World Car of the Year 2025 finalists revealed

These are the finalists for World Car of the Year 2025

New cars are being launched all the time, but which are the most important ones the world needs to take notice of? That’s what, each year, the World Car Awards organisation aims to discover.

After announcing an initial list of cars eligible for the 2025 awards last autumn, 96 jurors from 30 countries have completed their first round of voting – revealing the 10 cars in the running to be named World Car of the Year 2025.

The five contenders in five other categories – World Electric Vehicle, World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Urban Car and World Car Design of the Year – have also been named.

Read on to see the cars in the running for the world’s top automotive prize.

What is World Car of the Year

World Car of the Year is the largest automotive awards initiative on the planet. Now in its 21^st year, it has been number one for 12 consecutive years, in terms of media reach and analysis of the top global markets. For many car brands, it really is the one to win.

World Car of the Year

The World Car of the Year Award is the biggest gong of all. The reigning victor is the acclaimed Kia EV9. This year’s 10 finalists were selected from an initial list of 52 vehicles.

Audi A5 and S5

The new Audi A5 replaces both the old Audi A4 and Audi A5. It’s offered both as a coupe-influenced saloon and a sleet Avant estate. It has petrol or diesel engines; in the new world of Audi, odd-numbered cars are ICE and even-numbered cars are EVs. But is it good enough to be in the World Car Awards top 3?

BMW X3

The new BMW X3 is a heavily revised version of the old one. It has bold styling and a range of engines that include a desirable straight-six petrol and a plug-in hybrid with 56 miles of range. The X3 is BMW’s best-selling global car; will it also be a World Car Awards winner?

Ford Mustang

It may be a surprise to see the new Ford Mustang in the Top 10 World Car Awards finalists, but it’s still a car that can pull the heartstrings. Particularly in range-topping V8 guise. The styling is more authentic than ever and it remains a thrill to drive.

Hyundai Inster

The intriguing Hyundai Inster is a cute small five-door electric car with a range of up to 230 miles. It majors on interior space, and the cabin is also surprisingly tech-packed and luxurious. Prices are a touch high compared to some of its rivals, though.

Kia EV3

There’s so much to like with the new Kia EV3. It looks great, the interior is super-appealing and it has practical family SUV levels of space inside. The long range model will give well over 300 miles of real-world driving, while prices make it accessible for all. A hotly-tipped model to go further in World Car Awards 2025.

Mini Cooper Electric

The British icon has made the top 10 in pure electric guise rather than the identical petrol-powered alternative. Fabulous to drive and as charming as ever, the Mini Cooper Electric is a strong performer, albeit an expensive one.

Suzuki Swift

Praise be, yet another small car in the top 10 for World Car Awards 2025. The new Suzuki Swift is a great all-rounder and a genuinely affordable one, too. With strong appeal in many major global markets, it will be interesting to see if the Swift can now go further.

Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry is a car that’s big in the US. The latest one further refines a recipe that’s been well-proven over the years, but is its appeal too regional to progress further in World Car Awards 2025?

Toyota Land Cruiser

The latest Toyota Land Cruiser is a triumph of design. It’s been thoroughly reinvented with a delightful retro flourish both outside and in. This sturdy machine remains ultra-able and ultra-dependable when the going gets tough, although its lack of true green credentials could count against it.

Volkswagen Tiguan and Tayron

The Volkswagen Tiguan is the firm’s best-selling car around the world, even more popular than the iconic Golf. And now there’s a stretched seven-seat alternative, the Volkswagen Tayron. It’s strong in all the right areas, but once again, could the lack of an EV option work against it?

World Electric Vehicle

World Electric Vehicle celebrates the best new EVs coming to market. Once again, the 2024 victor was the Kia EV9. This year’s five finalists were selected from an initial list of 31 contenders.

Hyundai Inster

The Hyundai Inster grabs a place in the World Electric Vehicle top five through being a real surprise package. It’s cute, roomy, good to drive efficient. A real small car that thinks big.

Kia EV3

The Kia EV3 is another World Car Awards top 10 finalist that’s also a World Electric Vehicle top five frontrunner. The package and performance really are hard to fault and its modern, desirable styling outside and in is also sure to win over customers in the showrooms.

Porsche Macan Electric

Porsche has gone all-electric for the new Macan. It has the same well-proportioned styling as before, with a more modern twist, while the high-quality interior has had a thorough tech overhaul. Most importantly, it drives brilliantly, and the large batteries give plenty of dependable real-world range.

Volkswagen ID.Buzz

The Volkswagen ID.Buzz has already won over Europe, and now it’s available in the US to tug at the heartstrings over there too. The retro styling is brilliant, as is the interior, and it’s one of the better VW ID products to drive. It is expensive, though, which could count against it in the final running.

