Hyundai Kona and Ioniq 5, Kia Telluride and EV9 Win Four Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards

Hyundai Motor and Kia won four awards at Kelley Blue Book’s prestigious Best Buy Awards, a testament to their technology, safety, and driving dynamics excellence. The automakers were particularly acclaimed for their commitment to environmental sustainability.

In the 2025 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards, Hyundai’s subcompact SUVs Kona (and its electric counterpart) and the Ioniq 5 were crowned Best Subcompact SUV and Best Buy Award for Electric Vehicles, respectively. Kelley Blue Book is a leading U.S. automotive valuation and research company. This is Kona’s second consecutive win and the Ioniq 5’s third straight year of recognition.

Kia also showed strong with its midsize SUV Telluride and electric vehicle EV9, winning in the Best 3-Row Midsize SUV and Best 3-Row Electric Vehicle categories. The EV9 has now secured this honor for two years running, while the Telluride continues its impressive streak with its sixth consecutive win since being named Best New Car in the 2020 Best Buy Awards.

Kelley Blue Book, now in its eleventh year of presenting the Best Buy Awards, is one of the most trusted resources for U.S. car buyers. The awards are determined through a rigorous year-long evaluation process of new vehicles available in the U.S. market. To select category winners, Kelley Blue Book editors assess various factors, including performance, pricing, ownership costs, consumer feedback, and sales data.

Kelley Blue Book’s editor-in-chief, Brian Moody, praised the Kona’s contemporary styling and overall quality. He also commended the Ioniq 5 for offering practicality and cutting-edge technology at a competitive price point for families.

Olabisi Boyle, Vice President of Product Planning and Mobility Strategy at Hyundai Motor America (HMA), expressed enthusiasm about recognizing the Kona and Ioniq 5. She emphasized that these models exemplify Hyundai’s commitment to customer value and lifestyle-oriented design.