World Car of The Year 2025 – Kia EV3 emerges on top; Volvo EX90, Porsche 911 Carrera GTS win awards

World Car of The Year 2025 – Kia EV3 emerges on top; Volvo EX90, Porsche 911 Carrera GTS win awards

The Kia EV3 has been crowned the 2025 World Car of The Year, beating two other finalists – the BMW X3 and the Hyundai Inster to the top spot.

Unveiled in May 2024, the Kia EV3 emerged as the Korean brand’s compact electric SUV joining the EV5, EV6 and EV9 to take on the likes of the Volvo EX30, itself a WCoTY finalist in 2024. This is the second win in two years for Kia, which also won WCoTY in 2024 with the EV9.

At 4,300 mm long, 1,850 mm wide, 1,560 mm tall with a 2,680 mm wheelbase, the Kia EV3 is larger than the Volvo EX30 but smaller than the Zeekr X and BYD Atto 3.

Packing a 400-volt electrical architecture as used in the EV5, rather than the 800-volt architecture in the EV6 and EV9, the EV3 gets an 81.4 kWh battery that can be recharged from 10-80% in around 31 minutes. On a full charge, the EV3 with this battery does up to 605 km of range; a Standard Range version with a smaller 58.3 kWh battery is capable of 436 km of range.

Other categories for the 2025 World Car of The Year awards saw the Volvo EX90 awarded 2025 World Luxury Car of The Year, with the Porsche Macan and Porsche Panamera as category finalists; meanwhile, the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS won 2025 World Performance Car of The Year with the BMW M5 and Porsche Taycan Turbo as category finalists.

The Hyundai Inster won the 2025 World Electric Car of The Year award with the Kia EV3 and Porsche Macan as category finalists, while the 2025 World Urban Car of the Year award went to the BYD Seagull, with the Hyundai Inster and MINI Cooper Electric as category finalists. Rounding up with the 2025 World Car Design of The Year award was the Volkswagen ID Buzz, with the Kia EV3 and Toyota Land Cruiser as category finalists.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Kusoking on Apr 17, 2025 at 2:27 pm

    Hopefully the Kia ev3 long range version could come to Malaysia soon.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Sabri on Apr 17, 2025 at 3:15 pm

    Surprise surprise no china car

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 5
  • Mat Rambutan on Apr 17, 2025 at 3:51 pm

    None of these winners would survive a Malaysian pothole. Should have been the Land Cruiser.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Car newbie on Apr 17, 2025 at 4:24 pm

    Hope when it comes to MY, rwd/awd is available, along with Kia Connect

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Mohammad Que Qushairy on Apr 17, 2025 at 5:19 pm

    Bila Bermaz Auto nak bawa masuk Kia EV3, carnival Facelift, Sorento Facelift,Seltos Baru ke, tolong bagi pencerahan…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Mohammad Que Qushairy on Apr 17, 2025 at 6:11 pm

    Kan bagus kalau Hyundai Malaysia bawak masuk Inster baru tu,Creta baru ke atau Santa Fe yang petak tu, Hyundai please bawa masuk Elantra Facelift dan Sonata baru

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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