Volvo EX90

There’s no doubting the new Volvo EX90’s World Luxury Car credentials. It’s a real step on from the petrol-powered Volvo XC90, with a fantastic interior and top-notch refinement. A real contender for the 2025 prize, so long as the fiddly controls and missing features don’t count against it.

World Luxury Car

World Luxury Car rewards elegance and refinement. The BMW 5 Series and i5 is the reigning prize-winner. This year’s finalists were selected from an initial list of 10 cars.

Lexus GX

The Lexus GX is the luxury 4×4 alternative to the rugged new Toyota Land Cruiser. They share the same rough, tough underpinnings but the Lexus has a smooth V6 to give it a posher feel. An interesting go-anywhere SUV for those who don’t want to give up creature comforts.

Porsche Macan

The new Porsche Macan makes it into the World Luxury Car top five too. The refinement of its electric drivetrain makes it easy to see why, while the cabin has all the tactility you’d expect of a Porsche. It’s very refined on the move too.

Porsche Panamera

The new Porsche Panamera is the petrol-powered alternative to the electric Porsche Taycan. It comes in several flavours including a long-range plug-in hybrid. More luxurious than ever, it’s a high-speed express that’s a delight to drive and be driven in.

Volkswagen ID.Buzz

The Volkswagen ID.Buzz is expensive enough to take a place in the World Luxury Car top five. It’s fun and refreshing, although whether it’s genuinely luxurious enough to progress further remains to be seen.

Volvo EX90

There’s no doubting the new Volvo EX90’s World Luxury Car credentials. It’s a real step on from the petrol-powered Volvo XC90, with a fantastic interior and top-notch refinement. A real contender for the 2025 prize, so long as the fiddly controls and missing features don’t count against it.

World Performance Car

World Performance Car is a particularly thrilling category, few more so than last year’s winner, the electrifying Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. This year’s finalists were selected from an initial list of 17 cars.

Bentley Continental GT Speed

The bombastic new Bentley Continental GT Speed is an absolute thriller. The effervescent V8 turbo has a remarkable 782hp and will go from 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds, then on to more than 200mph. It’s a plug-in hybrid too, with more than 50 miles of EV range. Brilliant to drive, it’s a deserved World Performance Car top five contender.

BMW M5

The new BMW M5 has proven controversial because it too has switched to a plug-in hybrid configuration. This means the weight has increased significantly – but so too has the power. It now has nearly 730hp for 0-62mph acceleration in a scant 3.5 seconds, and is a beast to drive on the right roads. It’s also now available as a Touring estate, too.

Ford Mustang

The latest Ford Mustang combines old-school rear-wheel drive V8 thrills in an attractive new package that combines modern classic styling with a tech-packed interior. But is its appeal just a bit too old-school compared to some of the other high-tech World Performance Car 2025 contenders?

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

The new Porsche 911 Carrera GTS features the famous German brand’s new T-Hybrid technology. This combines the classic flat-six engine with electric assistance. Here, the hybrid system is used to boost performance, virtually eliminating turbo lag. It makes the 911 even more of an intense experience, while giving just a passing nod to eco-friendliness in town.

Porsche Taycan Turbo GT

The startling Porsche Taycan Turbo GT is the ultimate electric Porsche. With, incredibly, almost 1,100hp, it will go from 0-62mph in a barely-believable 2.2 seconds, and the Weissach Package turns it into a genuine racetrack warrior. Extreme, yes – but too much so to be a World Performance Car all-rounder?

World Urban Car

Compact, city-friendly cars are honoured in the World Urban Car category. The 2024 winner was the Volvo EX30. This year’s finalists were selected from an initial list of 12 cars.

BYD Seagull and Dolphin Mini

The tiny BYD Seagull – also known as the Dolphin Mini – has taken China by storm and is now set to star in other global markets. A rival to the budget Dacia Spring, this electric city car should have a range of more than 200 miles, and is likely to become one of the cheapest electric cars in every market it’s sold in.

Hyundai Inster

The clever Hyundai Inster makes another appearance in the World Car Awards 2025 finalists, this time in the World Urban Car category. It’s an intelligently designed package, with seats that can even turn into lie-flat beds, while the big car technology onboard is also a standout.

Mini Cooper

There are two Mini Coopers in the running for World Urban Car 2025. The regular petrol-powered car offers a choice of turbo engines, and has the fun handling that’s long been a Mini hallmark…

Mini Cooper Electric

…While the Mini Cooper Electric combines the pin-sharp handling with all-electric drivetrains. Both have the fantastic, eye-catching round OLED infotainment display inside, and both retain the loveable car’s classic styling. So, which will make it through to the finalists?

Suzuki Swift

The final car in the running for World Urban Car is the marvellous new Suzuki Swift. Compact on the outside, surprisingly roomy on the inside, this latest one is higher-quality and more refined than ever. The fuel-supping mild-hybrid engine is ultra-economical and, to drive, the Swift is simply charming. With affordable pricing too, it’s a strong contender for World Urban Car 2025.