And this year’s World Car of the Year is…

• The ceremony was the first event at this year’s New Auto Show.

• EVs are gaining on ICE-powered entries.

• The Hyundai group won 4 out of 6 awards in 2023.

For its nineteenth edition of the World Car of the Year Awards, the association of automotive journalists from various markets around the world was reunited at the New York Auto Show to reveal the winners of this year’s WCOTY prizes. And the EVs were looking strong in 2023 with a lot of finalists.

Indeed, no less than five winners unveiled at the New York Auto Show are powered solely by electrons. Let’s look at this year’s WCOTY choices.

World Car Design: Hyundai Ioniq 6

Nowadays, a vehicle’s design is almost as important as its powertrain or its environmental footprint. Automakers do not hesitate to launch extraordinary vehicles to catch the eye of consumers. The new Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric sedan is the one that finished on top of the podium ahead of the stunning Lucid Air and the more classic, but still relevant Land Rover Range Rover. With its curvy silhouette, the Korean electric sedan leaves no one indifferent. Will consumers be as enthusiastic as the jury? That’s what we’ll find out in the coming months.

World Urban Car: Citroën C3

In the urban segment, it’s a car that’s absent from the North American market that takes home the honors. In fact, the other two finalists in the category are also reserved to other markets. The ORA Funky Cat / Haomao and the Volkswagen Taigo/Nivus are sold respectively in China and elsewhere in the world (Europe, South America, etc.). With the fashion of SUVs in North America, this niche is almost non-existent in North America.

World Luxury Car: Lucid Air

Lucid Motors has a fascinating history. An unknown brand just a few years ago, Lucid is now known not only for its quality of workmanship, but also for its staggering performance. In fact, the American sedan finished ahead of the big boys in 2023, with the BMW 7 Series / i7 and the Genesis G90 as other ultra-luxury finalists.

World Performance Car: Kia EV6 GT

With the new Nissan Z and the incredible Toyota GR Corolla, the odds of a winning combustion-powered car were good, but finally, it’s the Kia EV6 GT that receives the performance car prize this year. With a pair of engines delivering 576 horsepower and 546 ft-lb of torque, the sportiest Kia EV6 is not a slow care despite its substantial weight.

World Electric Vehicle: Hyundai Ioniq 6

Here too, the Korean giant scores big points with its new electric sedan. The Ioniq 5’s rounder sister beat out the Lucid Air and the BMW i7. Let’s bet that its lower entry price was a factor in this result, as the other two electric sedans are aimed at a more upscale audience.

World Car of the Year: Hyundai Ioniq 6

As if that wasn’t enough, Hyundai’s new electric car managed to beat two electrified crossovers in this year’s vote. Indeed, the BMW X1 (also available with an electric engine in Europe in the form of the iX1) and the Kia Niro (still available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric form) did not convince the members of the WCOTY (World Car of the Year). The Ioniq 6 did.