The Kia EV3 has emerged as the pinnacle of automotive excellence, clinching The Car Expert’s prestigious Car of the Year Award 2025. With a stellar performance among 67 contenders—marking the largest competitive field in the history of the awards—the EV3 also secured the title of Best Small Crossover.
Praised for its versatility, practicality, electric range, and value for money, the EV3 reaffirms Kia’s commitment to delivering innovative electric vehicles that cater to modern drivers. The Car Expert Awards celebrated the finest new cars across 12 categories, with winners determined by the Expert Rating Index, a unique aggregation of reviews from 35 leading UK motoring publications. This data-driven approach ensures a truly unbiased verdict on the best cars in the market.
Why the Kia EV3 Stands Out
Stuart Masson, Editorial Director of The Car Expert, highlighted the EV3’s remarkable qualities:
“The Kia EV3 shows how electric cars can be objectively superior to fossil-fuel cars in most of the ways that really count. It’s a compact SUV with more cabin and boot space than many larger vehicles. It’s smooth, quiet, comfortable, and refined to drive. It has more than enough battery range for the vast majority of UK driving habits. It throws in plenty of standard kit at a very competitive price, and it’s intelligently designed for family car needs – a very worthy winner.”
The Kia EV3 exemplifies how electric vehicles (EVs) have evolved into practical and aspirational choices for families and individuals alike.
Kia’s Winning Streak
Kia’s success didn’t stop with the EV3. The Kia EV9, a bold and luxurious electric SUV, was named Best Premium Large Car, cementing Kia’s reputation as a leader in EV innovation. With its futuristic design and cutting-edge technology, the EV9 offers a premium alternative in the electric SUV segment.
Standout Performances from Other Brands
This year’s awards also celebrated the ingenuity of a range of manufacturers:
- Renault took home two titles:
- The Renault 5 earned the Best Small Car award, blending retro-inspired aesthetics with advanced EV technology.
- The Renault Scenic secured Best Medium Car, lauded for its spacious design and smooth handling.
- Hyundai claimed dual honors:
- The Hyundai Santa Fe won Best Large Car, while the Ioniq 5 N delivered a dynamic punch, earning the title of Best Performance Car.
- Ferrari’s 12Cilindri, with its roaring V12 engine and luxurious craftsmanship, earned the distinction of Best Luxury Sports Car, underscoring the enduring allure of internal combustion excellence.
- Practicality met luxury with the Skoda Superb, crowned Best Estate, and the Porsche Macan Electric, which redefined standards as the Best Premium Medium Car.
Electric Cars Leading the Charge
Electric vehicles continued to dominate, accounting for seven out of twelve category winners and taking the overall Car of the Year title for the fourth consecutive year. Of the 67 new cars considered, 30 were EVs, further illustrating the growing shift towards electrification.
Stuart Masson attributed this trend to two key factors:
“Firstly, [electric cars] are very good, high-quality cars that are worthy of their high review scores. Secondly, there are more new electric cars being launched by car manufacturers each year than genuinely new fossil-fuel or hybrid cars, with competitive models now available in almost every sector of the new car market.”
The Expert Rating Index: A Benchmark in Automotive Analysis
The Car Expert’s Expert Rating Index distinguishes these awards from traditional accolades. By aggregating reviews from 35 of the UK’s leading motoring outlets, it provides a weighted, standardized score that consumers trust for unbiased comparisons.
Masson emphasized the importance of this approach:
“Our method combines the most comprehensive range of expert opinions to deliver a truly impartial verdict on the best cars available.”
Complete List of Winners
- Car of the Year: Kia EV3
- Best Small Car: Renault 5
- Best Small Crossover: Kia EV3
- Best Medium Car: Renault Scenic
- Best Premium Medium Car: Porsche Macan Electric
- Best Large Car: Hyundai Santa Fe
- Best Premium Large Car: Kia EV9
- Best Luxury Sports Car: Ferrari 12Cilindri
- Best Performance Car: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
- Best Coupé: Ford Mustang
- Best Convertible: Mercedes-Benz CLE
- Best Estate: Skoda Superb
Looking Ahead
The Car Expert Awards 2025 reaffirm the transformative role of electric vehicles in reshaping the automotive landscape. The Kia EV3’s victory underscores the strides manufacturers are making to combine sustainability with practicality and affordability. For the full breakdown of winners, visit thecarexpert.co.uk/car-of-the-year-2025.
