As the New York Auto Show opened for business today, the winners of the 2025 World Car Awards were announced. Topping the billing was the Kia EV3, taking the coveted 2025 World Car of the Year title. It beat the other two finalists - the BMW X3 and the Hyundai Inster - to the prize.
“It is an immense honour for everyone at Kia that the EV3 has been awarded the 2025 World Car of the Year title. This award highlights Kia's global leadership in providing design-led, technologically advanced, sustainable mobility solutions and how the EV3's class-leading attributes redefine the user experience for customers worldwide,” said Ho Sung Song, President and CEO at Kia.
Hyundai didn't leave empty-handed, however, as its Inster electric car was crowned 2025 World Electric Vehicle, beating the Kia EV3 and electric Porsche Macan. “The Hyundai Inster has been a winner with customers since we introduced it. It's very gratifying that the experts on the prestigious World Car Awards jury feel the same way. The combination of compelling design, range, enjoyable driving characteristics, intuitive infotainment and technology that customers appreciate is emblematic of Hyundai's approach of delivering exceptional value to our customers. The fact that our global portfolio is successful both commercially and critically speaks to the hard-working people throughout the Hyundai value chain who are delivering some of the best vehicles on the road today. Thank you to all the jurors for your service to this great industry,” said José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company.
Were there other category winners?
The electric Volvo EX90 was named 2025 World Luxury Car, ahead of two cars from Porsche - the electric Macan and the Panamera.
The retro-cool Volkswagen ID. Buzz beat the Kia EV3 and Toyota Land Cruiser to be awarded the title of 2025 World Car Design of the Year, while the 2025 World Performance Car prize went to the hybrid-powered Porsche 911 Carrera GTS despite the competition of its sibling the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and the BMW M5.
“Performance has been in the DNA of the 911 since it was first introduced in 1963,” said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG. “With each of the eight generations since then, our aim has been to set the bar higher. The 911 Carrera GTS with the innovative, lightweight T-Hybrid system is the latest advancement in that quest. We are thrilled that the World Car jury could experience the power and performance of the car first-hand and are very grateful for the recognition.”
Finally, the 2025 World Urban Car is the BYD Dolphin Surf (it's called the Seagull or Dolphin Mini in some markets), a small EV coming to Ireland this year. It went up against the Hyundai Inster and MINI Cooper Electric in this category.
Does CompleteCar.ie have anything to do with it?
CompleteCar.ie's editor, Shane O' Donoghue is a jury member. The international World Car Awards jury is made up of 100 motoring journalists, representing 29 countries. As part of their daily working life, they drive and assess hundreds of cars every year and are therefore in a strong position to vote on the best cars in a variety of attributes. Read our reviews of the shortlisted cars at the following links:
BMW M5 reviews
BMW X3 reviews
Hyundai Inster reviews
Kia EV3 reviews
MINI reviews
Porsche 911 reviews
Porsche Macan reviews
Porsche Panamera reviews
Porsche Taycan reviews
Toyota Land Cruiser reviews
Volkswagen ID. Buzz reviews
Volvo EX90 reviews