How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

Every Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) that qualifies for this category needs to be powered solely by electricity from battery packs, propelled by a single electric motor, sold with a Category B Certificate of Entitlement (Cat B COE), and priced above S$250,000 in Singapore’s market.

Meet The Contenders

Representing Stuttgart, Germany are two facelifted Mercedes-Benz siblings, the EQA (left) and EQB (right).

Flying the flag for Ingolstadt, Germany is the Audi Q4 e-tron (left), and championing Japan is the Nissan Ariya (right).

The Mercedes-Benz EQA takes the efficiency-driven EQ design aesthetic and shrink-wraps it onto a more petite package. With plush and upmarket-feeling materials on the inside, along with sufficient tech to keep younger owners happy, the EQA offers a silent cruise to those who journey within it.

The Mercedes-Benz EQB, brings a taller and more practical body shape to the Cat B single motor SUV game. It’s more spacious on the inside, can seat seven in a pinch, and has sufficient tech. It’s easy to drive, easy to place, and silent and comfortable on the move.

The Audi Q4 e-tron offers a silent, smooth and refined ride in a coupe-like body style. However, it can also cleanly carve out corners if one so desires. Audi’s implementation of tech is spot-on without being overboard, and the interior feels upmarket and is practical.

The Japanese take on the Cat B single motor EV SUV comes in the form of the Nissan Ariya. Futuristic and familiar feeling, the Ariya is streamlined and elegant on the outside and upmarket-minimalist on the inside. With well-integrated tech, it’s spacious, practical and drives with the agility of a sports car.

Decisions, decisions…

AutoApp Car Of The Year Best Cat B Single Motor SUV EV
Nissan Ariya

The Nissan Ariya takes the W with 401 points. Despite delays due to the chip shortage, Nissan has produced a very respectable and desirable electric SUV. And it showed with our votes being unanimous.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points here.

Congratulations to the Nissan Ariya for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2025 Best Cat B Single Motor SUV EV!

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

How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

Hatchbacks and liftbacks that qualify for this category need to be sold with a Category B Certificate of Entitlement (COE Cat B). Done deal.

Meet The Contenders

Representing Germany is the Volkswagen Golf R (left), flying the British flag is the Mini Cooper SE (right), and championing Japan is the Toyota Prius.

If it’s hot-hatchery you’re after, the Volkswagen Golf R needs no introduction. 315hp and 420Nm of torque make this top-shelf Golf take off like a rocket. Practicality doesn’t take a backseat either, as it has very usable back seats and boot. Strap your family in and go for a blast!

The Mini Cooper SE may be electric, but it drives and feels like a Mini should. The interior is very cheerfully appointed, there’s enough tech to keep the Mini driver happy, and it’s practical for its relatively diminutive size too!

The Toyota Prius received the title “King of Full Hybrids” in our review because that’s how brilliantly economical its hybrid system is. Add to that Toyota’s legendary reliability, straightforward interior and decent luggage space and you’ve got a family liftback that’s hard to beat.

One ICE, one pure electric and one hybrid. Interesting mix we have this year. And so, the winner is…

AutoApp Car Of The Year Best Cat B Hatchback
Mini Cooper SE

The winner with 398 points is the Mini Cooper SE. Mini has absolutely nailed its traditional formula in an electric vehicle. That it is still so much fun to drive is what gave it the resounding win.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points here.

Congratulations to the Mini Cooper SE for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2025 Best Cat B Hatchback!

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

How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

First, each contender needs to be a hatchback. Next, they need to be powered and propelled solely by electricity from battery packs. Finally, they need to be sold with a Category A Certificate of Entitlement (Cat A COE). Done.

Meet The Contenders

We have the Ora Good Cat (left) and the MG4 Trophy (right), both made in China and sold in Singapore under COE Category A. Let the duel begin!

The Ora Good Cat just cannot be beat for cute, captivating looks. Sufficient tech juxtaposes against retro touches in this EV hatchback.

Although compact, it offers sufficient space, practicality and a comfortable ride combined with decent range from its battery pack.

The party piece of the Anglo-Chinese MG4 Trophy is it’s rear-wheel drive. This allows enthusiasts to have some good fun in the twists and turns, and the MG4 is ever willing to play.

Sharp looks combine with good space and practicality. There’s sufficient tech inside, and this EV hatchback is easy to drive and park.

Although each of these Cat A hatchback EVs is unique, we had to decide on a winner. And decide we did.

AutoApp Car Of The Year Best Cat A Hatchback EV
MG4 Trophy

The winner with 334 points is the MG4 Trophy. We felt that it offers a great value proposition in the Cat A Hatchback EV segment, and its practicality and spaciousness is really good. That it’s rear-wheel drive is the cherry on the cake.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points here.

Congratulations to the MG4 Trophy for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2025 Best Cat A Hatchback EV!

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

How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

Price and powertrain don’t matter. From affordable to astronomical, internal combustion, hybrid and battery electric all make an appearance here. The Overall Best SUV is chosen from among a pool of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) that won in Round 1. Check out their respective Round 1 awards below.

Meet The Contenders

BYD Atto 3

The BYD Atto 3 won Best Cat A SUV EV because the judging panel was impressed with how efficient it is, and how it feels the more complete package as an EV SUV. Being roomy, spacious, comfortable, and tech-focused, it also has a clean exterior design that will appeal to many.

BMW X1 xDrive16i

The BMW X1 sDrive16i brings technological accoutrements and a loud paint colour to the table, but tempers that with practicality, ease of driving and a punchy engine and smooth gearbox. Plus no one can argue with the BMW brand cachet, which is why it won Best Cat A SUV in Round 1.

Audi SQ 7

The Audi SQ7 features a clean design language that offers so much practicality and pace at its price point. Despite competing in the luxury SUV segment, value-for-money matters, which is why the SQ7 decisively won the Best Luxury SUV award.

