World Car Awards 2024: Kia EV9 Wins Car of the Year, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Bags Performance Car Award

World Car Awards 2024: The Kia EV9 has won the 2024 World Car Of The Year (WCOTY) title, edging out the BYD Seal and the Volvo EX30. Over 100 motoring journalists from 29 nations tested 38 candidates, and the top honour was bestowed upon the all-electric SUV from Kia. Among the top 10 finalists, three pure electric vehicles were selected to fight it out for the WCOTY title at the final countdown, held at the New York International Auto Show. Interestingly, the Kia EV9 also claimed the 2024 World Electric Vehicle Award. First showcased at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, the EV9 is Kia's flagship electric vehicle based on the E-GMP (electric global modular platform), which also underpins the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6.

The Kia EV9 is offered with three powertrain options: the entry-level RWD variant with a 76.1kWh battery, the mid-spec RWD Long Range variant, and the top-spec AWD with a 99.8kWh battery pack. Being comfortable and tech-loaded, it is an electric vehicle substitute for the premium Kia Telluride SUV offered globally. The international-spec model is available in both 6- and 7-seat configurations. Expect the India-spec model to come with multiple seating options. Kia will use the completely built-up unit (CBU) route to deliver the EV9 to our shores.

The 2024 World Urban Car Award went to the Volvo EX30, which beat out the BYD Dolphin and the Lexus LBX. The EX30 is Volvo's entry-level EV built on Geely's SEA platform that also underpins the Polestar 4. In the international market, the all-electric SUV comes with three powertrain options and two battery sizes: the base-spec RWD with a low-cost 51kWh LFP battery, the Single Motor Extended Range variant with a larger 69kWh NMC battery, and the top-spec Twin Motor Performance version with a 69kWh battery. However, the third finalist for the WCOTY title, the BYD Seal, went home without any awards. Launched recently in our market, the Seal sedan gets two battery options (a smaller 61.44kWh and a larger 82.5kWh battery pack) and comes in two configurations (RWD and AWD). It is priced between Rs 41 lakh and Rs 53 lakh (ex-showroom, India). 

2024 World Car Awards: Other Winners by Category

Thanks to the 5 Series/ i5, BMW scored a win in the 2024 World Luxury Car category. The other finalists were the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. Notably, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N won the 2024 World Performance Car title, going up against the BMW M2 and the BMW XM. Finally, in the 2024 World Car Design of the Year category, the Toyota Prius took the victory, winning against the Ford Bronco and the Ferrari Purosangue. 

2024 WCOTY: Jury

Prior to the announcement of the winners in all six categories, the 'Top Three in the World' were announced at the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) on February 26. A jury of more than 100 eminent automotive journalists, including Dhruv Behl, Editor, autoX, decided on this year's finalists and winners. They selected the winners by secret ballot based on their evaluation of each eligible vehicle as part of their professional work.

2024 WCOTY: Eligibility Criteria

Like before, all the finalists for the 2024 WCOTY were judged on specific criteria. According to World Car Awards, the vehicles eligible for the World Car of the Year must be produced in volumes of at least 10,000 units/year, must be priced below the luxury-car level in their primary markets, and must be "on-sale" in at least two major markets (China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, USA) on at least two separate continents within the period January 1, 2022, and March 30, 2023.

Last year, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 was named the year's best car at the 2023 WCOTY awards, winning first place in three categories – the World Electric Vehicle of the Year, the Best Overall Car of the Year, and the Best Design of 2023.