Swiss car of the year 2025: the 10 contenders for victory

In recent weeks, readers of the Ringier media in Switzerland (including "Blick", "SonntagsBlick", "Schweizer Illustrierte", "L'illustré" and "La Domenica") and users of Carmarket.ch had the opportunity to vote for their "Favorite Swiss Car of the Year" 2025 as part of the "Swiss Car of the Year" 2025 poll. They were allowed to give their points to three models from a selection of 44 new products of the year. In the last four years, Skoda - pictured here is the winning Kodiaq, the public's favorite in 2024 - has always come out on top in this public vote. It remains to be seen who Switzerland's largest car jury will choose as the successor: There was plenty to choose from.

Incidentally, this was also the case for the 15-member expert jury, consisting of automotive journalists, environmental experts and racing professionals, who at the same time selected the "Swiss Car of the Year" for the 14th time, this time for 2025 from a shortlist of 36 car models. In a first selection step, the expert jury reduced the field of 36 to ten contenders for victory and put them through their paces again at the beginning of October on a specially organized test day at the TCS Training & Freizeit AG site, Zentrum Betzholz in Hinwil ZH.

The ten candidates for the title of "Swiss Car of the Year" 2025

Take a look at which of the ten finalists you would have voted for. This week on AutoSprintCH we will reveal who won the race, and then you can see whether you would have voted for the same car model:

Alfa Romeo Junior (HEV, BEV*)
The car was first unveiled under the name Milano, but a few days later the Italians had to rename it Junior.

https://www.autosprint.ch/neue-modelle/alfa-romeo-start-in-eine-neue-aera/

BMW X3 (HEV, PHEV*)
While the competition is launching almost exclusively electric models, BMW is continuing to launch the new X3 with conventional and familiar diesel and petrol engines, as well as mild and plug-in hybrid variants.
https://www.autosprint.ch/neue-modelle/bmw-x3-und-bmw-1er-zwei-topseller-in-neuem-gewand/

Citroën ë-C3 (BEV*)
With 113 hp (83 kW), a range of 326 kilometers and a top speed of 135 km/h, the 4.02-meter-long ë-C3 may not set any speed records, but the electric dwarf starts at just 24,990 francs.
https://www.autosprint.ch/neue-modelle/citroen-der-e-c3-zeigt-was-moeglich-ist/

Dacia Duster (HEV*)
The Duster is the Romanian Renault subsidiary's flagship model and has long been the most affordable all-wheel-drive vehicle on the market. However, more technology and equipment in what is now the third generation are driving prices up.
https://www.autosprint.ch/neue-modelle/dacia-bewaehrtes-wird-aktualisiert/

Kia EV3 (BEV*)
The South Koreans are shrinking their EV9 and EV6 supercars into the EV3. The new compact crossover replaces the Kia Soul, has an angular design like its bigger brothers and surprises with ranges of up to 600 kilometers.
https://www.autosprint.ch/neue-modelle/kia-extravaganz-fuer-die-durchschnittsfamilie/

MG 4 XPower (BEV*)
MG has also been available in Switzerland since the summer. The models from the British-Chinese brand impress with their excellent price-performance ratio. This includes the brand's currently most powerful electric vehicle, the MG 4 XPower. Two electric motors not only provide 435 hp (320 kW) and a range of 385 kilometers, but also 4×4, starting at 39,490 Swiss francs.

Polestar 4 (BEV*)
The most striking visual feature of the Polestar 4 SUV coupé, which is available from 62,900 Swiss francs, is its lack of a rear window. Cool for the design, but takes some getting used to in everyday life - despite the live image on the digital interior mirror.
https://www.autosprint.ch/neue-modelle/polestar-4-schwedische-raumkapsel/

Porsche Macan (BEV*)
Since its market launch ten years ago, the Macan has been the best-selling Porsche in Switzerland. Now it is only available in all-electric mode.
https://www.autosprint.ch/neue-modelle/porsche-ein-meisterwerk-der-elektromobilitaet/

Renault 5 E-Tech Electric (BEV*)
This is how Renault sees the future: electric and modern, with references to design tradition. The top-of-the-range R5 model is available with a 52-kWh battery, 150 hp (110 kW) and a range of 410 kilometers from 32,500 francs. The base model will follow in spring from 24,990 francs.
https://www.autosprint.ch/neue-modelle/renault-5-e-tech-electric-der-kleine-freund-ist-jetzt-cooler-denn-je/

Volvo EX30 (BEV*)
Volvo packs its smallest model, the electric EX30, in typical Scandinavian design. Despite being only 4.23 meters long, it offers an astonishing amount of power.
https://www.autosprint.ch/aktuell/volvo-der-ex30-ist-bestes-stadtauto-2024/

* HEV = hybrid vehicle, PHEV = plug-in hybrid vehicle, BEV = electric vehicle