Kia EV3 named New Zealand Car of the Year

The Kia EV3 has been named the 2025 New Zealand Car of the Year, becoming the sixth fully electric vehicle to win the country’s top motoring award in the past seven years.

The compact SUV is also the first model from Kia to secure the national title.

The award is presented annually by the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild.

Kia New Zealand managing director Todd McDonald says the recognition reflects the company’s focus on low-emission mobility.

“This award is recognition of the amazing work Kia and its team all around the world are doing to shape the future of sustainable personal mobility, at the same time helping to make the planet a better place through innovative, clean and thought-provoking transport solutions,” McDonald says.

Motoring Writers’ Guild president Matthew Hansen says the EV3’s New Zealand award follows strong international recognition.

“The New Zealand trophy follows on from the EV3 winning World Car of the Year honours for 2025,” Hansen says.

“But our award is the most relevant for New Zealanders, as an assessment of the EV3 from motoring writers from all across the country, who have assessed the vehicle on our local conditions.”

Hansen says the EV3 impressed judges across multiple areas.

“To win a Car of the Year crown, a vehicle must impress the Guild’s motoring experts for multiple reasons. In the case of the EV3, those reasons include its striking exterior design, a spacious and well-finished interior, leading edge technology, polished on-road manners, top safety rating, excellent range, and rapid charging capability.”

The EV3 builds on Kia’s growing electric vehicle line-up, which includes the EV9 large electric SUV that was a finalist for the 2024 New Zealand Car of the Year award.

The EV3 beat nine other finalists to secure the 2025 title: the Audi A5, Cadillac Lyriq, Geely Starray EM-I, Mercedes-Benz G 580, MG QS, Mini Aceman, Nissan Ariya, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

The New Zealand Car of the Year award is open to new passenger vehicles launched in the previous 12 months. Eligible vehicles must be tested by more than two-thirds of the Guild’s voting members on public roads around the country.

Judges evaluate finalists across a range of criteria including performance, ride and handling, safety, interior quality, design, technology, environmental responsibility and overall value for money.