All-electric Kia EV3 garners ‘World Car of the Year' gong
Despite its latest accolade, the EV3 is not expected to debut in South Africa anytime soon unless government support for new energy vehicles emerges.
EV3, for now, ranks below the EV5, EV6 and EV9 as Kia's smallest all-electric SUV/crossover. Image: Kia
The results are in and in a live announcement of winners in six award categories at the New York International Auto Show last week, Kia's EV3 has been named as the '2025 World Car of the Year'.
The EV3 was chosen from an initial list of 52 contenders, with a short list of the three finalists then being announced on March 18th. The other finalists were the BMW X3 and the Hyundai Inster.
A jury consisting of 96 international automotive journalists from 30 countries around the world selected the 'Top Three in the World' for the title of 'World Car of the Year.'
The finalists are determined by a secret ballot based on the journalists' evaluation of each eligible vehicle as part of their on-going professional work in the motoring media industry.
Latest trophy in the cabinet
This is the second consecutive World Car of the Year win for Kia and third World Car of the Year win overall.
ALSO READ: Kia shrinks EV9 into new entry-level all-electric EV3
The EV9 won last year's top honour while the Telluride won the title in 2020. This win brings the total number of awards won by Kia to six in World Car's 21-year history.
'It is an immense honour for everyone at Kia that the EV3 has been awarded the 2025 World Car of the Year title.
Interior has subtle differences from the EV5 and EV6. Image: Kia
'This award highlights Kia's global leadership in providing design-led, technologically advanced, sustainable mobility solutions and how the EV3's class-leading attributes redefine the user experience for customers worldwide,' said Ho Sung Song, President and CEO at Kia.
Smallest EV
The EV3 is positioned below the EV6 and EV9 in Kia's ever growing EV lineup and is the entry point into the battery electric vehicle or BEV segment of the brand.
Rear-end styling borrows heavily from the EV5 and EV6. Image: Kia
Built on Kia's Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV3 is said to boast 605 km of range with its extended 81.4-kWh battery option, while a standard 58.3-kWh variant is also available overseas.
No-no for South Africa
Unfortunately, without any assistance from government to promote the importing of electric vehicles into the country, the chances of seeing a EV3 on the road in South Africa is very slim despite it being a rival to the Volvo EX30 that is already here and Volkswagen ID.4. that is said to be coming here.
NOW READ: Kia gives hint of first EV arrival in South Africa by teasing EV5
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Leave it with me, he said, walking into the middle of the road, holding his hands up to the bikes that were now revving mightily, and waving me to sail ahead, leaving them trembling in my wake. Hah!
