As the New York Auto Show opened for business today, the winners of the 2024 World Car Awards were announced. Topping the billing was the Kia EV9, taking the coveted 2024 World Car of the Year title. It beat the other two finalists - the BYD Seal and the Volvo EX30 - to the prize. The big electric SUV was also confirmed as 2024 World Electric Vehicle ahead of the BMW i5 and again the Volvo EX30.
Volvo didn't leave empty-handed, however, as its EX30 electric car was crowned 2024 World Urban Car, beating the BYD Dolphin and Lexus LBX. "Winning this award with the EX30 is incredibly gratifying and a firm validation of our ambitious electrification strategy," says Jim Rowan, Volvo's chief executive. "Customer response to the EX30 has exceeded our expectations, and it has proven to be a perfect car for today's marketplace as a growing number of car buyers switch to fully electric cars. I'm convinced the EX30 will strongly contribute to our growth this year and beyond."
Three more category winners
Although the BMW i5 didn't impress the World Car Awards jury enough to take the top electric prize, the 5 Series was named the 2024 World Luxury Car - ahead of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and EQE SUV.
The curvy Toyota Prius competed with the Ferrari Purosangue and Ford Bronco to be awarded the title of 2024 World Car Design of the Year, while the final prize - 2024 World Performance Car - went to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N despite the competition of two high-performance BMWs - the XM and M2.
"We are thrilled and honoured to receive the prestigious World Performance Car award for our Ioniq 5 N," said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. "This recognition is a testament to Hyundai's commitment to pushing the boundaries of electric performance and innovation. It is truly gratifying to see our efforts rewarded once again at the globally renowned World Car Awards. We are proud to continue our winning streak and solidify Hyundai's position as a leader in the global automotive industry."
Our involvement and reviews of the winners
The international World Car Awards jury is made up of 100 motoring journalists, representing 29 countries. As part of their daily working life, they drive and assess hundreds of cars every year and are therefore in a strong position to vote on the best cars in a variety of attributes. CompleteCar.ie's editor, Shane O' Donoghue is a jury member. Read our reviews of the winning cars at the following links:
Kia EV9 reviews
Volvo EX30 reviews
BMW 5 Series reviews
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review
Toyota Prius reviews