This one’s a wildcard. Four vehicles were shortlisted by the ACOTY team, vying for the title of ACOTY 2024 Editors’ Choice.
How Does ACOTY Define This Class?
Well, there weren’t specifically any criteria that we referenced in order to determine what vehicles participate in this category. The plan was simple: each of us would shortlist a car that we really, really liked, and these four cars would do battle to determine which would be the overall victor.
Of course, we couldn’t pick cars just with our hearts. The car each of us chose had to blow our expectations out of the water, and possess that special desirability factor that makes our hearts yearn for more. A car that, throughout the course of 2023, evoked so much emotion and joy that we just couldn’t get enough of it.
Now do you get the picture? Great! Let’s crack on.
Meet The Contenders
Hyundai Ioniq 5
First up we have the Hyundai Ioniq 5, shortlisted by Sheldon.
“The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the first car to be made in Singapore since 1978. While awarding it just for this recognition is enough, the Ioniq 5 is also accomplished enough to stand on its own merits.
It’s a car that we Singaporeans can be proud of; it’s well made, drives well, and perhaps crucially, well-spec’d enough to make its owner feel like they’re getting good value for what they’re paying – not easy in this COE era.
What’s more, a “Singapore-only” Cat A version makes this car feel tailor-made for our market. At $200k, it’s not cheap by any means, but comparatively accessible enough for most car owners to aspire to and celebrate this achievement together. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a car that Singaporeans can be proud of.”
BMW 330i Touring
Next up is the BMW 330i Touring, cherry-picked by Joel.
“The 330i Touring remains high on the list of cars I did not want to return after driving in it. It is packed with enough tech, power and space to meet the standards of the modern enthusiast and – it’s really all you need in a car.
Like I bravely claimed in my review, “…the M3 Touring will always be the distinct halo model, but the 330i Touring is the one I’d drive any day, every day.”
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
Vivek’s shining candidate is the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid.
“The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, as I’ve mentioned in my article, is THE vehicle I went into reviewing that I truly wanted to dislike, but failed royally at. Although it didn’t win the Cat B Hybrid SUV Category award, I strongly felt that it deserved recognition nonetheless.
For one, it firmly convinced me that it IS a Corolla. For another, it is the first four-wheeled vehicle I’ve tested that’s put in a fuel economy figure that’s come dangerously close to my motorcycle’s worst consumption. Imagine that! It does everything competently, and is wanting for little.
The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid makes an extremely strong case to be “my family’s first SUV” for the buyer who knows little about cars and just wants reliable and frugal transportation from A to B. Frugal. If only COE prices didn’t contract a severe case of insanity… le sigh.
I know I stand alone in choosing the Corolla Cross Hybrid, but it’s still my choice.”
Toyota GR86
Rounding out the list, Sean’s warrior of choice is the Toyota GR86.
“The Toyota GR86 is less of a sports car and more of a love letter to car and driving enthusiasts. The automotive industry as we know it is now at an impasse. Gone are the days when screaming internal combustion engines were commonplace, now being silenced, literally, by the soulless whirrs of new-fangled electric technology.
But, like many things in nature, the art of survival finds a way to break through the monotony. In the face of an electric revolution, Toyota had created a true gem of a car, one that excites one’s subconscious and provides a scintillating, visceral sensation.
It’s almost like a time capsule, transporting one back to the golden age of Japanese sports cars.”
So who won?
These four are all competent in their own right, and it’s extremely compelling how these four have ended up in the same boxing ring. But, like all competitions, only one can claim this award.
Unlike other categories, these four cars underwent another round of voting. Each team member had four points to barter and award, but the catch was we couldn’t vote for our individual shortlisted cars.
AutoApp Car Of The Year Editors’ Choice
Hyundai Ioniq 5
| Vehicle | Points Tally |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 6 |
| BMW 330i Touring | 4 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid | 2 |
| Toyota GR86 | 4 |
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has taken the crown! Badge snobs will scorn it, but with such sharp looks, you can clearly see why Hyundai is confident in taking the fight to the premium boys, and why we confidently chose it as well.
The Ioniq 5 stands as a testament to Hyundai’s belief that an electric vehicle can be both functional and visually enticing. It challenges the traditional European approach of cautiously embracing electric mobility, proving that practicality can coexist with desirability.
With its groundbreaking design and innovative features, the Ioniq 5 is a declaration of war in the electric vehicle arena, and it appears to find itself clinching our Editors’ Choice award.
Congratulations to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2024 Editors’ Choice!
Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!
