The gathering pace of electrification means that 2025 will be another big year for the automotive industry, with many manufacturers developing new EV models.

That’s despite EV sales falling in many European countries (but not the UK, which is now the largest new EV market in Europe), and new car sales to private buyers in the UK falling below levels seen in 2020.

Tariffs on Chinese-built EVs sold in the European Union could also mean the UK will see more EVs from brands based in China being launched.

With new non-hybrid cars currently set to be banned in the UK from 2035 (this is likely to revert back to 2030), it’s not surprising to see that most new car models being released are electric. But manufacturers are also taking note of the growing popularity of hybrid models and are working on new models that feature hybridisation to varying extents.

Read on for our pick of the cars to watch out for this year.

Don’t want to wait? Discover the cars that aced our lab tests in our guide to the best cars for 2025

XPeng G6

Fuel type: Electric
Release date: March 2025

Launched in 2014, XPeng is a relatively new brand from China that focuses on EVs. The G6 is its first UK model and is a direct rival to the Tesla Model Y, which has also been updated for 2025.

However, it’s expected that the G6 will undercut the Tesla Model Y by several thousand pounds and it’s able to charge at higher speeds. All XPeng cars will come with a seven year/100,000 mile warranty – among the longest of any manufacturer.

It’s being sold in the UK by the same company that imports Subaru and Ora cars.

We’re looking forward to lab-testing the G6 this year, but in the meantime take a look at our guide to the best electric SUVs to see which models it has to beat.

Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida

Fuel type: Petrol hybrid
Release date: Summer 2025

The Italian brand released its first EV, the Junior, in 2024. Originally due to be called the Milano, Alfa Romeo was forced to re-name it because of an intervention by the Italian government who weren’t happy an Italian city name was going to be used on a car being built in Poland.

The new Junior Ibrida will use the same hybrid engine we’ve seen in the Vauxhall Corsa Hybrid and is the latest stage of Alfa Romeo’s long rebirth process. It’s the second mass-market model the brand has released under Stellantis ownership (after the Tonale) and features plenty of interior controls we’ve seen in other Stellantis models.

Our full Alfa Romeo Tonale review tells you all you need to know about the Junior’s bigger cousin.

Renault 4 E-Tech

Fuel type: Electric
Release date: Summer 2025

Renault has just launched its hotly-anticipated 5 E-Tech city car, but it’s also planning to launch the 4 E-Tech (a larger EV) this year. Like the 5, it’s based on an iconic Renault model of the past and like the previous Renault 4 (which was last available new in the UK in 1992) it has more of a utility feel than many new cars.

It features a slightly raised ride height (like other small cars such as the Honda Jazz Crosstar) and can also be specified with a folding fabric roof. As with Renault’s other EV models, it should also be priced competitively against its rivals, such as the Megane and Scenic E-Tech.

Read our best small electric cars guide to see which models the 4 E-Tech has to beat.

Fiat Grande Panda

Fuel type: Electric/petrol hybrid
Release date: Early 2025

Fiat finally took the ancient third-generation Panda off sale in the UK in 2024, and it’s being replaced by the Grande Panda. This boxy small car has plenty of retro touches and references the original Panda and the Fiat Uno.

It will be available with either a petrol hybrid engine or as a full EV and uses much of the technology seen in Citroen’s new C3 and e-C3 model ranges. Like the 600 range Fiat released last year, it has a tough task of increasing car sales for the brand in the UK, which have fallen considerably in the last 10 years.

Find out how the previous-generation model performed in our road and lab tests in our Fiat Panda (2012-2024) review.

Ora 07

Fuel type: Electric
Release date: Early 2025

Ora made a good start in the UK with its characterful 03 (formerly the Funky Cat). This year, it’s set to release its second model: the 07.

The 07 is a small saloon car that’s expected to rival the BYD Seal and Tesla Model 3 as a lower-priced EV saloon.

It will be available in three distinct versions, with all claimed to travel more than 300 miles on a single charge. A 4×4 version is also available.

