General News
27 December, 2024
Car of the Year winner is $124,000 electric hatch
A $124,000 electric hot hatch has won the 2024-25 Wheels Car of the Year.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N was the unanimous choice of the judges over second-place Toyota Camry Ascent Sport hybrid ($46,488) with the Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy SUV hybrid ($79,237) in third place.
It’s not often the winner of Wheels COTY – now in its 61st year and the longest-running annual car award in the world – is a unanimous choice by the judges after a week of rigorous testing on both track and road.
Wheels editor Andy Enright said the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N stood out because of “the inventive, imaginative way it combines EV technology with motorsport-inspired performance and handling to create a truly thrilling drive”.
“Imagine blending the performance and response of an EV with the involvement and fun factor of a combustion-engined sports car,” he said.
“The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N has managed to achieve exactly that. It’s a landmark achievement.”
Hyundai Motor Company Australia chief executive officer Ted Lee said it was “a wonderful recognition that is very heartily received and will be cherished on a global scale”.
“A Wheels Car of the Year win will be celebrated by our designers, engineers and planners in South Korea, Europe and the United States, all of whom have poured many long hours into the creation and development of this car,” he said.
“We could not be prouder and I am delighted to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the thousands of talented people who are behind the IONIQ 5 N’s creation.”
This year leasing company Smart partnered with Wheels COTY to highlight how novated leasing makes it easier than ever to own these exceptional vehicles.
“From the exhilarating Hyundai IONIQ 5 N to practical and reliable options like the Toyota Camry, novated leasing offers Australians an affordable and flexible way to drive the best cars on the market,” said Smart chief customer officer Bianca Bates.
Hyundai took the top honour from an impressive field of 25 cars driven during testing week by Mr Enright and five former Wheels editors.
The other contenders were: BMW iX2 xDrive30 (electric), BYD Sealion Dynamic Premium (hybrid), Ford Mustang Darkhorse (petrol), Honda CR-V VTi L AWD (petrol), Hyundai Ioniq 6 Dynamiq RWD or AWD (electric), Kia EV5 Air or Earth (electric), Kia EV9 Earth (electric), Lexus LBX 2WD Luxury (hybrid), Mazda CX-90 (petrol), Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe 200 (petrol), Mercedes-Benz GLC 43 AMG (petrol), Mercedes-Benz E-Class E300 (petrol), MG 4 Essence 64 (electric), MG Cyberster (electric), MG HS Vibe (petrol), Mini Countryman SE (electric), Nissan Qashqai 1.5 Ti e-Power (hybrid), Polestar 3 (electric), Renault E-Tech (electric), Skoda Enyaq Sport Line RWD (electric), Tesla Model 3 Long Range (electric), and Volvo EX30 Range Ultra (electric).
