Following on the heels of its success in 2024, the AutoApp Car Of The Year (ACOTY) awards is back for 2025 with a bang.

ACOTY is meant to be the definitive car award that consolidates the thoughts and opinions of vehicles that we have reviewed this year, and hopefully helps you make an informed choice when choosing your next car in 2025.

Every vehicle tested and reviewed on AutoApp is rated and voted on its merits by an objective scoring system that the voting panel of experienced and diverse automotive journalists decide on.

No contenders are ruled out. Having four wheels means an automatic enrolment. This, in turn, offers every car we tested a chance to win an Autoapp Car Of The Year award.

ACOTY’s numerous categories recognise the diverse range of cars that suit various needs. However, those who simply want to know which is best will also have their quick answer.

Why ACOTY 2025?

Try it yourself. Just Google “Best Cat B car Singapore” or similar.

Chances are you’ll find AutoApp Car Of The Year 2024 results listed organically at the top or very near the top.

We intend to continue this trend with ACOTY 2025 to bring you, our esteemed readers, the highest quality content and results as accessibly as possible.

There’s also a good reason for the nomenclature ‘2025’

Although the cars were tested in 2024, it is a common practice in the car industry for models launched after July to be referred to as the following model year.

This also differentiates ACOTY from the other local awards formats. We want car companies to have a full year to market their cars with the 2025 awards.

We anticipate that customers would also be more receptive to the accolades for the cars they are shortlisting for the year ahead rather than making decisions based on last year’s models.

Scoring Criteria

Every car entered for ACOTY is judged on a standard set of criteria, with a maximum of 10 points per category:

In the event that a member on the voting panel did not get to drive that particular car, a default score of 6 points out of a maximum of 10 for each category is awarded if the judge does not have sufficient information to make a credible assessment. This is so the car will not be disadvantaged if it is not driven by all the voting members.

The other reason for a default of 6 points (and not 5 for example) is that there is an assumption that there are rarely any bad cars today. Just about every car on sale in Singapore works competently; they start, they run, the air-conditioning works and they generally don’t break down. Hence, we provide the benefit of the doubt with 6 points.

If the importer wants to improve their car’s scoring chances, they will arrange for the cars to be driven by the rest of the voting panel.

The road to ACOTY

To qualify for this ACOTY, each car must have been launched between 1 September 2023 and 31 October 2024. Also, the qualifying model has to be on sale the following year.

Next, the car must have been driven by at least one member of the voting panel. This is to ensure that no “armchair reviews” are at play and opinions are based on actual experience; not hearsay or what has been said in other reviews. All eligible cars will also have an AutoApp review published before being entered, so anyone is able to browse and read up on how each car fared.

To be in contention for the ACOTY Grand Prize, a car must first top its individual category on points. After securing a first-round victory, it will then be judged against other category winners.

For example, in the case of the Overall Best Cat A vehicle, the winner of the Cat A Hatchback will be compared against the Cat A Sedan, Cat A SUV, Cat A EV and so on.

Second-round or Overall winners will then head into the final round where they will be judged again to be worthy of the overall Grand Prize, which is the AutoApp Car Of The Year.

Now that that’s all cleared up (take a deep breath), here are the categories:

First-Round ACOTY Categories

Second-Round ACOTY Categories (Finalists)

From these 11 finalists, the AutoApp Car Of The Year will be chosen.

The following series of articles will make for fascinating reading as we get into the surprises and conundrums to decide which car emerges above the rest. Stay tuned.

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV and on TikTok!

It all comes down to this. If you were following our AutoApp Car Of The Year series till now, or have just tuned in, this is the article to read.

23 Round 1 winners, which then narrowed down to 11 Round 2 winners. Battles were fought hard across all categories, and now these 11 winners will fight their last but arguably hardest fight yet – for all the glory and the crown to AutoApp Car Of The Year 2024.

But how did you guys pick a winner?

Good question. All 11 cars deserve to be on the top spot, so the team had a very challenging time trying to decide on the eventual winner.

Like the Editors’ Choice, we felt that the best way to single out a winner would be to shortlist four of the best cars first. These cars were cherry-picked by each of us, and represented our opinions on which car could make it into the winners’ circle. After which, a second round of voting commenced, and the eventual winner was chosen from this elusive pool.

Enough said, let’s crack on with our winners, shall we?

So which cars were shortlisted?

Hyundai Ioniq 5 – Winner Of Editors’ Choice

It isn’t hard to see why the Hyundai Ioniq 5 made it here. The folks from South Korea have really knocked this one out of the park, and you just love it the minute you get into it. Plus, Singapore received a special Cat A variant too, which is a huge plus point in our ever-expensive cityscape.

