Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 has emerged as the winner of the 2023 World Car of the Year award. The announcement was made at the annual New York International Auto Show on Wednesday. Beating out the BMW X1/iX1 and Kia Niro for the top prize, the sleek South Korean electric vehicle (EV) also clinched the World Electric Vehicle and World Car Design of the Year categories. This success marks Hyundai’s second consecutive triple win at the World Car Awards, following the Ioniq 5’s triumph in the exact same categories last year.

The Ioniq 6 is the second model in Hyundai’s all-electric lineup brand, Ioniq, and uses a bespoke Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) architecture. This allows the vehicle to offer 800-volt, ultra-fast charging capabilities for a 10 to 80% charge in just 18 minutes. With a slippery drag coefficient of just 0.21 Cd, the Ioniq 6 is also one of the most aerodynamic and energy-efficient EVs on the market. Hyundai claims a WLTP rated range of 614km on a single charge, and the standard two-wheel-drive model when equipped with 18-inch tyres achieves a WLTP-rated energy consumption of 13.9 kWh/100km.

“We are thrilled to receive this honour two years in a row, which recognises the tremendous talents and efforts of everyone at Hyundai Motor Company to bring EVs like Ioniq 6 to market,” said Jaehoon Chang, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. “It reinforces our commitment to be a global leader in vehicle electrification and will serve to embolden our efforts as a smart mobility solutions provider.”

Despite its impressive accolades, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is not currently being considered for the South African market. Nonetheless, this latest win for the South Korean automaker further solidifies their position as a leading player in the global EV market.