2025 World Car Awards Finalists Are All Unamerican
The World Car Awards has announced the finalists for each of its six categories for 2025, revealing a mix of EVs and internal combustion engine-powered vehicles. The Hyundai Group and Porsche have populated most of the categories, as you’d expect, but there’s only one Japanese brand among the finalists.
Toyota
Toyota is a Japanese automaker founded in 1937 that has developed a reputation for reliability across a multitude of segments, from sports cars and family sedans to pickup trucks and off-roaders. Famous models from the brand include the Hilux, Land Cruiser, Camry, Crown, and Corolla, the latter being the world’s best-selling vehicle nameplate, with more than 50 million Corolla-badged vehicles being sold since it was first introduced. Toyota typically competes in the mainstream market, but is also famous for launching Lexus as a luxury sub-brand to take on Mercedes-Benz.
- Founded
-
August 28, 1937
- Founder
-
Kiichiro Toyoda
- Headquarters
-
Aichi, Japan
- Owned By
-
Publicly Traded
- Current CEO
-
Koji Sato
This is similar to how things played out last year when only Toyota and Lexus went to the finals, with the Toyota Prius rightfully landing a win in the World Car Design category. This year, Toyota is hoping to bag the same category once more.
A Mix Of EVs And ICE Finalists
|
2025 World Car Awards Finalists |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
World Car of the Year |
BMW X3 |
Hyundai Inster/Casper Electric |
Kia EV3 |
|
World Electric Vehicle |
Hyundai Inster/Casper Electric |
Kia EV3 |
Porsche Macan Electric |
|
World Luxury Car |
Porsche Macan |
Porsche Panamera |
Volvo EX90 |
|
World Performance Car |
BMW M5 |
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS |
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT |
|
World Urban Car |
BYD Seagull/Dolphin Mini |
Hyundai Inster/Casper Electric |
Mini Cooper Electric |
|
World Car Design |
Kia EV3 |
Toyota Land Cruiser/Land Cruiser 250 |
Volkswagen ID. Buzz |
For 2025, the Hyundai Group has two entries for the World Car of the Year award, with the America-bound Kia EV3 and Hyundai Inster affordable city crossover going up against the BMW X3. Both Korean nameplates will also vie for the World Electric Vehicle category, facing the Porsche Macan Electric. Meanwhile, two Porsches, both combustion engine-powered, are being challenged by the Volvo EX90 for the title of World Luxury Car.
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Similarly, two Porsches, the innovative new 911 Carrera GTS and the record-setting Taycan Turbo GT will face the BMW M5 in the World Performance Car category. For the World Urban Car, the sole Chinese entry, the BYD Seagull will go head-to-head against the Inster and Mini Cooper Electric.
Winners Will Be Announced Next Month
The only Japanese brand on the list of finalists, the Toyota Land Cruiser (also known as the Land Cruiser 250 or Land Cruiser Prado outside the US), will fight for the World Car Design title against the Kia EV3 and the VW ID. Buzz. These three were shortlisted by a panel of five design experts, including Anja Bracht, Gert Hildebrand, Tom Matano, Victor Nacif, and Shiro Nakamura.
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The selection process was carried out by a jury of 96 distinguished automotive journalists from 30 countries. Voting was conducted via secret ballot, with results tabulated by KPMG. Journalists evaluated eligible vehicles based on their professional assessments over the past year. From the shortlist, the winners will be announced on April 16 at the 2025 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), marking a 20-year partnership between the World Car Awards and the returning motor show.
