After months of preparation, deliberation, and testing, Japan’s top motoring journalists have chosen their car of the year. After whittling it down to ten finalists, the jury have spoken.
The Japan Car of the Year is none other than the third-generation Honda Freed, and it’s all the more reason why we’d love to have it here. All the other finalists that the Freed had to face were all hugely competent, but it’s the little Honda MPV that rose to the top.
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So, what other cars did the Freed go up against? Some of the finalists consisted of the Suzuki Fronx, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Mazda CX-80, Mitsubishi Triton, and Lexus LBX. There were also strong contenders that didn’t carry a Japanese badge, namely the Mini Cooper, Volvo EX30, BYD Seal, and Top Gear Philippines’ Car of the Year, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
The Honda Freed won thanks to its packaging, practicality, and market relevance. And while small MPVs are popular in Japan, the Japan Car of the Year judges lauded the Honda for having a ‘distinctive character’ and its fun to drive nature. The panel also praised its e:HEV hybrid powertrain, as well as its design.
Finishing in second place in this edition of Japan Car of the Year is the Mazda CX-80. It put up a good fight against the Freed but was ultimately edged out. In third was the Mini Cooper and because it was the top ranking non-Japanese car of the competition, it was chosen as Japan Import Car of the Year 2024–2025.
Mazda didn’t come home empty handed though, as it won a special award for its rotary range extender powertrain, the e-Skyactiv R-EV, used in the MX-30. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi won design of the year with its all-new Triton.
Winning Japan Car of the Year 2024–2025 is a big boost for Honda as it’s been a while since the company won that title. The last time it won was 14 years ago with the CR-Z. On top of winning the title this year, Honda also got an award for technology of the year with the hydrogen-powered CR-V e:FCEV.
