'Game-changer' electric Kia EV3 named Car of the Year for great price and impressive range - full list of winners
KIA
Other major brands like Citroen, Hyundai and Renault also scooped up awards
A new electric vehicle has been named the Car of the Year by experts thanks to its impressive range, with other popular electric models picking up awards.
The Kia EV3 was awarded the top honour at the 2025 Electrifying.com Awards, following in the footsteps of its larger sibling, the EV9, which won Large Electric Family Car of the Year last year.
Deliveries of the EV3 are expected to take place later this year, with judges praising its stylish design, long driving range of up to 375 miles on a single charge and a starting price of just £32,995.
The South Korean brand also backed the vehicle for attracting a Benefit-in-Kind rate of just two per cent, making it a suitable option for motorists looking to switch to electric.
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Ginny Buckley with the Car of the Year - the Kia EV3
ELECTRIFYING.COM
Ginny Buckley, founder and CEO of Electrifying.com, described Kia as one of the "most innovative and exciting car brands around", with the EV3 being a "game-changer" in the EV market.
The broadcaster added: "We think the EV3 will give buyers new to electric cars the confidence they need to make the switch, and it’s the clear winner of our Car of the Year title."
Buckley, who is joined at Electrifying.com alongside journalists and presenters Nicola Hume and Nicki Shields, said it was a tough choice to rank the electric vehicles since "so many great models" have launched this year.
Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK Limited, commented: "To win an overall Car of the Year award from any publication is an incredible achievement, particularly from the well-recognised team at Electrifying.com, with their extensive knowledge of the EV landscape and understanding of what customers really want."
The Renault 5 E-Tech was awarded Best Value Electric Car. The return of the iconic model will hit the streets in the first quarter of 2025, with expectations that prices will start from around £23,000.
The Renault 5 E-Tech was awarded Best Value Electric Car
RENAULT
The 5 E-Tech city car will have a range of up to 248 miles on a single charge and was praised by the expert panel of judges for the suggested price, as well as the driving experience.
Another French brand had the honour of being awarded the Used EV of the Year for providing the "ultimate value", namely the Citroen e-C4.
Buckley noted: "Many buyers in the market for a used EV are going electric for the first time, and the e-C4 stands out as a car that can give them confidence.
"It's an all-round brilliant electric family car, balancing value for money, comfort, and strong real-world performance."
The Citroen e-C4 won Used EV of the Year
CITROEN
Hyundai was ranked at the EV Brand of the Year for its quality and versatility offered by its range of models. It currently has five EVs on the market - the IONIQ 5 N, IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, KONA and the all-new INSTER.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 has become one of the most popular EVs on the market in recent years with a price point of £39,900. It is hoped that the forthcoming INSTER (from £23,495) will further push affordable EVs to the public.
Later today, at its N Day 2024 event, Hyundai will unveil a next-generation "Rolling Lab" to demonstrate the future possibilities of high-performance electric vehicles - showing how the brand is prioritising EVs as it moves forward.
Commenting on the Awards, Buckley added: "We are the Electric Experts because every year we drive hundreds of electric cars over thousands of miles – including ones we’ve bought with our own money. We only give our awards to the cars and products we would genuinely buy ourselves."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The forthcoming Hyundai INSTER
HYUNDAI
Car of the Year – Kia EV3
Best Value Electric Car - Renault 5 E-Tech
Brand of the Year – Hyundai
Used EV of the Year - Citroen ë-C4
Charging Network of the Year - Instavolt