Characteristic potential of nanofluids compared to conventional fluids (i.e. water, ethylene glycol, and oils) reported by numerous researchers has extended the concept of their use in multifarious systems. Idiosyncratic thermal and hydrodynamic behavior of nanofluids makes them best candidate to be used in automotive thermal management. This article provides comprehensive review of applied research conducted on the potential evaluation of nanofluids in automotive cooling systems. All the key parameters that chiefly influence the nanofluid's performance in a cooling system have been identified along with logical discussion in the current study. Nanofluid assisted thermal management of automotive has been proved to be lucrative, however, ephemeral sustainability of nanofluids poses the major challenge. Set back of thermally effective nanofluids is their trivial suspension period. To alleviate the complication of sustainability of high thermal conductive nanofluids, scientists developed a new class of nanofluids called hybrid nanofluids. Hybrid nanofluids contain two kinds of nanoparticles – one having high thermal conductivity and the other having high sustainability – resulting in a comparatively stable and thermally effective nanofluid. Hybrid nanofluids have merely been tested in an automotive cooling system. This study has also discussed the potential of hybrid nanofluids if employed for automotive thermal management.