byGrace Buchan/18 March 2026/inAutomotive Awards, Electric Vehicle News, Kia News

Kia EV3 Wins NZ Car of the Year

At Miles Kia, we’re proud to celebrate the incredible success of the Kia EV3, a compact electric crossover that is turning heads across New Zealand and around the world. With its bold design, advanced technology, spacious interior, and rapid charging capability, the EV3 represents the very best of Kia’s innovation in sustainable mobility.

We are thrilled to share the announcement from the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild, naming the EV3 as the 38th winner of their annual New Zealand Car of the Year award.

Press Release – New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild:

The EV3, a compact sport utility crossover, is also the first vehicle from South Korean brand Kia to secure the national Car of the Year crown in this country.

Kia New Zealand managing director Todd McDonald credited the award to the efforts of the brand’s engineers, and their ongoing commitment to low-emission 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,” said McDonald.

In announcing the EV3 as the 38th winner of its annual award, New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild president Matthew Hansen noted that national honours here follows significant international award success for the vehicle.

“The New Zealand trophy follows on from the EV3 winning World Car of the Year honours for 2025,” said Hansen. “But our award is the most relevant for New Zealanders, as an assessment of the EV3 from motoring writers from all across the country, who have assessed the vehicle on our local conditions.

“To win a Car of the Year crown, a vehicle must impress the Guild’s motoring experts for multiple reasons. In the case of the EV3, those reasons include its striking exterior design, a spacious and well-finished interior, leading edge technology, polished on-road manners, top safety rating, excellent range, and rapid charging capability.

“The EV3 builds on Kia’s strong electric vehicle foundations, established over several years with models like 2024 New Zealand Car of the Year nominee, the EV9. We recognise and congratulate Kia on the way it continues to sharpen and strengthen its line-up.”

The Kia EV3 beat out nine other finalists in the New Zealand Car of the Year awards. These other finalists were the: Audi A5; Cadillac Lyriq; Geely Starray EM-I; Mercedes-Benz G 580; MG QS; Mini Aceman; Nissan Ariya; Subaru Forester; Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

The New Zealand Car of the Year award is open to all new passenger vehicles launched over a 12-month period. To be eligible for the award they must have been evaluated by over two-thirds of the Guild’s voting members, with testing undertaken over each member’s local roads, not on a track. This allows voting to be based on the same experience an owner would have, using the car in their day-to-day life, in different parts of New Zealand.

The Guild members evaluated all finalists against a range of criteria including how the vehicle performs its intended role; its styling, interior design and accommodation; fit, finish and quality; ride and refinement; performance; road-holding and handling; value for money; active and passive safety and environmental responsibility.

Some major awards the Kia EV3 has won:

World Car of the Year
UK Car of the Year
Golden Steering Wheel
Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year
TopGear.com Awards
Fleet News Awards
Red Dot Design Award

The EV3 has quickly become one of the most awarded new EVs globally, highlighted by World Car of the Year 2025 and UK Car of the Year 2025, alongside major design and category wins.

Experience the award-winning Kia EV3 for yourself at Miles Kia in Christchurch. From its striking design and spacious interior to its advanced technology and rapid charging, the EV3 sets a new standard for electric vehicles. Visit Miles Kia to take a test drive and see why this globally celebrated EV is winning fans and accolades across New Zealand and beyond.