Just weeks after making its Southeast Asian debut at the Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS 2026), the BMW iX3 Neue Klasse has charted yet another milestone, as it was crowned as the 2026 World Car of the Year.
Presented during the 2026 World Car Awards that took place at this year’s New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), this EV SUV also bagged home the World Electric Vehicle of the Year award, and this is also the first World Electric Vehicle win for the Bavarian automaker.
Double Victory for the iX3
The iX3 Neue Klasse took the main World Car of the Year title ahead of the new, second-gen Hyundai Palisade and the third-gen Nissan Leaf, with both cars placed second and third, respectively.
As for the Electric Vehicle award, the Neue Klasse-based EV SUV pipped down close German rival Mercedes-Benz CLA EV for the title, while the Leaf was also included on the podium.
“We are delighted by this outstanding result for the BMW iX3, the first production model of the Neue Klasse. The iX3 marks the beginning of a new era for BMW in terms of design language, range and charging performance, driver assistance systems, and the user experience with the first-ever BMW Panoramic iDrive.
“Above all, the iX3 stands for the next generation of sheer driving pleasure, powered by the Heart of Joy. With 40 new or updated models coming in the next year, the innovations of the Neue Klasse will benefit our entire product portfolio,” said Mike Reichelt, Head of Neue Klasse, BMW.
Hyundai Ioniq 6N, Mazda 6e, Nio Firefly Won Subsequent Awards
Aside from the iX3, several other new EVs have also won in other non-EV-specific categories, with the most impressive being the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, who took home the World Performance Car of the Year title ahead of juggernauts like the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray and BMW M2 CS.
The next category won by an EV is the World Car Design of the Year, where the stylish Mazda 6e/EZ-6 fastback sedan edges the quirky Kia PV5 EV van and the Volvo ES90 lifted sedan. Another surprise winner is the Nio Firefly EV, which claimed the World Urban Car of the Year award ahead of the second-gen Hyundai Venue and the Baojun Yep Plus.
The last EV to claim an award this year is the Lucid Gravity three-row EV SUV, which was named World Luxury Car ahead of the Cadillac Vistiq and Volvo ES90.
