BMW leads nominations with five finalists, Kia and Nissan follow with four; winner to be announced at this year’s New York International Auto Show in April.
Finalists for this year’s World Car of the Year Awards have been released across World Car, Electric, Luxury, Performance and Urban categories.
BMW leads the way with five nominations, followed by Kia and Nissan with four each. Land Rover has two nominations in the Luxury Car category with the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, while the new Lucid Air all-electric car also features in two categories.
Contenders on the shortlist for World Car of the Year are Alfa Romeo Tonale, BMW 2 Series Coupe, BMW X1/iX1, Honda HR-V/ZR-V, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Kia Niro, Mazda CX-60, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Nissan Ariya and Nissan Z.
World Electric Vehicle nominations include the BMW i7, Genesis GV60, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Kia Niro EV and the Lucid Air, while the World Luxury Car shortlist comprises the BMW 7 Series/i7, Genesis G90, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and the Lucid Air again.
The World Performance Car category features BMW’s M4 CSL, the Kia EV6 GT, Nissan Z, Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Toyota GR Corolla, while only three models make the World Urban Car shortlist: Citroen C3, ORA Funky Cat and Volkswagen Taigo.
The final car category is for World Car Design of the Year with the shortlist drawn up for the judges by six design experts, including former Jaguar design director Ian Callum. The contenders are the Cadillac Lyriq, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Range Rover, Lucid Air and Nissan Z.
The winners will be announced at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday April 5 and will be presented with new trophies that have been designed by Ian Callum.
World Car of the Year winners 2010-present
2022: Hyundai Ioniq 5
2021: Volkswagen ID.4
2020: Kia Telluride
2019: Jaguar I-Pace
2018: Volvo XC60
2017: Jaguar F-Pace
2016: Mazda MX-5
2015: Mercedes C-Class
2014: Audi A3
2013: Volkswagen Golf
2012: Volkswagen up!
2011: Nissan Leaf
2010: Volkswagen Polo