Every year, different groups of auto journalists and industry professionals come together to choose a “best of” list to recognize vehicles in various categories. One of the groups is the World Car of the Year (WCOTY) jury, which includes journalists and professionals from several countries. They recently revealed their 2024 picks at the New York auto show, and it’s clear that legacy auto brands are facing increasingly tough competition.
First, the overall winner. The 2025 Kia EV9 is the World Car of the Year, with the BYD Seal and Volvo EX30 rounding out the top three. Jurors also break vehicles into categories for rankings, and the winners include:
· Design: Toyota Prius
· Urban Car: Volvo EX30
· Performance Car: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
· Luxury Car: BMW 5 Series
· Electric Car: Kia EV9
· Overall: Kia EV9
Finalists for the awards include:
· Ford Bronco
· Hyundai Kona and Kona EV
· Hyundai Santa Fe
· Mazda CX-90
· Subaru Crosstrek
· Toyota Prius
· Volkswagen ID.7
Many of those names are familiar to Americans, but the list of candidates for awards is where things get really interesting. The WCOTY jury considered several Chinese brands this year, showing that the country’s automakers are pushing ahead at a feverish pace.
Brands that were considered from China include BYD, Dayun, Great Wall Motors, Maxus, Nio, Omoda/Chery, Seres, XPeng, and Zeekr. KG Mobility from South Korea also made the list of candidates.
To be eligible for an award, the vehicle must be produced in volumes of at least 10,000 units per year and must be priced below comparable premium options in at least two major markets. They must also be sold on at least two separate continents.
[Image: Kia]
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