By Deji Osas
Electric and hybrid vehicles dominated this year’s World Car of the Year Awards in New York, with two electric models from Hyundai Motor Group earning top honors.
That’s a big win for Kia and a clear signal that EVs are continuing to dominate the global stage. The Kia EV3 taking World Car of the Year 2025, even before it’s available in the U.S., says a lot about how far Korean automakers have come in design, tech, and performance. Plus, with two Hyundai Motor Group vehicles winning big, they’re clearly on a roll.
Some quick takeaways from the awards:
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Kia EV3 is compact, but packs a serious punch with a solid range (up to 605 km) and respectable power (204 hp).
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The fact that it’s not even sold in the U.S. yet and still beat out heavy hitters like the BMW X3 says a lot about its global appeal.
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Kia also won in 2024 with the EV9, so this back-to-back win is cementing their EV credibility.
Want a rundown of the other category winners too (like Electric Vehicle, Luxury Car, Design, etc.)?
