World Car Awards winners revealed including £65k EV that took top gong and Toyota beating Ferrari to design trophy

KIA we go!

Kia we go!

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Supplied

Kia we go!

Kia’s EV9 has won the World Cup for cars.

Much like the footie World Cup, EV9 had to see off some big players in the knockout stages.

Then it faced another two formidable opponents in the final — Volvo’s EX30 and BYD Seal, a surprise newcomer from China.

I’m a World Car juror. I voted for EV9. The best car won.

Mind you, any car costing £65k-plus should be good enough to bag the highest accolade in the car game.

Kia UK President Paul Philpott said: “This is fantastic recognition for such an important vehicle in our ever-evolving line-up.

“We are fast becoming a true leader in electric vehicles.”

Our exclusive photo shows all three World Car finalists at Gridserve, the world’s first electric car forecourt in Braintree, Essex.

That’s right. All three finalists are electric.

But the World Car awards are open to all power types — petrol, diesel and electric.

EV9 also won the Electric Vehicle award at the World Car Awards ceremony at the New York Auto Show.

Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N was crowned World Performance Car, just edging out BMW’s petrol-powered M2 and XM hybrid.

But BMW deservedly claimed the World Luxury Car trophy for the brilliant 5 Series and its sister, the battery-powered i5.

The dinky Volvo EX30 was named best Urban Car and the Toyota Prius landed the Design prize — beating a Ferrari.

But the big prize went to the big Kia.

Another world-beater from Korea.

Back of the net.

• KIA is a 2026 FIFA World Cup partner . . . I knew there was a footie link in there somewhere.

JUROR’S NOTES

DESIGN. Engineering. Tech. Quality. Kia has taken all of these things to a whole new level with EV9.

The hero spec has six seats. The middle seats swivel 180 degrees to face the third row. Looks the business in that configuration.

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The seven-seater is for parents with their own five-a-side team.

Everyone has their own air-con controls, charging ports and drink holders. So everyone will be happy.

Life is even sweeter up top. The big-screen dash carries loads of technology and you’ll have zero worries about range.

All versions do 300 miles at a time and recharge in a quick tea-and-pee break.

Cancel that electric Range Rover. Save yourself £100k. All you need is Kia.

EVERYTHING we love about Volvo baked into a smaller car.

The cabin is designed by Brit mum Lisa Reeves and features a turbo-charged Google touchscreen, 1.2-metre wide soundbar and recycled denim upholstery. She nailed it.

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The base EX30 is 272hp and outguns a Golf GTI. A top-spec version with a bigger battery and 4WD is a giant-killing 428hp. I’m not sure a family crossover needs sports car performance but there you go.

Now for the best bit. Price. EX30 costs £33,795 today. But there’s a £31k version coming later.

Much Volvo goodness for much less money than a Vauxhall Mokka.

That’s why EX30 was crowned The Sun’s 2023 Car of the Year.

DON’T sit there thinking BYD is the Chinese Tesla. It’s not. It’s bigger. And BYD moves way faster.

This electric saloon called Seal – there’s also a hatchback called Dolphin – is absolutely packed with cutting-edge tech.

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The flat Blade battery is part of the car’s structure, adding strength and improving driving fun. The 4WD version is 530hp.

You sit nice and low in this car, in proper squishy seats, and the suspension is more sophisticated on our broken roads than a Tesla Model 3.

So there’s lots to admire. But it’s greedy. It eats range.

TikTok-pleasing party trick? The central touchscreen rotates 90 degrees, so you can have it upright or widescreen. BYD will have 60 UK dealers soon.