EV3 claims national honour

The Kia EV3 has been named the 2026 New Zealand Car of the Year by the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild.

It is the first such success for the South Korean marque and it becomes the sixth all-electric vehicle to win the gong in the past seven years.

Todd McDonald, Kia New Zealand managing director, credits the award to the efforts of the brand’s engineers and their ongoing commitment to low-emissions vehicles.

“This award is recognition of the amazing work Kia and its team all around the world are doing to shape the future of sustainable personal mobility, at the same time helping to make the planet a better place through innovative, clean and thought-provoking transport solutions,” he says.

The EV3 won the annual prize ahead of nine other finalists, which were the Audi A5, Cadillac Lyriq, Geely Starray EM-I, Mercedes-Benz G 580, MG QS, Mini Aceman, Nissan Ariya, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

Motoring writers from across the country assessed the vehicles against a range of criteria, including how the vehicle performs its intended role, its styling, interior design, performance, value for money, safety features and environmental responsibility.