The Hyundai Group has a strong track record of winning prestigious vehicle awards, especially in the electric vehicle category. In 2020, Kia took home multiple awards at the World Car of the Year (WCOTY) competition, including the overall title with the Telluride, World Performance Car with the EV6 GT, and World Urban Car with the Kia Soul EV. However, in 2021, the Hyundai Group did not win any awards. This changed in 2022 when the Hyundai Ioniq 5 won the World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle, and World Car Design of the Year awards. In 2023, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 also won these same titles.
In 2024, Kia made a strong comeback with the new EV9 winning both the World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle titles. Meanwhile, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N emerged victorious among performance cars to claim its own set of awards. To be eligible for entry into this competition, a car must have an annual production exceeding 10,000 units and be available in at least two major global markets while priced lower than luxury options in their region. A panel of one hundred automotive journalists from 29 countries tested 38 vehicles to determine these winners.
The EV9 beat out competitors like BYD Seal and Volvo EX30 to win this prestigious award. In fact, it outperformed other electric vehicles in its category by competing against 32 other cars and achieving exceptional results. The BMW i5 and Volvo EX30 took home honors in their respective categories: World Luxury Car and World Urban Car respectively. Meanwhile, Toyota Prius surprised many by winning