Renault Arkana, Skoda Kamiq, and Volkswagen T-Cross. Toyota also has a new-generation C-HR ready to roll.
Lexus too, with its first small SUV, wades into this class with the LBX Luxury, which provides an interesting premium angle on the class. While it would have faced off against the Mini Countryman C Core (the cheapest variant in its range) Mini Australia was unable to provide a vehicle for testing in time to compete.
FAQs
Which cars are eligible for this category?
- Be all-new or significantly updated.
- Be on sale with customer deliveries commenced by 31 December 2024.
- Retail examples be made available for Drive to road test before that cut-off date.
- Pricing cut-offs exclude discounts and limited-time offers.
Drive’s rules require that, for a car to be eligible, it must:
| Eligible | Not here in time |
| – Cars that are all-new or significantly updated since they last contested Drive Car of the Year. – New categories are open to all cars that fit category requirements. – Last year’s winner is an automatic inclusion. | – These cars meet category requirements, but are not due to arrive in time for Drive Car of the Year 2025 judging. |
| Chery Omoda E5 GWM Haval Jolion Honda HR-V Hyundai Kona (defending) – finalist MG ZS – finalist Lexus LBX – finalist Peugeot 2008 Renault Arkana Skoda Kamiq Toyota C-HR Volkswagen T-Cross | Not here in time: Mini Countryman C Core (not provided by Mini for assessment) Nissan Qashqai Renault Captur |
What are the next steps?
The winner of the 2025 Drive Car of the Year – Best Small SUV Under $50K will be announced in February 2025.
Before then, we will announce the finalists, all of which deliver flexibility and practicality for a value-oriented buyer.
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