The Kia EV3 has bagged the 2025 World Car of the Year (WCOTY) award, which was announced at the New York International Auto Show on April 16, 2025. The other two finalists in the race were the BMW X3 and the Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric. After the Kia Telluride (2020 WCOTY winner) and EV9 (2024 WCOTY winner), the EV3 is the third vehicle from the South Korean manufacturer to receive the top honour.
- Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric won the EV of the year title
- Volvo EX90 got the 2025 luxury car award
Vehicles eligible for the WCOTY award had to be produced in volumes of at least 10,000 units per year, priced below the luxury-car level in their primary markets and be on sale in at least two major car markets (China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America and the US) on at least two separate continents within the period January 1, 2024, and March 30, 2025. World Car Awards also announced winners in six other categories:
2025 World Urban Car of the Year
BYD Seagull
Other contenders: Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric, Mini Cooper Electric
2025 World Luxury Car of the Year
Volvo EX90
Other contenders: Porsche Macan, Porsche Panamera
2025 World Performance Car of the Year
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
Other contenders: BMW M5, Porsche Taycan Turbo GT
2025 World Electric Vehicle of the Year
Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric
Other contenders: Kia EV3, Porsche Macan Electric
2025 World Car Design of the Year
Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Other contenders: Kia EV3, Toyota Land Cruiser / Land Cruiser 250
2025 World Car Person of the Year
Stella Li, executive VP, BYD
Other contenders: Ralph Gilles (Stellantis), Simon Humphries (Toyota)
2025 World Car Awards jury
For 2025, the World Car Awards jury consisted of 96 distinguished automotive journalists from 30 countries. Among them were Hormazd Sorabjee, editor of Autocar India, and Renuka Kirpalani, consulting editor (video) at Autocar India.
Also see:
2025 World Car of the Year top three finalists announced
Hyundai Santa Fe wins Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year 2025 award