Ireland’s new car market is undergoing a quiet revolution, buoyed by consumer confidence, generous incentives, and a strong pipeline of innovation. 2025 has seen continued growth in new registrations, with buyers benefiting from a competitive environment and a flood of new entrants shaking up traditional brand loyalties.
A key trend is the arrival of new manufacturers, particularly those from China and other Asian markets, offering well-equipped vehicles at compelling prices. These disruptors are forcing established players to reassess pricing and technology offerings, ultimately benefiting the Irish consumer with more choice and better value.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are also gaining serious traction. Thanks to government grants, a growing public charging infrastructure, and heightened environmental awareness, EVs now account for a steadily rising percentage of new registrations.
Overall, the outlook for Irish car buyers is positive. Whether upgrading to an EV, trying out a fresh manufacturer, or capitalising on trade-in incentives, consumers are in a strong position.
In this 252 edition of Drive – New Car Buyer’s Guide we highlight the best of the new and updated models on offer.
As ever, we’ve done our best to ensure that prices are correct at time of press but check with your local dealer for any updated pricing or special offers.
Declan Quigley
DRIVE Magazine Editor
PUBLISHING INFORMATION
PUBLISHER: Colm Burns. EDITOR: Declan Quigley. PHOTO EDITOR: Georgie Francis. CONTRIBUTORS: Anthony Conlon, Martin McCarthy, Simon Ives. PRODUCTION MANAGER: Andrew Greeley. PROOF READING: Olif Karrington. PRINTING: Johnswood Press. DISTRIBUTION: Newspread & EM News Distribution.
The entire contents of the Drive 252 New Car Buyer’s Guide are copyright 2025 SilverCloud Media, and may not be reproduced in part or full without the permission of the publisher SilverCloud Media