In the end there’s only one award that really matters and that is Wheels Car of the Year.
This year the guys and gals at Australia’s most esteemed motoring magazine have given the nod to Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N high performance EV.
It’s not often the winner is a unanimous choice after a week of rigorous testing on both track and road — but that’s the case with the 2024-25 winner.
The Ioniq 5 N finished ahead of the Toyota Camry Ascent Sport and Hyundai’s own Santa Fe Calligraphy, which finished in second and third place respectively.
The judges said the car stood out because of the inventive, imaginative way it combines EV technology with motorsport-inspired performance and handling to create a truly thrilling drive.
“Imagine blending the performance and response of an EV with the involvement and fun factor of a combustion-engined sports car,’ Wheels editor, Andy Enright, said.
‘The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has managed to achieve exactly that. It’s a landmark achievement.”
Wheels Car of the Year is the longest running award of its kind in the world and is now in its 61st year.
A field of 25 cars competed for the award, driven during testing week by Enright and five former Wheels editors.
2024-25 Finalists
BMW IX2 Xdrive 30 M Sport
BYD Sealion 6
Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Honda CR-V VTi-L
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Hyundai Ioniq 6 Dynamiq RWD
Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
Kia EV5 Earth AWD
Kia EV9 Earth AWD
Lexus LBX Luxury
Mazda CX-90 D50E GT
Mercedes-Benz CLE 200
Mercedes-Benz E300
Mercedes-AMG GLC43
MG Cyberster
MG HS Vibe
MG4 Essence 64
Mini Countryman SE ALL4
Nissan Qashqai Ti E-Power
Polestar 3 AWD Long Range
Renault Megane E-Tech EV60
Skoda Enyaq Sportline RWD
Tesla Model 3 Long Range
Toyota Camry Ascent Sport
Volvo EX30 Ultra
CHECKOUT: Ioniq5 N: About the connection
CHECKOUT: Hyundai Ioniq 5: Price the thing