BMW XM

The BMW XM is the absolute most expensive vehicle in the ACOTY 2024 line-up. What won it the Best Premium Hybrid/Plug-in Hybrid award in Round 1 is that the XM is a strong statement in the automotive industry with its ballsy go-big-or-go-home nature.

Hyundai Palisade

The Hyundai Palisade comes across as well-deserving of its palatial-sounding name. It is the most competent SUV on test in its segment, and the practicality and comfort it offers, combined with value-proposition is why the Palisade won Best Premium SUV.

Audi Q3

The Audi Q3 feels like the most grown-up and well-put-together SUV in its segment to the judging panel. Audi’s renowned build quality and solidity, along with a clean and premium design aesthetic feature here. With ample technology and an interior that will take five occupants without too much bother, its frugality and comfortable nature clinched it Best Category B SUV in Round 1.

Volvo XC40 Recharge

The Volvo XC40 Recharge won Best Cat B SUV EV due to its price and the upmarket experience one receives for the money. Its clean minimalist aesthetic, an interior that exudes functionality, practicality and eco-friendly material choices, and a battery pack that offers very good real-world range makes the XC40 Recharge a winner in our books.

Nissan X-trail e-Power

The Nissan X-Trail e-Power shines in its ability to be cost-friendly, extremely practical, and stylish, doing everything a typical Singaporean family would desire. All of this while putting a smile on your face and wallet. This is why it won the Best Cat B Hybrid/Plug-in Hybrid award.

So who won?

Eight SUVs to choose from, with each that shines as a beacon of light in their own categories. This was no easy task for the judging panel. However, once all was said and done, there was the one.

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 SUV
Nissan X-trail e-Power

The Nissan X-Trail e-Power brings so much to the table at its price point. It is well-appointed, very comfortable and easy to drive, and that pretty much sealed the deal for the judging panel, who unanimously love this SUV anyway.

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

Congratulations to the Nissan X-Trail e-Power for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2024 Overall Best SUV!

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

How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

The Overall Best Cat B Vehicle is chosen from among five Cat B winners from Round 1. Check out their respective Round 1 awards below.

Meet The Contenders

Audi Q3

The Audi Q3 feels like the most grown-up and well-put-together SUV of the trio to the judging panel, which is why it won the Best Cat B SUV category. Audi’s renowned build quality and solidity, along with a clean and premium design aesthetic puts it in contention here.

MG 4 EV

The MG 4 EV won Best Cat B Hatchback EV because how it’s priced versus what it offers in return makes it a spanking value and performance proposition. Which car enthusiast wouldn’t salivate at the prospect of a rear-wheel-driven hot hatch at this price point?

Nissan X-Trail e-Power

In this era of historically high COEs, the Nissan X-Trail e-Power is sufficiently well-equipped to offer its owner a premium-feeling experience for a car that, relatively speaking, is positioned as a mass-market model. This is why it won the Best Cat B Hybrid SUV award. It also helps that the mother of one of the judges absolutely loves it to bits.

Hyundai IONIQ 6

The Hyundai IONIQ 6 won Best Cat B EV due to its swooping, head-snapping looks, well-appointed interior that’s also sufficiently tech-infused, and performance that doesn’t disappoint one bit. Vivek is still waxing lyrical about “the Korean Saab” by the way.

BMW 330i Touring

That the BMW 330i Touring won the Best Cat B Premium Vehicle category is no surprise. Sufficient space to carry five people and their luggage, the way it drives, the way it handles and the way it makes one feel is why it is a contender here.

So who won?

All five vehicles are noteworthy in their own right. The diversity represented here made the judging panel’s work that much more difficult. However, there could only be one at the end.

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 Cat B Vehicle
BMW 330i Touring

The BMW 330i Touring won by virtue of its aforementioned offerings, plus the brand cachet that the blue and white roundel brings to dinner tables and at valet parking services. This is one desirable wagon.

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

Congratulations to the BMW 330i Touring for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2024 Overall Best Cat B Vehicle!

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

How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

Ideally, vehicles need to sit at or above the 50th price percentile to be considered ‘premium’. They must also not have appeared in other Round 1 categories as contenders. Finally, those that qualify for this category need to be sold with Category B COEs. Quite simple.

Meet The Contenders

They’re all German. Jawohl, jawohl. Clockwise from top left, the BMW 330i Touring and 318i from Bavaria are in contention. And from Wolfsburg, we have the Volkswagen Arteon.

With the BMW 330i Touring, practicality takes a big step up. With enough space to carry five people and their luggage, this is arguably the perfect premium vehicle for trips up north if one doesn’t want to get into an SUV.

There’s the obligatory BMW-levels of tech in here, and the way the 330i Touring drives and handles is why people buy BMWs in the first place.

That’s not to say that its sedan sibling BMW 318i isn’t practical; just not as practical. But, different strokes for different folks. The human space in the cabin is the same. The tech is similar.

Being a sedan, the 318i is a bit lighter, and more affordable as an entry point to premium BMW ownership. It rides and handles well, and that is why people buy BMWs in the first place. Yes, it needs to be said again.

The Volkswagen Arteon has sleek, sharp looks going for it. The outside and inside feel premium for the most part, and the Arteon drives easily, rides comfortably and handles very well.

If you want to look stylish during your daily commute, it’s very hard to argue against the Arteon.

Three excellent choices, but one has to be chosen.

AutoApp Car Of The Year Best Cat B Premium Vehicle
BMW 330i Touring

The resounding win goes to the BMW 330i Touring with 398 points. All four of us love this car and the points speak to that.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points here.

Congratulations to the BMW 330i Touring for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2024 Best Cat B Premium Vehicle!

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