6 Cars I Didn't Expect To Love In 2024 – CarBuzz

As a car reviewer, I typically attempt to approach each new car with a completely open mind. This usually proves impossible though, as public perception (both positive and negative) can often tilt my initial impressions in one direction or the other before I get to experience a car for myself. In many cases, my pre-drive opinion doesn’t change much after spending time in the vehicle, but in other cases, my final thoughts are completely different.

After driving and evaluating more than one hundred vehicles this year, there are a few that completely blew away my initial perceptions in a positive way. I never thought these cars would be terrible, but before driving them, I didn’t think they’d leave such a big impression. These cars all share very little in common, aside from most of them being crossovers, and all make the cut for different reasons. This list is mostly done in no particular order, though my last choice at number one stands out as my most surprising.

6 2025 Mini Countryman

I wasn’t expecting to love the 2025 Mini Countryman as much as I did. The previous generation of Countryman was fun enough to drive for a crossover, but it always felt too expensive, too small, and too behind on technology to justify the price tag. Mini took a long look at why it was losing customers and crafted the third generation to help retain them. It’s the largest Mini ever, giving customers more space to grow their families without leaving the brand.

The interior feels far more premium than before, and the technology is far more impressive. I love the new circular display, which offers several drive modes that change the theme of the menus and gauge cluster. Mini also incorporated an adorable dog named Spike, who pops up every time you use the voice command. He’s adorable, and his color even changes with the drive modes.

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The Countryman S with 241 horsepower should be plenty for most buyers, but there is also a 312-hp John Cooper Works model that spices up the driving experience. If you can live with an admittedly lackluster 212-mile range, the electric Countryman SE is my favorite variant, producing 308 hp with acceleration comparable to the JCW. For the first time in a long time, I would recommend a Mini to a wide audience.

5 2025 Cadillac CT5-V

The Blackwing may grab all the headlines with its 668-hp supercharged V8 and available manual transmission, but the regular 2025 Cadillac CT5-V impressed me more than you’d think. It’s far more affordable than the Blackwing, starting at $56,995 versus $95,595, and it still comes with the same well-balanced GM Alpha platform that enthusiasts love. The twin-turbo V6 engine sounds throaty, and it produces a healthy 360 hp plus a substantial 410 lb-ft of torque. You can even get it with RWD or AWD, depending on what type of climate you live in.

The 2025 CT5 gets a huge technology upgrade inside with a 33-inch LED screen powered by built-in Google technology, plus luxury features like massage seats. The 10-speed automatic transmission rips off quick shifts and works brilliantly in traffic. I’d personally rush out to buy this car if it offered a manual like the Blackwing, but buyers who are OK with only two pedals will love it.

4 2024 Lexus RX 450h+

I’ve fallen out of love with plug-in hybrids. I used to believe they were a perfect stopgap to convince electric vehicle naysayers, but I’ve since changed that opinion, instead hypothesizing that they are the worst of ICE and EV rolled into one package. Though I still believe PHEVs are only useful for homeowners who can charge every night, there are a few examples I like. Of every PHEV I drove this year, the 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ impressed me the most.

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Toyota and Lexus have been dominating the hybrid space for years now, so it should come as no surprise that the RX PHEV is so good. However, I didn’t love the outgoing fourth-generation RX. It was slow, uninspiring to drive, and simply not that luxurious inside. This new fifth-generation model is a dynamic breath of fresh air, and the 450h+ might be the best of the bunch. The 18.1 kWh battery enables a competitive 37-mile electric driving range, and when the four-cylinder engine does eventually kick on, it’s not too loud or intrusive like many competitors. 304 combined hp makes the 450h+ the second-quickest RX behind only the 500h F-Sport Performance, but it’s smoother and more efficient than that variant. If I had to recommend a PHEV, this one would be at the top of my list.

3 2025 Ford Explorer

The 2025 Ford Explorer proved to me that you do not need to spend nearly six figures to get a luxury family SUV. You can spend half that amount ($52,150 for the Explorer Platinum). I took a road trip from Florida to North Carolina in the top trim Explorer Platinum, and no Acura or Infiniti, no BMW or Mercedes at this price point would have been nearly as comfortable. The Explorer Platinum includes diamond quilted leather seats that massage you, keeping you comfortable on a long drive. And unlike almost every other massage seat, these don’t shut off after a few minutes. A 14-speaker B&O audio system makes sure you and your family are properly entertained during the journey. Combine that experience with Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise technology, and long highway stints become far more relaxing than most other vehicles, even ones that cost over $100,000.

The base four-cylinder EcoBoost with 300 hp will be fine for most customers, but the Platinum can be equipped with a twin-turbo V6 EcoBoost that produces 400 hp. That’s more than you’ll get from a six-cylinder MDX, QX60, X5, or GLE. Oh, you can even get the Explorer with RWD if you don’t need AWD (and want to do some burnouts with the family). Although I prefer the Platinum, there’s a sporty ST model for parents who want more show with their go, and an ST-Line if you just want the appearance of speed. This is one of my favorite family vehicles, proving you don’t need to spend a ton to get luxury, speed, and space. That’s why it won the 2024 CarBuzz Family Car of the Year award.

2 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

“EVs are too expensive and they don’t fit my lifestyle.” That’s a phrase I hear all too commonly these days. Most of the desirable EVs are out of reach for working families, and the affordable ones are either too small, lacking in range, or both. But here comes the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV, a car that looks to be the answer to this problem. Chevy broke its promise, at least initially, to deliver this car with a sub-$35,000 price tag. The 2024 model year was cut short, and the base model was never shipped, but the 2025 Equinox EV will indeed be available for just $34,995 (before tax credits). With federal incentives, you should be able to get a capable EV for just $27,495, not even including any state or local credits.

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The Equinox EV may not be the most exciting EV on the planet, but it does everything most people need from a crossover. It’s spacious, looks sporty enough, and comes with a lot of standard features. It has 220 hp in the FWD variant – more than you get from most ICE crossovers at this price point – and it can go 319 miles on a charge, which is plenty for daily use. Buyers who need AWD get 300 hp and can still go 285 miles on a charge. The Equinox EV arrives at a bad time, when the federal tax credits may be on the chopping block, but even without them, it’s still the most compelling affordable EV on the market.

1 2024 Lincoln Nautilus

Far and away, the most surprising car I drove this year was… the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. And yes, this is a car built in China. Preconceived notions about its country of origin aside, this is, by a big margin, the most premium vehicle Lincoln has built in my lifetime. The new Lexus RX is a fine luxury SUV, but the Nautilus makes that car’s interior look boring and dated by comparison. The Black Label trim has two gorgeous interior themes – Chalet (white) and Redwood (burgundy) – both of which include 24-way Perfect Position Seats with excellent massage (and it doesn’t deactivate, just like the Explorer). Oh, and it comes with the same hands-free BlueCruise that you get from Ford.

I was blown away by the Nautilus’ fit and finish, which is leagues better than any previous Lincoln I’ve driven. The materials are top-notch, and the technology is even more impressive. I thought the standard 48-inch panoramic display would be distracting, but most of the core functions are easily accessible on the 11-inch lower touchscreen. There could be more widgets on the screen, but Lincoln is already working to improve the functionality of the upcoming Navigator. Those changes should trickle back to the Nautilus via an over-the-air update. That massive screen is tied to a powerful 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system that sounds fantastic. I’m not overly impressed by the 250-hp turbo-four gas or 300-hp hybrid options under the hood, but they are perfectly adequate for this type of vehicle. If this car previews the future of all Lincoln vehicles, I can be excited about this brand.