Women pick 2024’s best cars

Now in its 15th edition, the Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year judges are getting close to naming an overall winner. PLUS – gallery

Posted on 08 January, 2025

The Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) has announced the winners of eight categories in this year’s awards with the successful models now vying for the overall title, which will be announced in March.

Judges have dished out gongs across six vehicle categories, along with prizes for the marque with the best technology and the Sandy Myhre Award for the most pro-woman brand.

Mini’s Cooper took out the urban model title, the Kia Ev3 scooped the compact SUV crown, Audi’s A6 e-tron was named winner of the large car section and Hyundai’s Santa Fe topped the large SUV category.

Toyota’s Land Cruiser prevailed in the 4x4 and pick-up class, while the Porsche Panamera won the performance and luxury car title.

Awards organisers say the winners represent excellence in terms of safety, driving, technology, comfort, efficiency, environmental impact, value for money and gender equality.

There were 81 candidates in the running for the WWCOTY awards, with all of them meeting the requirement of having been launched in at least two continents or 40 countries between January and December 2024.

These six winners now go through to the final round of judging to determine the overall WWCOTY for 2025, which will be announced on the organisation’s YouTube Channel at midnight (NZ time) on March 6.

Meanwhile, BYD claimed the prize for best tech and Volvo was voted the brand most committed to women.

This is the 15th edition of the awards by WWCOTY, an organisation that consists of 82 women motoring journalists from 55 countries on five continents.

Marta Garcia, president, says: “The work of the juries has not been easy because this year there have been more contenders than ever before. There are new brands and models with an ever-increasing quality.

“No vote has been given at random. They have all been subjected to demanding test drives, detailed analysis and demanding competitor studies. That's why the WWCOTY awards are a benchmark for millions of buyers around the world.”