And The Winners Are: Western Automotive Journalists Best of the Bay 2025

Fourteen vehicles, but only five trophies. There have to be winners, but I can honestly say there were no losers at Western Automotive Journalists Best of the Bay 2025 this week in beautiful (but rainy) Petaluma, California last week.

There were five categories, three based on price tiers, one for best tech, and finally, the best overall vehicle, with all 14 entrants in contention. Every vehicle had at least one vote for best in a category, and a tie-breaking vote was required to arrive at Best Overall. We also had a tie for runner-up in the Best Vehicle Under $75,000 category (more on that in a moment).

BEST VEHICLE UNDER $50,000

• Acura ADX A-Spec (top left): $45,950 as tested

• Alfa Romeo Tonale (top right): $48,130 as tested

• Kia Sportage Hybrid (bottom left): $41,985 as tested

• Subaru Solterra Touring XT (bottom right): $48,275 as tested

Regular readers know I think highly of the ADX, which I reviewed in May. I also have a full review of the Alfa Romeo Tonale scheduled for November 12 and it's another great sporty compact SUV.

The winner of the Best of the Bay 2025 award for Best Vehicle Under $50,000? The 2026 Subaru Solterra Touring XT.

The Solterra is all new for 2026, and a massive improvement over the original we sampled during what was then known as WAJ Media Days three years ago.

“With the new electric motors, increased power, comfortable ride, and other improvements, the Solterra feels like a bargain at $48,000,” said one juror. 

Also from juror comments: “Subaru has substantially upped its EV game with the Solterra. Everything from the dual, wireless phone chargers to the snazzy steering wheel make this the best bargain in the bunch.”

Runner-up in the under $50,000 category was the 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid:

At $41,985 as tested, the 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid was the least-expensive vehicle entered in Best of the Bay. But it didn't feel like an economy car. Tastefully appointed, loaded with feature content and economical to boot---with an EPA combined city/highway fuel economy estimate of 35 miles per gallon.

From WAJ member notes: “Kia continues to amaze.  Solid platform, beautiful interior. Very close to perfect.”

BEST VEHICLE UNDER $75,000

• Genesis GV60 (top left): $74,020 as tested

• Genesis GV70 (top right): $72,225 as tested

• Honda Passport TrailSport (middle left): $53,900

• Jeep Wagoneer S (middle right): $71,790

• Kia EV6 GT (bottom left): $58,900

• Toyota 4Runner Limited (bottom right): $62,785

Every single one of these vehicles made a strong case for being the best in the category. I've sung the praises of the 2026 Genesis GV70 as recently as this summer.

And just this week, my review of the new Toyota 4Runner gave it high marks for doing the hardest thing possible in the automotive business: Updating a legend and getting it right.

But the winner of the Best of the Bay 2025 Best Vehicle Under $75,000 goes to the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S.

Six hundred horsepower, 617 lb-ft of torque and 300 miles of range per charge is a compelling combination, and that's what the Jeep Wagoneer S, in Limited 4XE trim, delivers.

The comments section of our ballots were filled with raves:

“Outstanding road manners. Powerful powertrain. Quick, solid, quiet, and handsome. Great sound system. Excellent value.” 

Added another voter, “The Wagoneer S gets a big WOW due to its size, style, and range of nearly 300 miles.”

The under $75,000 category was so competitive that there were three runners-up.

(exterior photo credit: Maurice Liang)

The 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport is a remarkable vehicle, especially at its as-tested price of $53,900. Our judges:

“Handsome styling, outstanding comfort, roominess, and perfect ergonomics. Rugged off-road capability with excellent on road discipline. Sweet free revving V6 engine.”

You can read my full review of the 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport here.

Next in our three-way runner-up list, the 2026 Genesis GV60:

(photo credit: Maurice Liang)

The GV60 gets a mild refresh this year, with revised headlamps and bumpers, a new steering wheel and a bigger display screen. From juror comments:

“The GV60 is one of those rare cars that where everything just feels right.”

And finally, closing out our three-way runner-up list for Best Vehicle Under $75,000, the 2025 Kia EV6 GT:

(exterior photo credit: Maurice Liang)

Six hundred and one horsepower, with a day-glow green button that puts you in "GT Mode" with 641 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. What's not to like? Our judges:

"The Kia EV6 GT boosts performance without taking away any of the value it delivers as a sharp-looking, highly functional EV.”

BEST VEHICLE OVER $75,000

• 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Four-Door (top left): $80,455

• 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 (top right): $77,040

• 2025 Lexus LX 700h Ultra Luxury (bottom left): $141,350

• 2026 Lucid Air Touring (bottom right): $102,100

The 2025 Lexus LX 700h Ultra Luxury was the most expensive vehicle entered in Best of the Bay 2025, with an as-tested price almost $100,000 above the least expensive vehicle (the Kia Sportage Hybrid). It's a stunner---a hybrid challenger to Range Rover. You can read my full review here.

The Lucid Air Touring was a returning champion, having (in lower Pure trim) won both Best EV and Best Overall at Best of the Bay 2024. The Air Touring is a brilliant car, and you can read my review from last week here.

The Air Touring was a last-minute substitution---the Lucid Gravity SUV was entered, but damaged 72 hours before it was due to arrive for the event. Our thanks to the folks at Lucid for sending the Air Touring in its place.

The winner of the Best of the Bay Best Vehicle over $75,000 goes to the 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Four-Door.

A body like that with 670 horsepower is bound to set hearts racing. My note in the ballot:

"If this car had been the first electric vehicle sold in America, we'd all be driving EVs by now."

Another judge:

“They’ve made the Charger look, feel, and sound as much like an old school muscle car as possible --while making it non-polluting, faster, smoother, and better handling.” 

Runner-up in the over $75,000 category is the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9:

(photo credit: Maurice Liang)

From the ballot notes:

“As the EV complement to the new Hyundai Palisade, it conveys luxury at a price well below what one might expect.  It's smooth, quiet, and the interior space is remarkable.”  Said another judge, simply, “Way ahead of the curve! Outstanding!”

You can read my full review of the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 here.

BEST TECHNOLOGY

This year, the judges chose synthetic sounds for EVs. Two of our competing vehicles featured that tech. The 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Four-Door has Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust:

And the Kia EV6 GT has Active Sound Design:

The WAJ judges sounded off about the sounds:

“I thought synthesized sounds would be too gimmicky, but the way Dodge and Kia/Hyundai have implemented them really add to the entertainment value of their vehicles,” said one judge.  Said another, “aside from the fun-factor, they do provide audio feedback during sporty driving about what the drivetrain is doing. I wouldn't use it a lot, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.” 

And now---14 vehicles, one winner. Getting there required breaking a five-way tie

between the Genesis GV70, the Hyundai IONIQ 9, The Jeep Wagoneer S, The Lucid Air Touring and the Subaru Solterra.

We accomplished that by going back to members who voted for any of the other nine vehicles and asking them to vote from among that list of five.

And the winner is...

WAJ BEST OF THE BAY 2025 BEST OVERALL VEHICLE

The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S.

Give Stellantis (parent company of Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler and RAM) credit for saying yes when someone suggested a 600-horsepower electric SUV. It's a stunner to look at, a hot rod equally at home with leisurely cruising, a luxury vehicle, a family vehicle and (equipped with the Comfort Package), a high-end stereo on wheels, with the 19-speaker McIntosh MX920 audio system.

It takes a lot to create a winner in the automotive world. You have to balance practicality, innovation and emotion. In the opinion of this year's WAJ Best of the Bay participants, the Jeep Wagoneer S gets that balance just right.