Looming economic uncertainties, stubbornly high interest rates, and Trump’s tariffs on imported auto parts and automobiles might lead you to think that 2025 is the worst time ever to buy a new car.
But 3.9 million new vehicles were sold in the first few months of the year, which represented a 4% increase over 2024. And while current economic headwinds have caused Cox Automotive to reduce its full-year new vehicle sales estimates from 16.3 million to 15.6 million, that still means millions of people are heading over to their dealerships to purchase a new car or SUV.
Because the simple fact is, if you need a new car, you need a new car.
💵💰Don’t miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet’s free daily newsletter đź’°đź’µ
Buying a new vehicle seems to be an increasingly smart investment, due to the fact that used cars aren’t the steals they used to be. Their prices have also been on the rise: According to data from Edmunds, the average price of a three-year-old vehicle is now an incredible $30,522, which significantly narrows the cost differential between new and used vehicles.
Why buy new in 2025?
There are plenty of advantages to buying a new vehicle, with safety and reliability at the top of the list.
Related: The 10 most reliable car brands in 2025 according to Consumer Reports
New cars are safer
Due to advancements in safety technologies and structural designs, new cars typically have more standard safety features than used vehicles. These days, automatic emergency braking (AEB) comes standard on most new vehicles, while blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning systems are other common new-vehicle features that can often help to prevent accidents from occurring in the first place.Â
New cars are more reliable
In addition, shiny new cars come with shiny new components, lessening the chance of immediate mechanical issues. They also have the added benefit of a factory warranty, which covers repairs for a certain period—something older, pre-owned vehicles might not.
Consumer Reports’ tips on how to buy a new car in 2025
Consumer Reports (CR), the venerable product testing and consumer advocacy organization, has been in business since 1936, which means it has weathered economic ups and downs for 89 years. In fact, its entire purpose, which is to provide unbiased reviews of tens of thousands of products in order to inform consumers on product quality and safety, was shaped by the harsh economic realities of the Great Depression.
Related: The 10 best compact crossover SUVs according to Consumer Reports
Acknowledging the challenges car buyers face in 2025, CR put together a few helpful hints for consumers so they can avoid overpaying for their vehicles. They include:
Avoid buying first-year “redesigned” models, which have received plenty of media hype and, often, a steep price tag to match. Instead, CR suggests waiting another year so that the vehicles’ inflated sticker price comes down—and any “kinks” the new model experiences have been worked out, too.Price-conscious consumers should select smaller vehicles, or ones with fewer features, simply due to the fact that they have lower material and manufacturing costs. Because smaller vehicles weigh less, they also experience lower destination charges, which get passed on to the consumer. CR suggests that car buyers do their research online and find out what prices cars in their area are selling for, as well as what their MSRP is. That can help you determine a vehicle’s true value—as well as how much you’re willing to spend to get it.
What goes into Consumer Reports’ metrics?
Consumer Reports listens to the feedback it receives from its 6 million members; in fact, it takes into account which cars and SUVs consumers are searching for online when it compiles its list of “most popular” vehicles.
More on Consumer Reports:
The best gas grills under $250, ranked by Consumer Reports dataThe least expensive car brands to repair & maintain according to Consumer ReportsTop 10 electric cars that aren’t Tesla, based on Consumer Reports data
But the venerable consumer advocacy group doesn’t stop at data. It then cross references these vehicles with results from its own, extensive internal tests in order to rank its list in order of highest-rated vehicles. This helps consumers to know they’re making the smartest possible buying decision—no matter what’s going on in the world at large.
CR road-tests dozens of vehicles at its testing facility in Colchester, Connecticut, putting each car and SUV through a barrage of tests, including acceleration, braking, crash testing, emergency handling, smoothness of ride, and fuel economy, to name a few.
It then surveys its members on metrics such as reliability and overall satisfaction, combining all results together into its Overall Score.
CR notes that each of the vehicles on its list of “Most Popular New Cars and SUVs” have received high Overall Scores. And, all of these vehicles are categorized as SUVs.
However, while all of the vehicles that made its list come with standard automatic emergency braking (AEB), it notes which ones also come with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning systems.
CR’s list of the most popular new cars & SUVs of 2025
Here’s the list:
Consumer Reports praises the 2025 Subaru Forester for its roomy interior and new safety technology.
Subaru
2025 Subaru Forester
MPG: Overall 29 / Hwy 39 Price: $29,995–$43,295
The 2025 RAV4 earned high marks for its responsive steering.
Toyota
2025 Toyota RAV4
MPG: Overall 27 / Hwy 38Price: $29,250–$40,605
CR likes the 2025 Outback for its responsive handling and “thoughtful details,” like a dual-position cargo cover.
Subaru
2025 Subaru Outback
MPG: Overall 24 / Hwy 32 Price: $29,995–$44,730
Honda’s popular CR-V has ample room for cargo, according to Consumer Reports.
Honda
2025 Honda CR-V
MPG: Overall 26 / Hwy 33Price: $30,100–$50,000Â
CR praises the 2025 Crosstrek for its comfy ride.
OWS Photography, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
2025 Subaru Crosstrek
MPG: Overall 29 / Hwy 41 Price: $26,560–$33,360
Consumer Reports calls the 2025 RAV4 Hybrid “energetic.”
Toyota
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
MPG: Overall 37 / Hwy 41 Price: $28,850–$40,205
CR calls the 2025 Mazda CX-5’s handling “responsive and enjoyable.”
Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
2025 Mazda CX-5
MPG: Overall 24 / Hwy 33 Price: $28,770–$40,800
Honda’s CR-V Hybrid earned high marks from Consumer Reports.
HJUdall, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid
MPG: Overall 35 / Hwy 38 Price: $34,650–$41,100
The 2025 Toyota Highlander earns praise for its comfortable ride and roomy interior.
Toyota
2025 Toyota Highlander
MPG: Overall 22 / Hwy 33 Price: $39,820–$53,975
The 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has the best fuel economy of any three-row SUV, according to Consumer Reports.
Toyota
2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
MPG: Overall 35 / Hwy 41 Price: $39,520–$53,675
Related: 8 popular vehicles that are less reliable than you think, according to Consumer Reports
