After the first round of voting by judges from around the world, the finalists for the 2023 World Car Awards have been announced.
From an initial list of 30 cars, the 10 finalists for the prestigious 2023 World Car of the Year award have now been officially announced – with two cars each from the brands BMW and Nissan.
Hyundai is on the short list again; after winning the 2022 World Car of the Year award with the Ioniq 5, its streamlined sibling, the Ioniq 6, is on the shortlist.
Honda, Kia, Mazda and Mercedes-Benz are also among the finalists for the 2023 World Car Awards.
2023 World Car of the Year Finalists
- BMW 2 Series Coupe
- BMW X1/iX1
- Honda HR-V
- Hyundai Ioniq 6
- Kia Nero
- Mazda CX-60
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- Nissan Aria
- Nissan Z
The World Car Awards is the largest automotive awards initiative on the planet. The cars were tested by 100 international judges around the world in a process that began in September and ended at the New York International Auto Show in April, when the winner was revealed.
“For nearly two decades, the partnership between World Auto and the New York Auto Show has recognized the best the automotive industry has to offer,” said NYIAS President Mark Schienberg.
“We look forward to co-hosting the award ceremony again during the opening of the 2023 show in April.”
Winners will hold aloft a new trophy for the 2023 World Car Awards – designed by the legendary Ian Callum.
EV, Luxury and Performance Finalists
Contenders in five other categories were announced ahead of the second round of voting, which closes on February 22.
The mix of cars for the 2023 World Electric Car Awards is varied: the BMW i7 and Lucid Air represent the luxury segment, while the Genesis GV60, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Kia Niro EV are more accessible contenders.
2023 World Electric Vehicle Finalists
- bmw i7
- Genesis GV60
- Hyundai Ioniq 6
- Kia Niro EV
- sober air
Another entry from BMW in the 2023 World Luxury Car Awards, the BMW 7 Series sits alongside its all-electric BMW i7 sister car.
The Genesis G90 and Lucid Air are two other sedan-style finalists, while the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport show how SUVs can deliver luxury.
2023 World Luxury Car Finalists
- BMW 7 Series/i7
- Genesis G90
- Land Rover Range Rover
- Land Rover Range Rover Sport
- sober air
In the exciting World Performance Cars category for 2023, BMW is once again neck-and-neck with its equally specialized German compatriot, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, with the mighty M4 CSL.
Sadly, we Brits were denied the Nissan Z and Toyota Corolla GR, but we got the only pure electric contender on the list – the Kia EV6 GT.
2023 World Performance Car Finalists
- BMW M4 CSL
- Kia EV6 GT
- Nissan Z
- Porsche 911 GT3 RS
- Toyota GR Corolla
In the 2023 World City Car category, only three cars were shortlisted due to the lack of new city cars launched this year.
So who will win the grand prize – India’s Citroen C3 SUV, the Ora Funky Cat EV or the Volkswagen Taigo small coupe-style SUV?
2023 World Urban Car Finalists
- Citroen C3
- Ora Funky Cat / Cold Cat
- Volkswagen Taigo / Nivus
As for the 2023 World Car Design, a panel of experts including renowned former Jaguar designer Ian Callum has selected five models for the jury to vote on.
2023 World Car Design Finalists
- Cadillac Lyriq
- Hyundai Ioniq 6
- Land Rover Range Rover
- sober air
- Nissan Z
The next stage in the process is March 7, when the world’s top three – the three finalists in each category – will be announced.
Winners for all six categories will be announced live at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday, April 5.
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