The World Car Awards have been presented at the New York Auto Show and electric vehicles dominated the winners list. Top honors went to the Kia EV9, which not only won the title as World Electric Vehicle but World Car of the Year as well.
The latter win isn’t terribly surprising as the EV9 has been warmly received by journalists and the model was competing against the BYD Seal / Atto 4 and Volvo EX30. However, it’s still a big win for Kia and should help to raise the profile of the three-row electric crossover that starts at $54,900.
Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song said, “This triumph is a testament to our unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology and design excellence. The Kia EV9’s continued success will drive us to keep delivering exceptional vehicles that redefine the driving experience for customers around the world.”
The wins didn’t stop there for the Hyundai Motor Group as the Ioniq 5 N was named World Performance Car. This will likely prove controversial as the model beat the BMW M2 and XM.
That being said, the Ioniq 5 N is the hottest Hyundai yet as it has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing up to 641 hp (478 kW / 650 PS). This enables the model to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.25 seconds, before hitting an electronically limited top speed of 162 mph (261 km/h).
Sticking with EVs, the Volvo EX30 was named World Urban Car after finishing ahead of the BYD Dolphin and Lexus LBX. The model starts at $34,950 and promises “big electric performance in a small package.”
The company isn’t kidding about the latter as the Twin-Motor Performance variant has a combined output of 422 hp (315 kW / 428 PS). This enables the crossover to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in a mere 3.4 seconds.
Moving on, the BMW i5 / 5-Series beat the Mercedes E-Class and EQE SUV to be named World Luxury Car. The redesigned sedan starts at $57,900 in the United States and has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine developing 255 hp (190 kW / 258 PS).
The i5, on the other hand, is fully electric and begins at $66,800. The entry-level i5 eDrive40 has a 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS) electric motor and an 81.2 kWh battery pack that provides up to 295 miles (475 km) of range.
Lastly, the Toyota Prius won World Car Design of the Year by beating the Ford Bronco and Ferrari Purosangue. This is a testament to the car’s bold new look, which is far sportier and elegant than previous iterations.
