World Car Awards 2025: BYD Seagull Named World Urban Car of the Year

The New York International Auto Show hosted the final announcement of the 2025 World Car Awards. While the Kia EV3 took home the title of World Car of the Year, the BYD Seagull (Dolphin Mini) earned the World Urban Car Award, beating the Hyundai Inster/Casper Electric and Mini Cooper Electric. On the mechanical front, the Seagull offers a choice between a 30kWh and a 38kWh battery, with the larger unit offering a claimed range of over 300 kilometres, making it suitable not just for short errands but also for longer daily commutes. The 75bhp motor promises agile, efficient performance in city driving.

Commenting on the big win, Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD, said, 'We are incredibly proud and honored that the BYD Seagull/Dolphin Mini has been recognised as the World Urban Car in the prestigious World Car Awards 2025. This achievement reflects our commitment to providing sustainable technologies and exceptional service to customers worldwide.'

Also Read: 2025 World Car Awards: Kia EV3 Wins World Car of the Year

She also added, 'At BYD, we are dedicated to accelerating green mobility and contributing to the global effort to cool the Earth by 1°C.'

World Urban Car of the Year Award: Who Selects the Winners?

Winners of the World Car of the Year (WCOTY) awards have been selected through a comprehensive process led by a panel of 96 highly respected automotive journalists from 30 countries. These experts, known for their in-depth industry knowledge and hands-on experience, dedicate months to evaluating eligible vehicles through test drives, detailed comparisons, and performance assessments. Their judgment goes far beyond technical specifications, focusing equally on the driving experience, design quality, innovation, and overall craftsmanship.

Also Read: World Car Awards 2025: Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Wins World Performance Car Award

Dhruv Behl, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of autoX, represented the country on this global jury, contributing to the selection of the best cars in multiple categories.

World Urban Car of the Year Award: Eligibility Criteria

A World Urban Car nominee must be street legal and no longer than 4.25 meters. It also needs a yearly production of at least 5,000 units. The contender must be on sale in at least two major markets across two continents (including China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, USA) within the January 1, 2024, to March 30, 2025 timeframe.