EVs dominate World Car of the Year finalists list

Organisers for the World Car of the Year awards have confirmed this year’s finalists across a series of categories, several of which have been swept by dedicated plug-ins.

Most notably, electric vehicles have locked out the outright World Car of the Year finalist list, which is made up of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6.

The Ioniq 5 arrived in New Zealand last year to much critical praise, with the model being crowned New Zealand Car of the Year earlier this year.

The EV6 lands in local showrooms later this year, while Ford’s local arm has said that the Mustang Mach-E’s Kiwi introduction is a case of when, not if.

EVs also swept the World Car Design of the Year finalist group, with the Audi e-tron GT, Ioniq 5, and EV6 all nominated.

Curiously, the World Electric Vehicle of the Year finalist trio differs from the list of potential outright winners, despite each class being exclusively EV. It is made up of the Mercedes-Benz EQS, Ioniq 5, and e-tron GT.

The e-tron GT has the most award nods of any car, having also been nominated for the World Performance Car of the Year prize alongside the petrol-fuelled BMW M3/M4 and Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ.

EVs also feature in the last two categories; World Luxury Car and World Urban Car of the year.

The BMW IX and EQS have been nominated for the former along with the Genesis GV70. The Opel Mokka, meanwhile, is the sole EV nominated for the latter, alongside the Volkswagen Taigun (sold locally as the T-Cross) and the Toyota Yaris Cross.

World Car of the Year organisers will announce its winners on April 13 at the New York Auto Show.