Hyundai Ioniq 5 Sweeps World Car Of The Year Awards

The New York Auto Show is back in-person this year, making it the perfect opportunity to announce the World Car of the Year winners. Last year, the Volkswagen ID.4 took home the top award, with the Porsche 911, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Land Rover Defender, and Honda-e winning another categories. For 2022, all but one of the six category winners is all-electric. Let's start with the big award, World Car of the Year, which was won by the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The Ioniq 5 improves on last year's winner with more futuristic styling, a spacious interior, and longer range. Speaking of that Tron-inspired styling, it was enough for the Ioniq 5 to earn the World Car Design award as well. Then, to make it three-for-three, the Ioniq 5 swept every category it was eligible for, winning the World Electric Car award. Winning not only the World Electric Car award, but the design and overall categories proves how far EVs have come in recent years.

Hyundai scored yet another win with its chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke earning the prestigious Person of the Year award.

"We are truly honored to receive these prestigious awards, which recognize the talent and hard work of all our people and business partners at Hyundai Motor Company. Our vision is to enable Progress for Humanity, and this endorsement of our approach will serve to embolden our commitment to make this vision a reality," said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company.

The Ioniq 5 wasn't the only EV to dominate, as both the World Luxury Car and World Performance Car awards were won by electric models this year. The Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan picks up where the S-Class left off in 2021, earning the World Luxury Car for Mercedes two years in a row. Last year, the Volkswagen Group took home World Performance Car with the Porsche 911, but this year gets it with the Audi e-tron GT.

In fact, the World Urban Car award was the only category where an EV won last year, but an ICE vehicle replaced it this year. Last year's winner was the Honda-e, but this year the Europe-only Toyota Yaris Cross took home the victory. Perhaps this win signifies that there aren't enough small affordable EVs that can stand up to city life. The Yaris Cross beat out the all-electric Opel Mokka (also not sold in the US) and the Volkswagen Taigun. Perhaps in 2023, EVs will make a clean sweep.