2025 World Car of the Year Top 10 Finalists Announced: Suzuki Swift, Toyota Camry, BMW X3 and More Make the Cut

The World Car Awards has announced the top ten finalists for the 2025 World Car of the Year and the top five finalists in six categories. These include World Electric Car, World Performance Car, and World Luxury Car, among others. The finalists will narrow down to the "Top Three in the World", with winners revealed live at the 2025 New York International Auto Show. This year also marks 20 years of the awards' collaboration with the show.

The "World Car Jury" follows 96 jurors, including autoX founder and Editor-in-Chief Dhruv Belh, as they test and evaluate eligible vehicles. Their journey is shared on World Car TV, offering reviews and insights into the finalists across all categories.

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Here are the top ten finalists for the 2025 World Car of the Year. Let's review the finalists in each category

2025 World Car of the Year finalists

- Audi A5 / S5
- BMW X3
- Ford Mustang
- Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric
- Kia EV3
- Mini Cooper Electric
- Suzuki Swift
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Land Cruiser / Land Cruiser 250
- Volkswagen Tiguan / Tayron

2025 World Urban Car of the Year

- BYD Seagull / Dolphin Mini
- Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric
- Mini Cooper
- Mini Cooper Electric 
- Suzuki Swift

2025 World Luxury Car of the Year

- Lexus GX
- Porsche Macan
- Porsche Panamera
- Volkswagen ID. Buzz
- Volvo EX90

2025 World Performance Car of the Year

- Bentley Continental GT Speed
​​- BMW M5
- Ford Mustang
- Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
- Porsche Taycan Turbo GT

2025 World Electric Vehicle of the Year

- Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric
- Kia EV3
- Porsche Macan Electric
- Volkswagen ID. Buzz
- Volvo EX90

2025 World Car Design of the Year

- MG Windsor EV
- Kia EV3
- Mini Cooper
- Toyota Land Cruiser / Land Cruiser 250
- Volkswagen ID. Buzz

2025 World Car Of The Year: Selection Criteria

Cars were selected for the World Car Awards based on key criteria. These include producing at least 10,000 units annually and being sold in at least two major markets or continents between 1 January 2024 and 30 March 2025. Major markets include China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, and the United States.

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At the 2024 WCOTY awards, the Kia EV9 won both Best Car and Best Electric Car. The BMW 5 Series/i5 took the World Luxury Car title, while the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N won World Performance Car. The Toyota Prius was named World Car Design of the Year, and the Volvo EX30 won World Urban Car of the Year for 2023.