World Car Awards 2025 Finalists Revealed

Latest-gen BMW X3 is amongst the lead finalists announced for the 2025 World Car Awards where the premium crossover SUV is vying for the World Car of the Year crown.

The 2025 edition of the annual World Car Awards kicked into high gear this week as organisers announced the finalists across its six main categories. Naturally, all eyes are on the coveted World Car of the Year category.

The three finalists listed for that coveted category noted include the new fourth-generation (G45) BMW X3 premium crossover SUV that debuted in June last year. Vying for the same crown as finalists too are both the Hyundai Inster (Casper) Electric and the Kia EV3 compact EV crossover SUVs.

Other finalists named include the (clockwise) Kia EV3, MINI Cooper S Electric, Porsche Macan Electric, as well as the Volvo EX90.

Notably, the latter two Koreans are also vying for the World Electric Vehicle crown where it squares off against another German competitor in the form of the new second-gen and now fully electric Porsche Macan. It’s worth noting that Kia won this category last year with its Kia EV9 flagship.

For the World Performance Car category, this year’s finalists sees the latest G90-gen BMW M5 super-saloon short-listed alongside the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT – the latter being the latest and most extreme iteration of Porsche’s groundbreaking EV grand tourer.

BMW is also vying for World Performance Car with its new and now electrified BMW M5 super-saloon.

Elsewhere, other key finalists that were named include the all-new Volvo EX90 that just recently saw its order books opened here in Malaysia. Said Swedish flagship EV SUV offering is vying for the World Luxury Car crown where both the Porsche Macan and Porsche Panamera are also listed as finalists.

Another finalists Malaysians will be familiar with is the MINI Cooper Electric, which squares off against the Hyundai Inster Electric and BYD Seagull (Dolphin Mini) for the title of World Urban Car. You can see the full list of finalists across all six categories listed below:

As per past editions, finalists were shortlisted by a jury panel comprised of 96 automotive journalists from 30 countries. This year’s winners will be announced next month at the 2025 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).