For 2025 Best of the Bay, Northern California’s top automotive journalists gathered in Petaluma, California, to drive and review 14 vehicles in a fast paced, real world environment, voting for the best vehicles across 5 different categories. Driving conditions ranged from urban streets to winding roads through wine country. Each vehicle received a 40 minute evaluation before journalists moved on to the next one.
Categories voted upon included:
- Best of the Bay: Best Overall
- Best of the Bay: Best Technology
- Best of the Bay: Over $75,000
- Best of the Bay: Under $75,000
- Best of the Bay: Under $50,000
Vehicles entered into the event:
- 2025 Acura ADX A-Spec Advance AWD
- 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce AWD
- 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona SCAT PACK Track Package
- 2026 Genesis GV60 Performance AWD
- 2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD
- 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite
- 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 AWD Calligraphy Design
- 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited 4XE
- 2025 Kia EV6 GT AWD
- 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid AWD
- 2025 Lexus LX 700h Ultra Luxury
- 2026 Lucid Air Touring Sedan
- 2026 Subaru Solterra EV Touring XT
- 2025 Toyota 4Runner 4WD Limited
These 14 vehicles represent distinct visions of what driving should become, exploring both their standout characteristics and advanced technology. Whether that’s electrified muscle, luxury, or hybrid capability wrapped in off-road armor, each model tells a story worth understanding, creating unique positions within their respective segments.
Table of Contents
2025 Acura ADX A-Spec Advance AWD
Acura took a gamble with the ADX. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder produces just 190 horsepower. Not exactly thrilling on paper. Yet, the A-Spec Advance trim makes its case through refinement rather than raw power.
The 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system transforms the cabin into a concert hall, with sound quality rivaling systems in vehicles costing twice as much.
Acura packed luxury into a compact crossover without crossing into six-figure territory. Leather-trimmed seats with accents, ventilated front seating, and a panoramic moonroof establish premium street cred…