EVs and Beyond: EV of the Year Awards 2023

Welcome once again to the EVs and Beyond EV of the Year awards. While not claiming to be the most decorated or biggest award in the industry, our awards are distinguished by the real thought and real-world experience we pour into our recommendations for electric vehicle shoppers.

Or is it just the cars I really, really liked!

This year’s selection process was both more challenging and easier than before due to the unprecedented number of excellent vehicles available. To appropriately recognise these outstanding vehicles in a highly competitive market, we expanded our award categories, catering to various needs, from the small hatchback enthusiast to the large family.

Selection Criteria

Our rules are straightforward: the vehicle must have been driven by us between January 1st and December 31st of the award year, regardless of its launch date. This is why, for instance, the Tesla Model Y is not in contention this year, though we have considered the Tesla Model 3 Highland as a new model.

Award Winners

Small Segment: MG4

The MG Four is a revelation. This small rear-wheel-drive Chinese hatchback has won over the New Zealand public, becoming the most popular electric vehicle in December 2023. Its blend of affordable pricing, solid range, and slightly sporty design makes it stand out in a market typically dominated by conservative economy vehicles. From the Excite 51 kWh model to the more premium Essence 64 kWh and the performance-oriented X-Power, each variant of the MG Four impresses in its own right.

Highly recommended: BYD Dolphin and Opel Mokka-E

The BYD Dolphin is – in some ways – the better car than the MG4, but its higher price and quirky design mean it falls a point or two behind. The Opel Mokka-E is funky, capable, but more importantly, is almost always on special, making it excellent value.

Medium Segment: BYD Seal

The BYD Seal, a latecomer to our awards, is a true standout. It’s more than just a looker with its Porsche Taycan-like appearance; it offers a premium feel far above its price tag. The build quality is top-notch, the interior luxurious, and its longer wheelbase than the Tesla Model 3 adds practicality and comfort. While efficiency could be improved, its ride and handling package is exceptionally well-suited for New Zealand roads.

Highly recommended: Tesla Model 3 Highland, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Ford Mustang Mach-E

You are spoilt for choice in this segment, and every option offers something different. The Tesla is excellent – high tech, long range, great handling – but I think it is a smidge firm for NZ. The Hyundai looks great and is a range king, while the Mach-E is a solid offering that annoys ICE Mustang owners.

Large Segment: Kia EV9

The Kia EV9 is a game-changer in the large EV segment. It’s a huge vehicle offering big range, space, and comfort. Despite a design akin to two bricks stuck together, it manages to be both stylish and efficient – in testing, our consumption remained in the low 20kWh per 100km range. The interior is premium and practical, and the driving experience is surprisingly agile for its size. While it’s pricey, it stands as a more affordable option compared to luxury European models in this space.

Highly recommended: Nothing that doesn’t fall into luxury territory this year, but next year…

Premium Segment: BMW i7

In the premium segment, the BMW i7 is in a league of its own. It combines luxury, comfort, and an exceptional driving experience. The quality of materials and build is unparalleled, making competitors like Mercedes-Benz seem a notch lower in comparison. The only catch is its hefty price tag, but you can see where the money went.

Highly recommended: Mercedes-Benz EQE

The Mercedes-Benz EQE is an interesting offering in that while it looks and drives very much in line with the large premium sedan it is, it is actually priced very modestly. Its only letdown is a few cheap-feeling interior finishes.

Commercial Segment: Ford E-Transit

The Ford E-Transit upholds Ford’s reputation for producing practical, well-driving vans. It offers solid load capacity, excellent range, and enough comfort for extended periods of driving. While a larger battery option would be a plus, it’s a popular choice in its current form, especially in the converted coach version. Ford’s expansion in the electric van market is promising for future contenders in this award category.

Highly recommended: Peugeot eExpert and ePartner; the LDV range

Both of Peugeot’s vans are solid little EVs, particularly the ePartner, which offers excellent space in a small footprint with car-like comfort. Still, we think you really should go have a look at the LDV range as well. The eDeliver 9 is competitive on price with diesel competition, while the basic eDeliver 3 feels a lot better now than it did at launch.

EVs and Beyond EV of the Year

BYD Seal

As we mentioned in its medium segment win, the BYD Seal is just an exceptional car. Still, it barely beat the MG4 to the award. Three things got it over the line – first, comfort. This car is very well set up to be comfortable on NZ roads, and the interior space is excellent for such a sporty silhouette. Second, value. Seems like a hard justification for a ‘premium’ sedan, but look closer. The gap between a mid-spec MG4 and a similarly specified entry-level Seal is around $6,000 all said and done. You get more than $6,000 extra car from that decision. Lastly, it’s just an outright appealing and convincing car. We put it in the hands of our V8 driving colleague Graeme Macdonald who occasionally appears in our videos – and the Seal immediately captivated him and his similarly sceptical West Auckland mates. He said it is the first car that could convince him to hang up his fuel card.

If that is not high praise, I’m not sure what is.