Kia EV3 Crowned 2025 Car of the Year at Autotrader Driver’s Choice Awards

In a public-powered verdict, the Kia EV3 has been named the 2025 Car of the Year at the Autotrader Driver’s Choice Awards, as voted by over 225,000 UK car owners. This marks the sixth consecutive year that an electric vehicle has taken home the top prize, highlighting the growing shift toward EVs.

Unlike traditional automotive awards judged by experts, the Autotrader awards are unique in being based entirely on real-owner feedback. Covering key metrics like performance, reliability, and everyday usability, the 2025 edition strongly favored electric vehicles — which won 10 out of 25 categories.

The spotlight was on the Kia EV3, but several other EVs earned accolades:

BMW i4: Best Car for Families — for its practicality and luxury

Hyundai Ioniq 5: Best Car for City Drivers — a surprising pick given its size

Skoda Enyaq: Best Car for Dog Owners — thanks to its space and flexibility

Porsche Macan EV: Most Fun to Drive — delivering thrilling all-electric performance

Renault Scenic E-Tech: Best Car for Long Distances — with up to 623 km of range

Omoda 5: Best Value New Car — for its affordable pricing and strong features

Non-EVs also made an impact:

Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid: Best PHEV — for those not ready to go fully electric

Volkswagen Golf: Best Car for New Drivers — still a favorite for beginners

Land Rover Defender 110: Most Loved Car — a classic that still wins hearts

On the brand front:

Lexus: Most Reliable Brand

Dacia: Best Value Brand

Tesla: Best Tech Brand

BYD: Most Loved Brand — a surprising but strong win for the rising Chinese manufacturer

Autotrader’s editors also gave out two special awards:

Editor’s Choice: Renault 5 – retro-inspired EV selected by Erin Baker

YouTube Director’s Choice: Ferrari 12Cilindri – a celebration of V12-powered excellence by Rory Reid

This year’s results reflect not only the growing popularity of EVs, but also the diverse needs of modern drivers — from family convenience and canine companions to city navigation and long-range road trips.