Kia Telluride wins World Car of the Year crown

The Kia Telluride has been named the 2020 World Car of the Year after coming top in a poll of 86 jurors from 24 countries.

The seven-seat SUV, pictured above, is currently only available in the North American market and took the honour ahead of the other two finalists, the Mazda3 and the Mazda CX-30.

“We think we brought the perfect vehicle to the market at the right time,” says Michael Cole, president of Kia Motors America.

Other 2020 World Car Awards winners included the all-electric Porsche Taycan, which took the world luxury car and world performance car titles, the Kia Soul electric hatchback for the world urban car category, and the Mazda3, pictured below, won the world car design section.

David Hodge, managing director of Mazda New Zealand, is delighted the company scooped the design award in the year the marque is celebrating its 100th anniversary. It also won the design title in 2016 with the MX-5. 

“The award celebrates the continuing ability of the Mazda designers and engineers to design and build outstanding vehicles,” he says.  “The stunning design and premium finish of the Mazda3 hatch and sedan has also really struck a chord with New Zealanders who enjoy the thrill of driving a car rather than an SUV.”

The annual World Car Awards started with a list of more than 50 contenders before gradually being whittled down to a top three for each of the categories. The winners were scheduled to be announced at the postponed New York International Auto Show on April 8 but were streamed online fro Toronto instead.