On March 8, International Women’s Day, the 2021 World Car of the Year was voted by a majority of 50 women motoring journalists from 38 countries on five continents. The journalists of the Women's World Car of the Year have crowned the Land Rover Defender as the 2021 Women’s World Car of the Year. To reach this result, the jurors, including Autocar India’s Renuka Kirpalani (executive editor, the Autocar Show), tested dozens of models and evaluated each. Nine vehicles had reached the final, each of them winners in their category, and all of them worthy candidates for the highest honour.

Speaking on the winner of the award, Renuka Kirpalani said, “[The Defender is] heritage and 4x4 tradition packaged in a stylish modern avatar. The new Defender is not only a workhorse but surprisingly easy to use even in urban conditions. It comes laden with latest tech, the performance is punchy and it also has the flair of its more glamorous siblings.”

2021 Women's World Car of the year finalists: Complete list of winners

2021 Women’s World Car of the Year: Voting and selection process

The voting system of the 2021 Women's World Car of the Year was based on choosing the three best cars in each category in the first round, and taking into account models launched between January and December 2020. After a vote in which different aspects such as safety, performance, comfort, technology and value for money, were taken into account, the specialists have overwhelmingly voted to give absolute victory to the Land Rover Defender. In the second round, the jurors chose the best in each category in relation to its rivals in the same segment. The third ballot was undoubtedly the most difficult because the finalists were the winners of each segment, and all the vehicles were of excellent calibre.

The voting was verified by Grant Thornton, from its office in Auckland, New Zealand. The firm has been certifying the results of the Women's World Car of the Year since its inception in 2009. Paul Kane, a partner in the company, says it is always a hard-fought process. Women's World Car of the Year is the only car awards group in the world comprised exclusively by women motoring journalists. It was created by New Zealand motoring journalist, Sandy Myhre, in 2009. She is currently the Honorary President while Marta García performs as Executive President.