The Hyundai Santa Fe has been adjudged the World’s Best Car for 2025 by the 82-strong, all-women panel of journalists who announced the Women's Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) awards. The panel of judges decided to make the announcement so that it coincides with the week in which International Women’s Day is celebrated.

1. Mini Cooper and Kia EV3 win in Urban Car and Compact SUV categories
2. Porsche Panamera wins the best Performance Car award
3. Toyota Land Cruiser emerges on top in the 4x4 category

2025 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year winners list

6 cars shortlisted from 81 contenders

The 82 journalists from 55 countries around the world, including Autocar India’s Renuka Kirpalani, are said to have tested each of the 81 contenders and then voted for the best in each of the six categories. In the subsequent round, the finalists vied for the Best Car title, and the voting is said to have been very close.

“Choosing the world’s best car is a task of great responsibility. It must take into account the particularities of each market, the type of driving done, purchasing power, orography, consumer preferences... The winning car has to meet all these needs, satisfying drivers around the world,” said Marta Garcia, executive president of WWCOTY.

The Hyundai Santa Fe bagged the Best Car award and also won in the Large SUV category for its innovative design and hybrid engines, among other reasons. The table below has the list of winners in each category:

Here’s what Autocar India’s Renuka Kirpalani had to say about the Santa Fe winning the 2025 award: “There is lots to like in the new Santa Fe. It looks quite different from everything else Hyundai makes, and it has a spacious and comfortable cabin. There’s loads of boot space, and it is feature-packed, too. With AWD and hybrid variants, the Santa Fe is quite versatile.”

Hyundai Santa Fe India details

While there is no word on the new Santa Fe coming to India, the Korean brand is looking at bringing the Ioniq 5 facelift to our market this year, the next-gen Venue by early next year, and the third-gen Creta by 2027. In fact, Hyundai is planning three more made-in-India EVs, having recently launched the Creta Electric here.