40 cars compete for 2025 Irish Car of the Year title

The countdown is on as Ireland's motoring enthusiasts eagerly await the announcement of the 2025 Irish Car of the Year and Irish Van of the Year. Will the trend of electric vehicles continue, or will a hybrid or traditional petrol / diesel model steal the crown this year?

A total of 40 new car models are in contention for the prestigious 2025 Irish Car of the Year title, proudly sponsored by Continental Tyres. The winners will be revealed at a gala event hosted at The Conrad Hotel, Dublin, on Friday, November 15th, marking one of the most anticipated nights in Ireland’s motoring calendar.

The Irish Car of the Year awards are judged by members of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI), a respected group of 29 of Ireland's leading motoring journalists. These awards aim to guide Irish motorists by highlighting the best cars launched in the country over the past year, with a keen focus on what suits the specific needs and preferences of the Irish market.

Daragh Keany, Chairman of the MMAI, spoke about the resilience of the car industry:

“The past few years have presented major challenges for car manufacturers, from the Covid-19 pandemic to the global semiconductor shortage. These issues significantly impacted the production and release of new cars. However, the fact that we have 40 exciting models competing for this year’s awards—eight more than last year—shows that the industry is not just surviving but thriving. The MMAI jurors are eager to begin the voting process, and with such a strong field, we’re going to have our work cut out for us."

Commenting on the awards, Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres added:

“We’re thrilled to continue our sponsorship of the Irish Car of the Year awards, recognising the standout cars launched in Ireland each year. It’s been interesting to watch how electric vehicles (EVs) have dominated the awards recently. In fact, for the last four years, the overall winner has been an EV. While 17 of the 40 entrants this year are fully electric models, it’s by no means a guarantee that an EV will take the title again in 2025.”

The dominance of EVs was highlighted again in last year’s awards when the Hyundai Ioniq 6 claimed the 2024 Irish Car of the Year title. Whether an electric model can continue this winning streak remains to be seen, with the outcome to be revealed on November 15th.

This year’s diverse field includes a mix of electric vehicles, hybrids, and traditional petrol and diesel models, offering a broad range of options for Irish motorists.