Kia EV3 wins 2025 NZ Car of the Year

The Kia EV3 beat out nine competitors to win COTY. Photos: Supplied

The Kia EV3 has been named the 2025 New Zealand Car of the Year, becoming the sixth all-electric vehicle to scoop New Zealand’s premier motoring award in the past seven years.

The EV3, a compact sport utility crossover, is also the first vehicle from South Korean brand Kia to secure the national Car of the Year crown in this country. 

Kia New Zealand managing director Todd McDonald credited the award to the efforts of the brand’s engineers, and their ongoing commitment to low-emission vehicles.

The 10 finalists for NZ Motoring Writers’ Guild COTY.

“This award is recognition of the amazing work Kia and its team all around the world are doing to shape the future of sustainable personal mobility, at the same time helping to make the planet a better place through innovative, clean and thought-provoking transport solutions,” said McDonald.

In announcing the EV3 as the 38th winner of its annual award, New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild president Matthew Hansen noted that national honours here follows significant international award success for the vehicle.

“The New Zealand trophy follows on from the EV3 winning World Car of the Year honours for 2025,” said Hansen.

Kia’s Todd McDonald and Guild president Matthew Hansen.

“But our award is the most relevant for New Zealanders, as an assessment of the EV3 from motoring writers from all across the country, who have assessed the vehicle on our local conditions.

“To win a Car of the Year crown, a vehicle must impress the Guild’s motoring experts for multiple reasons. In the case of the EV3, those reasons include its striking exterior design, a spacious and well-finished interior, leading edge technology, polished on-road manners, top safety rating, excellent range, and rapid charging capability.

“The EV3 builds on Kia's strong electric vehicle foundations, established over several years with models like 2024 New Zealand Car of the Year nominee, the EV9. We recognise and congratulate Kia on the way it continues to sharpen and strengthen its line-up.”

The Kia EV3 beat out nine other finalists in the New Zealand Car of the Year awards. These other finalists were the: Audi A5; Cadillac Lyriq; Geely Starray EM-I; Mercedes-Benz G 580; MG QS; Mini Aceman; Nissan Ariya; Subaru Forester; Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

The New Zealand Car of the Year award is open to all new passenger vehicles launched over a 12-month period. To be eligible for the award they must have been evaluated by over two-thirds of the Guild’s voting members, with testing undertaken over each member’s local roads, not on a track. This allows voting to be based on the same experience an owner would have, using the car in their day-to-day life, in different parts of New Zealand. 

The Guild members, including AutoMuse’s Liz Dobson, evaluated all finalists against a range of criteria including how the vehicle performs its intended role; its styling, interior design and accommodation; fit, finish and quality; ride and refinement; performance; road-holding and handling; value for money; active and passive safety and environmental responsibility.