EVs dominated the new car market in 2024, and if this trend is anything to go by, it will only continue upwards. So, which candidate will walk away with the title of Overall Best EV?
How Does ACOTY Define This Class?
The title says it all. Only full EVs are eligible for this category; doesn’t matter which shape or how much power output each car produces, they are all counted in this EV roundup.
This is probably the biggest list of contenders we have in a single category for ACOTY, so try and stick with us to the end.
Meet The Contenders
MG 4
The MG 4 beat out the ORA Good Cat to win Best Cat A Hatchback EV. It’s fun nature and stylish looks are an instant winner in our eyes.
BYD Seal
The BYD Seal beat the Hyundai IONIQ 6 and Tesla Model 3 110 to be crowned Best Cat A Sedan EV. The judging panel was impressed with just how much kit you get for your money.
BMW iX1
The BMW iX1 fought well against its own sibling, the BMW iX2, plus the Citroen e-C4X, Hyundai Kona Electric, Opel Mokka-e and the Peugeot e-2008 and won Best Cat A SUV EV.
We felt that the iX1 offered the most complete value proposition in its class, and its styling is both modern and familiar.
MINI Cooper SE
The MINI Cooper SE beat out the Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Golf R to win Best Cat B Hatchback.
MINI did a fantastic job with the fifth-generation MINI Cooper SE, presenting it as a huge upgrade from its predecessor.
Hyundai IONIQ 6
The Hyundai IONIQ 6 triumphed over the BYD Seal and Tesla Model 3 to be crowned Best Cat B Sedan EV.
The Hyundai IONIQ 6 is a winning formula of style, space and technology. You simply cannot go wrong with this package.
Lotus Emeya
The Lotus Emeya fought well against the BMW i5, Polestar 2 and Porsche Taycan and won Best Premium Sedan EV.
Like a spaceship on wheels, the Lotus Emeya’s features are truly out of this world.
Zeekr X
The Zeekr X won against the Volvo EX30, Smart #1 Pro+, XPeng G6, Volkswagen ID.4, Volkswagen ID.5 and Omoda E5 to win Best Budget SUV EV.
Even without taking into account its fantastic sound system, the Zeekr X is still a handsome all-rounder that will please many a buyer.
Nissan Ariya
The Nissan Ariya scored better than the Audi Q4 e-tron, Mercedes-Benz EQB and Mercedes-Benz EQA to win Best Single Motor SUV EV.
Nissan finally has a new EV model after the Leaf, and the Japanese designers made sure it was a properly good one to boot.
MINI Countryman SE
The MINI Countryman won against the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Zeekr X, Smart #1 Brabus, Volkswagen ID.4 GTX, Volkswagen ID.5 GTX, Skoda Enyaq, Kia EV9 and Porsche Macan EV (what a mouthful) to win Best Dual Motor SUV EV.
Despite it sharing the same platform as the BMW iX1 and iX2, the MINI Countryman still retains its quintessential MINI charm, giving it tons of character.
Denza D9
The Denza D9 locked horns and won against the MG M9 and Opel Combo-e Life to win Best MPV EV.
BYD has made sure that the Denza’s first impressions were on point, and it truly delivered on all fronts.
Lotus Eletre
The Lotus Eletre battled hard against the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Audi SQ8 e-tron and Polestar 4 to win Best Luxury SUV EV.
Lotus has come a long way since its roster of sports cars, and the Eletre proves it can rock in a new direction with confidence.
Porsche Taycan
The Porsche Taycan fought hard against the Lotus Emeya, Polestar 2, Polestar 4 and Audi SQ8 e-tron to win Best Performance EV.
You can’t beat the king, and that king is the Taycan. It is simple exhilarating to drive, and truly showcases what true performance EVs are capable of pushing.
Tesla Model 3 Performance
The Tesla Model 3 Performance flashed past the BYD Seal to win Best Value Performance EV.
Arguably, it is still the benchmark for EV performance. While the stark cabin might not be as big of a hit, the Model 3 is fantastic dynamically.
BMW i5 Touring
The BMW i5 Touring out-wagoned the Skoda Octavia Combi and Subaru WRX Wagon to win Best Wagon.
Wagons are your practical friend, and the BMW i5 Touring proves that you can have an engaging ride whilst being extremely functional too.
So who won?
That was an exhaustive list. We got eleven excellent award-winning EVs here, and suffice to say you’ll be happy with any of them. However, we in the judging panel had a job to do, and that was to choose an overall winner.
Where the points tally in Round 1 was the final determinant of each category’s winner, here in Round 2, points are taken into consideration but are not the final arbiter of victory.
AutoApp Car Of The Year Overall Best EV
Denza D9
| Vehicle | Points Tally |
| BYD Seal | 411 |
| BMW iX1 | 402 |
| MG 4 | 334 |
| MINI Cooper SE | 398 |
| Hyundai IONIQ 6 | 429 |
| Lotus Emeya | 401 |
| Zeekr X | 362 |
| Nissan Ariya | 401 |
| MINI Countryman SE | 398 |
| Denza D9 | 423 |
| Lotus Eletre | 377 |
| Porsche Taycan | 399 |
| Tesla Model 3 Performance | 352 |
| BMW i5 Touring | 349 |
And our overall winner is the Denza D9! No other brand or car made quite as big of a splash as the Denza D9 when it was launched.
This is a car for executives, for families who want a premium experience on the road, a space that offers both function and form. A car that is definitely deserving of this win.
More on the scoring categories used to derive points in Round 1 here.
Congratulations to the Denza D9 for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2025 Overall Best EV!
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