Porsche 911 – Winner Of Overall Best Sports Car

I mean, why wouldn’t the Porsche 911 make it to this list? Spend the best bit of 70-odd years perfecting a rear-engine, rear-drive sports car format that shouldn’t work as well as it does, and out comes out a true masterpiece. That’s the 911 for you.

Revered by automotive enthusiasts, the 911 has carved out an unrivalled position at the very pinnacle of its class, captivating generation after generation with its unique blend of performance, style, and innovation.

BMW X1 sDrive16i – Winner Of Overall Best Category A Car

Another Cat A winner in our midst, and one that is definitely well deserved – the BMW X1. SUVs. Love or hate them, they’re here to stay, and it seems the general public can’t get enough of them. A tall stature, good boot space, room for 5 to fit comfortably, and it’s off to the races.

BMW has a proven track record of great SUVs, or SAVs as they’re more affectionately coined. The German marque is no stranger to the crossover platform, and it has since released this masterpiece.

The BMW X1 was never designed to be that overly athletic person at the gym, nor does it try to pose as one. Its ease-of-use and can-do spirit are what most people need in a city-oriented SUV, and the X1 delivers that experience to a tee.

Nissan X-Trail e-POWER – Winner Of Overall Best SUV

Ever the popular bodystyle, the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER takes the Japanese marque to a new high, exemplifying how internal combustion still has a place in today’s electric climate. It’s no wonder it crushed its way to the very top, and now sits as part of our top 4 contenders.

The SUV segment is as crowded as they come, and the X-Trail elevates your perception of what an SUV can be, showing its competitors how it’s done. 

So which car emerged victorious?

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, we are here to crown a winner, aren’t we?

AutoApp Car Of The Year
BMW X1 sDrive16i

And with that, the BMW X1 has been crowned victorious! It was a really tough fight, but the BMW X1 just had the perfect balance of practicality, tech gizmos, space, and looks to make it a true standout. Oh, and it does all of that while still being a Cat A runner. Simply marvellous.

BMW really hit a home run with this, and we couldn’t agree more. And we are confident most of you guys out there will feel the same. If you are looking for a car that can do it all, look no further.

And on that bombshell, we are delighted to announce that the 2024 AutoApp Car Of The Year awards have come to an end. Thank you for sticking around with us, and congratulations to the BMW X1 for winning AutoApp Car of the Year 2024!

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!

How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

Price, COE category and powertrain once again notwithstanding, the Overall Best Sedan is chosen from the sedans that won in Round 1. Check out their respective Round 1 awards below.

Meet The Contenders

BMW i7 xDrive 60

The BMW i7 xDrive 60 offers so much luxury car for its price. It’s expensive, no doubt, and we appreciate the technology inside that would keep wealthy tech geeks happy for hours on end and is pretty easy to use.

We are especially impressed by how well the i7 drives and rides, and how much of a compelling proposition it has become to the upper crust of society, and this is why it won Best Luxury EV in Round 1.

BMW i4 Gran Coupé eDrive35

Despite it being called a “Gran Coupé,” the BMW i4 Gran Coupé eDrive35 is really a sedan with a sloping roofline, which is why it makes an appearance here.

The i4 brings brand cachet and sufficient technology to the table while driving, riding and handling well like a BMW should. Being a unique contender vis-a-vis price in the premium EV market segment sets the BMW i4 Gran Coupé eDrive35 apart from everyone else, and it’s also the most frugal premium EV we’ve tested to date. No surprise then that the i4 clinched Best Premium EV in Round 1.

Hyundai IONIQ 6

The Hyundai IONIQ 6 offers a very compelling price-to-performance ratio in its market segment. From a tech-focused interior to acceleration that can cause one to draw a sharp breath, there is much here that appeals to us.

Throw in the decidedly Saab-esque swooping and quirky aerodynamic exterior design, and it’s not difficult to see why it snaps heads and gets fingers pointing as it drives past. This is why it won Best Cat B EV in Round 1.

Peugeot 408

One cannot deny how well one will stand out and make a statement while driving the Peugeot 408. That it’s offered at a very compelling price-point won it Best Cat A Sedan in Round 1 and makes an appearance here to fight for this title.

So who won?

Four compelling Round 1 winners in their respective categories, but only one can claim this award.

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 Sedan
BMW i7 xDrive60

Despite the BMW i7 xDrive 60 being so expensive, it also offers so much for the price. This is why it won Best Overall Sedan.

Regardless of its arguably polarizing looks, the Bavarian manufacturer must be applauded for daring to break with tradition and create something that snaps heads and looks like nothing else on the road. Moreover, the four of us in the judging panel agree that the i7 is objectively the better 7 Series when compared to its internal combustion 735i sibling.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points in Round 1 here.

Congratulations to the BMW i7 xDrive 60 for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2024 Overall Best Sedan!

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!

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

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!