The 07 also marks the start of a re-brand for Ora as it takes on the name of its parent company, GWM. We’re expecting more models and sub-brands from the GWM stable to enter the UK market. Its luxury Wey brand is already available in certain markets in mainland Europe, while the Haval Jolion Pro (a hybrid SUV) should also make an appearance in the UK this year.

Discover how the Ora’s first UK model fared in our full Ora 03 (2023-) review.

DS N°8

Fuel type: Electric
Release date: Summer 2025

Like Alfa Romeo and Fiat, DS is another Stellantis brand that has experienced mixed fortunes in recent years. DS is looking to change that in 2025 with a new naming system for its models and the N°8 – a distinctive electric coupe-SUV. It will sit at the top of the range along with the slow-selling DS 9 E-Tense.

The N°8 has a claimed range of up to 466 miles, which is among the longest of any EV that’s currently available and no doubt helped by its aerodynamic design and large 97.2kWh battery. It also has vehicle-to-load technology, which allows the car’s battery to power external electrical devices.

See how the brand’s other models fared in our tough lab tests by browsing all our DS reviews.

Dacia Bigster

Fuel type: Petrol mild hybrid/petrol hybrid
Release date: January 2025

Perhaps unsurprisingly given its name, the Dacia Bigster is the brand’s largest model. It’s a mid-sized family SUV that, like all other Dacia models, is available for significantly less money than its rivals, starting at £24,995.

The Bigster is set to feature more safety kit as standard than other Dacia models, such as adaptive cruise control and an enhanced autonomous emergency braking system, which should put it in a better position in Euro NCAP tests.

Its chunky styling isn’t just for show as a four-wheel drive version will also be available.

Our guide to the best hybrid SUVs shows you the models the Bigster will go up against.

Suzuki e Vitara

Fuel type: Electric
Release date: Summer 2025

Suzuki was one of a handful of brands (including Land Rover and Seat) to not have an EV in its range last year. That’s set to change in 2025 with the e Vitara. It’s built on an entirely new platform and will be available with two different battery sizes (49kWh and 61kWh), along with a four-wheel drive version.

It was developed in partnership with Toyota as part of the same agreement that saw Suzuki re-badge the Corolla Touring Sports and RAV4 PHEV. Toyota calls its version of the e Vitara the Urban Cruiser.

See how the petrol version fared in our lab tests by reading our full Suzuki Vitara (2015-) review.

Jaguar GT

Fuel type: Electric
Release date: Late 2025/early 2026

Jaguar got people talking in late 2024 when it unveiled the Type 00 concept car after design details were leaked, along with its radical new logo and marketing campaign.

While the 00 is a concept car and will never go into production, its styling is similar to GT, which will be the brand’s first new model under its new direction. It’s a large electric saloon car that will rival the Porsche Taycan and Lotus Eletre as a performance, long-range electric saloon.

It represents a second bite of the cherry for Jaguar and its large EV saloon, after it cancelled its planned XJ EV in 2021 as it was no longer thought to fit with the brand’s future.

Our pick of the best large cars shows you the models the Jaguar GT will be looking to beat.

Expert opinion: 2025 will see a raft of new brands in the UK

Dino Buratti, Which? cars expert

As it stands, 28% of cars sold by brands in the UK in 2025 must be EVs, which has no doubt forced brands like Suzuki, Fiat and DS to increase their EV ranges to get closer to this target.

And with new brands like XPeng and Haval entering the UK market in 2025, there will be even more competition for traditional manufacturers such as Ford and Vauxhall, whose sales both fell by more than 20% in 2024 when compared to 2023’s figures.

Other brands with long-heralded ambitions to sell cars in the UK, such as China’s Nio and Aiways, may also finally enter the UK market in 2025. In fact, there could be more than a dozen new car brands in the UK this year.

With Chinese brands facing tariffs on their EVs in the European Union, they may want to take advantage of the UK’s decision not to impose tariffs on Chinese-made EVs. Whether they’re successful (like BYD and Omoda) or less so (like Fisker and Skywell), remains to be seen.

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