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Here is every new or updated model eligible for the Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Electric Luxury Car Under $150K 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 is a go!
Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Electric Luxury Car Under $150K
Electric cars are the future of motoring, and while this year has revealed tailpipe-emissions-free models might not take over overnight, EVs will still no doubt grow their market share in the coming years.
To that end, there is no other segment on the forefront of what electric vehicle (EV) technologies will look like more than in the Electric Luxury Car Under $150K, as electric powertrains currently attract a price premium that push them – sometimes – substantially over their petrol or diesel counterparts.
To put it another way, this category looks at the best of tomorrow, today.
With a focus on style and status without any compromise, last year's winner was the BMW iX, which encapsulated the key attributes of the Best Electric Luxury Car Under $150K category best.
Defending its title this year, the iX will have to fight against exciting newcomers from all corners of the globe.
Stepping up to the plate this year is not only one but two Polestar models, namely the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4.
The Polestar 3 is a large luxury SUV, designed to compete directly against last year's winner, as well as the likes of the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.
As a more in-vogue body style compared to the Polestar 2, the Polestar 3 might find a larger audience, but most likely it will be the mid-sized Polestar 4 that becomes the brand's new best seller.
The right size and shape for many small families to dip their toes into the electric car space, the Polestar 4 does have its quirks – such as a lack of rear windshield – but the balance of efficiency, performance, price, and its premium positioning means it has a real shot at taking out the title this year.
Outside of Polestar, the Porsche's new Macan has also gone all-electric, and as the brand's best-selling model, has a real chance of substantial cut-through and significant customer uptake.
Porsche buyers being less sensitive to price increases means most existing Macan buyers are willing and able to shell out the near $130,000-plus for a Macan EV, and, of course, any model from the Stuttgart brand means sporty performance mixed with upmarket appointments.
American luxury manufacturer, Cadillac makes its return to Australia, but in place of the large petrol-powered cars from its iconic past, the new Cadillac Lyriq promises high-performance, high-luxury comfort, with a stand-out styling edge.
But the biggest change to the Australian car market is the influx of a number of new brands from China, with Zeekr, owned by Geely who also controls Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus, aiming to take the fight to the established premium players.
Despite Zeekr's aspirations, its second model, the 009 electric people mover, is loaded to the brim with all the latest equipment and technology you would want out of a car, as well as accommodating up to seven passengers in comfort.
However, it still remains to be seen if it can trump the field in key attributes such as status and upmarket appeal.
Finally, the Mercedes-Benz EQV is also in the mix, though it remains to be seen if the van-based model will make it to market before the Drive Car of the Year 2025 cut-off.
Which cars are eligible for this category?
Drive’s rules require that, for a car to be eligible, it must:
To be eligible to complete in the Best Luxury Electric Car Under $150K, the contenders need to meet strict criteria.
Of course, the recommended retail price (RRP) before on-road costs of under $150,000 and an all-electric powertrain is a given, even if the former edges over the threshold after factoring drive-away additions.
All potential winners also need to be all new to the Australian market, or significantly updated, and be available for on-road evaluation before the December 31, 2024 deadline.
| Contenders | 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. |
| BMW iX (defending) Cadillac Lyriq Mercedes-Benz EQV Polestar 3 Polestar 4 Porsche Macan Zeekr 009 | None |
The winner of the 2025 Drive Car of the Year – Best Luxury Electric Vehicle Under $150K will be announced in February 2025.
Before then, we will announce the finalists, all of which deliver the ultimate blend of style and status without compromise.
However, it is important to note that the winner still needs to represent good value for a customer, meaning its blend of equipment, performance, and on-road appeal still needs to be fairly priced amongst its rivals.
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Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
