The race for the prestigious 2025 World Car of the Year (WCOTY) award has begun. The finalists for the six categories have been announced and the date of the award ceremony (sponsored this year by Brembo) has been made official: it will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, during the New York International Auto Show ( NYIAS). Here are all the cars in the running.
World Car of the Year 2025: the finalists
Following a selection process involving 96 international journalists from 30 countries, the 10 finalists for the title of Brembo World Car of the Year 2025 (that’s the full name) were chosen from 52 candidates. Among them this year are three electric cars, a sports car, two German thoroughbreds and the timeless Land Cruiser.
Here is the full list, noting that, again this year, no Italian cars are competing for the prestigious prize:
Photo: BMW AG.
Photo: Manufacturer
Like every year, in 2025, in addition to the World Car of the Year, there will also be award ceremonies for different car categories, of which the lists of the five candidates have been published:
Electric vehicle
- Hyundai Inster / Casper electric
- Let’s EV3
- Porsche Macan electric
- Volkswagen ID. Buzz
- Volvo EX90
luxury car
- Lexus GX
- Porsche Macan
- Porsche Panamera
- Volkswagen ID. Buzz
- Volvo EX90
Performance car
- Bentley Continental GT Speed
- BMW M5
- Ford Mustang
- Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
- Porsche Taycan Turbo GT
Photo: Porsche
Urban car
- BYD Seagull / Dolphin Mini
- Hyundai Inster / Casper electric
- Mini Cooper
- Electric Mini Cooper
- Suzuki Swift
Global Automotive Design of the Year
- Baojun Yunduo / Cloud / MG Windsor EV
- Let’s EV3
- Mini Cooper
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Mark Schienberg, President of NYIAS, said:
“This award represents essential recognition for manufacturers, awarded by a jury made up of the best automotive journalists in the world.”
Swiss
