Kia EV3 named 2025 World Car of the Year

Kia announced that the EV3 was named 2025 World Car of the Year at the 2025 World Car Awards on the 16th.

Following the EV9 last year, the EV3 has made Kia the World Car of the Year winner for two consecutive years, once again demonstrating the strength of Kia’s electrified lineup, from large SUVs to compact SUVs.

Kia has now won a total of six World Car Awards, starting with the Telluride (World Car of the Year) and Soul EV (World Urban Car) in 2020, followed by the EV6 GT (World Performance Car) in 2023, the EV9 (World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle) in 2024, and now the EV3.

Kia President Song Ho-sung said, “We are honored that the EV3 has been named World Car of the Year at the prestigious World Car Awards. This award demonstrates Kia’s global leadership in providing sustainable mobility solutions through innovative technology and outstanding design. It also shows that the EV3 is delivering a new user experience to customers around the world with class-leading product appeal.”

Launched in 2004, the World Car Awards are considered one of the world’s three major automotive awards, alongside the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) and Car of the Year (COTY) in Europe. Winners are announced each year at the New York International Auto Show.

Unlike the other two awards, which evaluate vehicles within specific regional markets, the World Car Awards are open to vehicles worldwide. New models must sell at least 10,000 units annually in at least two continents to qualify, giving the awards considerable prestige and significance.

The World Car Awards have six categories: World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle, World Performance Car, World Luxury Car, World Urban Car and World Car Design of the Year.

A jury of 96 prominent automotive journalists from 30 countries, including South Korea, the United States, Europe, China, Japan and India, test-drove the nominated vehicles and voted to select the winners in each category.

The EV3 was recognized as the world’s best car of the year after competing against the Hyundai Casper Electric and BMW X3 among 52 contenders for World Car of the Year.

In the highly competitive global auto market, the EV3 is a dedicated compact electric SUV that supports Kia’s strategy to make electric vehicles more accessible. It combines advanced electrification technology with popular features at a reasonable price.

The EV3’s interior and exterior are based on Kia’s signature Opposites United design philosophy, blending bold, geometric forms to create a distinctive look.

The EV3 is available as a Long Range model with an 81.4 kWh battery and a Standard model with a 58.3 kWh battery. With 17-inch wheels, the Long Range model offers a driving range of 501 km under South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy certification standard and 605 km under the European WLTP standard. Using a 350 kW fast charger, it takes 31 minutes to charge the battery from 10% to 80%.

Versatile storage and features that make the vehicle an extension of the living space are also among the EV3’s highlights. Optimized packaging creates generous room in both rows, while a sliding console table that extends by 120 mm, a 460-liter trunk (VDA standard) and a 25-liter front trunk improve space utilization.

The EV3 also offers class-leading convenience with features including the Kia AI Assistant, over-the-air software updates, Built-in Cam 2, Digital Key 2 and interior and exterior V2L.

Other features that support safe and convenient driving include a nine-airbag system, reinforced key materials and structures in the sides of the body, steering-wheel grip detection, a Blind-Spot View Monitor, Lane Following Assist 2, Highway Driving Assist 2 and a Surround View Monitor.

The EV3’s strong product appeal has earned recognition at prestigious automotive awards worldwide. It has won 2025 Car of the Year awards in the UK, Finland and Denmark; the Compact SUV category at the 2025 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year awards; the Crossover category at the UK’s 2024 TopGear.com Awards; and the Best Car Under €40,000 category at Germany’s 2024 Golden Steering Wheel Awards.

In South Korea, the EV3 won Car of the Year and Electric SUV of the Year at the 2025 Korea Car of the Year awards organized by the Association of Korea Automotive Journalists (AWAK). It was also named Car of the Year, Electric Vehicle of the Year and Innovation of the Year at the 2025 Korea Car of the Year awards organized by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association (KAJA), further cementing its reputation as a top car.