The World Car Awards has announced the finalists for each of its six categories for 2025, revealing a mix of EVs and internal combustion engine-powered vehicles. Hyundai Group and Porsche have populated most of the categories, as you’d expect, but there’s only one Japanese brand among the finalists.
Last year, only Toyota and Lexus made it to the finals, with the Toyota Prius winning the World Car Design category. This year, Toyota aims for another win in the same category.
A Blend of EV and ICE Finalists
For 2025, the Hyundai Group has two contenders for World Car of the Year: the Kia EV3, headed to America, and the Hyundai Inster, an affordable city crossover, competing against the BMW X3. Both Korean models are also vying for the World Electric Vehicle title, facing the Porsche Macan Electric. Meanwhile, two combustion-powered Porsches are up against the Volvo EX90 for the World Luxury Car award.
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Two Porsches, the new 911 Carrera GTS and the record-breaking Taycan Turbo GT, will compete with the BMW M5 in the World Performance Car category. In the World Urban Car race, the BYD Seagull, the only Chinese entry, will challenge the Inster and Mini Cooper Electric.
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2025 World Car Awards Finalists |
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World Car of the Year |
BMW X3 |
Hyundai Inster/Casper Electric |
Kia EV3 |
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World Electric Vehicle |
Hyundai Inster/Casper Electric |
Kia EV3 |
Porsche Macan Electric |
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World Luxury Car |
Porsche Macan |
Porsche Panamera |
Volvo EX90 |
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World Performance Car |
BMW M5 |
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS |
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT |
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World Urban Car |
BYD Seagull/Dolphin Mini |
Hyundai Inster/Casper Electric |
Mini Cooper Electric |
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World Car Design |
Kia EV3 |
Toyota Land Cruiser/Land Cruiser 250 |
Volkswagen ID. Buzz |
The Winners Will Be Revealed Next Month
The sole Japanese finalist, the Toyota Land Cruiser (or Land Cruiser 250/Prado outside the US), will compete for the World Car Design title alongside the Kia EV3 and VW ID. Buzz. These three were selected by a panel of five design experts: Anja Bracht, Gert Hildebrand, Tom Matano, Victor Nacif, and Shiro Nakamura.
The selection process involved 96 renowned automotive journalists from 30 countries, who voted in a secret ballot with results tallied by KPMG. Journalists assessed eligible vehicles based on their professional reviews over the past year. The winners will be revealed on April 16 at the 2025 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), celebrating a 20-year partnership between the World Car Awards and the returning event.
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Why No American Cars Made the Cut
The lack of American cars among the World Car Awards finalists comes down to a few key reasons. As the automotive world shifts towards EVs and new tech, American automakers have been a bit slower in catching up with the global scene.
While Tesla is a big player in the EV game, traditional U.S. brands are still playing catch-up when it comes to offering a wide range of modern, globally appealing models. Meanwhile, European and Asian automakers have been quicker to adapt to the latest design trends and sustainability goals, which gives them an edge with the panel of experts when choosing the finalists.
