- Finalists for the World Car Awards were announced ahead of the New York Auto Show.
- Germany and Japan led the pack, dominating the list with over a dozen contenders.
- The Mustang was the sole American finalist, competing in two major award categories.
The 2025 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year will be announced tomorrow at the Detroit Auto Show, but attention is already turning to the World Car Awards. They’ll be presented at the New York Auto Show on April 16. While that’s a ways off, this year’s finalists have been revealed and American automakers have largely been shut out.
The biggest honor is World Car of the Year and that title will be given to one of the ten finalists. They include the Audi A5 / S5, BMW X3, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric, and Kia EV3. They’ll battle the Mini Cooper Electric, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Camry, Toyota Land Cruiser / Land Cruiser 250, and Volkswagen Tiguan / Tayron.
More: ICE-Powered Models Dominate List Of 2025 NACTOY Finalists
That’s a pretty diverse field, which includes a mix of luxury and electric vehicles as well as an American muscle car. It’s hard to know which one will come out on top, but you might want to keep your eye on the Mustang and EV3.
Speaking of EVs, the finalists for World Electric Vehicle are the Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric, Kia EV3, Porsche Macan Electric, Volkswagen ID. Buzz, and Volvo EX90. A handful of those models are also up for World Luxury Car as contenders include the Volkswagen ID. Buzz and Volvo EX90 as well as the Lexus GX, Porsche Macan, and Porsche Panamera.
One of the more eye-catching categories is World Performance Car. This year’s finalists include the BMW M5 and Ford Mustang as well as the Bentley Continental GT Speed, Porsche 911 Carrera GTS, and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is World Urban Car and most of the finalists aren’t even sold in the United States. While we get the Mini Cooper, the BYD Seagull / Dolphin Mini, Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric, Mini Cooper Electric, and Suzuki Swift are forbidden fruit.
Last but not least is World Car Design of the Year and the finalists are somewhat puzzling. While it’s easy to understand why the Kia EV3 and Volkswagen ID. Buzz made the cut, is the Mini Cooper’s continual evolution all that noteworthy? Probably not.
We also wouldn’t be surprised if people had mixed feelings about the Toyota Land Cruiser and Baojun Yunduo / Cloud / MG Windsor EV. Both are somewhat interesting, but are they really the crème of the crop? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.
