Edmunds: 5 game-changing vehicles you'll want to know about

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If you’re thinking about buying a new car but don’t need one right away, now is a great time to show a little patience

If you’re thinking about buying a new car but don’t need one right away, now is a great time to show a little patience. Generally, waiting until the fall of winter can create an opportunity to purchase an all-new or significantly updated vehicle. The 2025 model year is jam-packed with big updates for some of the most popular vehicles. To give you an inside scoop on what’s coming down the pike in the next few months, the automotive experts at Edmunds have picked five vehicles that promise to be well worth the wait.

Cadillac’s Optiq SUV will be a new option for electric SUV shoppers who might have otherwise considered an Audi Q4 e-tron, Genesis GV60 or Tesla Model Y. A follow-up to the larger Lyriq luxury SUV, the smaller, less expensive Optiq targets the mainstream in a big way. Considering the standard all-wheel drive, 300 horsepower and estimated 300 miles of range, it should be compelling. Another reason to be excited is that Cadillac’s hands-free Super Cruise driving feature is standard equipment. Edmunds has found Super Cruise to be beneficial in making driving in heavy traffic less fatiguing.

Estimated on-sale date: Late 2024

Starting price: $54,390, including destination

Mazda’s CX-50 is Edmunds top-ranked small SUV. It boasts a classy interior, sporty handling and a decent off-road capability. For 2025, the CX-50 will add hybrid fuel efficiency to the mix as well. The new hybrid version will borrow its powertrain from the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. While there is not an official EPA figure yet, Mazda estimates it will get 38 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That’s 10 mpg better than the CX-50’s