Women worldwide have selected Hyundai’s Santa Fe and Kia’s EV3 as the best SUVs. They will compete for the final crown in March when International Women’s Day will be announced.
According to the Women’s World Car of the Year 2025 (WWCOTY 2025) on Thursday, Hyundai’s all-new Santa Fe was selected as the 2025 WWCOTY large SUV category winner.
The All-New Santa Fe has been a redesigned model since 2018. It is characterized by a change to an outdoor style that extends beyond on- and off-road. This year’s WWCOTY evaluated it as having proven its excellence criteria: safety, quality, price, design, driving performance, technology, and environmental impact.
WWCOTY is decided by the evaluation of a panel of judges consisting of only female journalists. This awards ceremony, which is in its 15th year, will gather 82 female automobile journalists from 55 countries to evaluate 81 models and select the final overall winning model among them. The final winning model will be announced on March 6, two days before International Women’s Day.
The Kia EV3 won the 2025 WWCOTY Compact SUV category because it showed outstanding capabilities in terms of driving, technology, comfort, and cost-effectiveness (price-to-performance) compared to competing vehicles. Above all, it received favorable reviews for its ultra-fast charging capability and single-charge driving range. In particular, it earned the title of the most efficient electric vehicle in its class because it can add up to 202 km (126 miles) of driving range in just 15 minutes.
Based on 400V fast-charging technology, the EV3 can charge from 10% to 80% in just 29 minutes and has a range of 605 km (376 miles) (WLTP standard) on a single charge.
An industry insider explained that being recognized by the 2025 Women’s World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) Awards demonstrates the brand’s commitment to creating vehicles that satisfy diverse perspectives and preferences. He added that winning the 2025 WWCOTY Awards underscores the brand’s global appeal and special resonance with women worldwide. He continued, stating that the results of the WWCOTY Awards serve as a reference for female drivers around the world and will be helpful to women planning to purchase a new car this year.
Meanwhile, the Kia EV9 ultimately won the last WWCOTY 2024. It beat all four models that had advanced to the finals: the Volvo EX90, BMW 5 Series, Volkswagen Amarok, and Aston Martin DB12.
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