Volkswagen ID.4 wins 2021 World Car of the Year award

The all-electric Volkswagen ID.4 SUV has beaten the Toyota Yaris and the Honda e to become the winner of the 2021 World Car of the Year.

More than 93 international journalists from 28 countries make up the World Car Awards jury panel. The votes were tabulated by KPMG, and the announcement of the winners was made on digital media.

This year’s winner was chosen from an initial entry list of 24 vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of three finalists as announced on March 30, 2021. The top three for 2021 were the Honda e, the Toyota Yaris and the Volkswagen ID.4.

Vehicles eligible for the World Car of the Year award must be produced in volumes of at least 10,000 units/year, must be priced below the luxury-car level in their primary markets, and must be on-sale in at least two major markets, on at least two separate continents, between May 1, 2020 and May 1, 2021.

This is the fifth World Car of the Year win for Volkswagen AG.  The Golf VI won in 2009, the Polo won in 2010, the UP won in 2012 and the Golf again in 2013.

“We are particularly pleased about our ID.4 being named World Car of the Year. Not only because it is one of the most important car awards in the world – but because the jury also honoured a great idea and a great team,” Volkswagen Cars chief executive Ralf Brandstätter says. 

“The first ID model for the key markets of Europe, China and the U.S. carries our electric offensive around the world. A convincing car, a great idea – and the World Car of the Year award? That goes well together for us,” he says.

Other category winners included the Honda e which was named 2021 World Urban Car, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class which was named 2021 World Luxury Car, the Porsche 911 Turbo which was named 2021 World Performance Car and the Land Rover Defender which won the 2021 World Car Design of the Year award.