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For TV there’s Emmys and for music there’s Grammys. But for cars, one of the biggest nights is the World Car Awards. Every year at the New York Auto Show, more than 100 experts from around the world put on tuxedos and gowns and gather to shower praise on the best new models. This year, Hyundai’s Inoniq 6 won a grip of awards, and Hyundai’s SangYup Lee also picked up a Person of the Year award.

This year’s awards come on the heels of the Ioniq 5 winning big in 2022. Congratulations, Hyundai, but exactly how many awards did you win?

Ioniq 6 won World Car of the Year

Hyundai Ioniq 6 in Silver
Hyundai Ioniq 6 | Hyundai

The Ioniq 5 won World Car of the Year in 2022 for Hyundai, so it makes sense that the new 2023 sedan version of that wagon, or crossover, would win the World Car of the Year award for 2023. To be eligible for the award, the company must make at least 10,000 units annually (sorry, Ferrari) and must be produced below a luxury car price point. The Ioniq 6 is basically a sedan version of the Ioniq 5 crossover that launched in 2022. It has about 360 miles of range, and comes in three versions, a 149-horsepower version, a 225-horsepower version and a hot 320-horsepower dual-motor version. You can order one with rear or all-wheel drive.

The BMW X1 SUV and the Kia Niro were in the top three. The X1 is a small, gas-powered, SUV that was recently redesigned to be larger and more powerful. Kia’s Niro is gaining fans for its wide variety of engine choices, from gas to electric, and for its funky styling. Several reviewers, including Consumer Reports, have praised the Ioniq 6.

Ioniq 6 won the World Electric Vehicle award, too

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 interior
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 | Hyundai

In 2022, the Hyundia Ioniq 5 also won the World Electric Vehicle of the Year. In this category, it edged out 20 competitors, including the Lucid Air and BMW i7 which came in second and third. Again, last year’s top World Electric Vehicle was the Ioniq 5. The Ioniq 6 is slightly cheaper than the Inoiq 5 and shares its drivetrain with that crossover.

The base Ioniq 6 has a single motor, but as you step up the range you can get more power and more range. Like the 5, the 6 has paddles on the steering wheel to control regenerative braking options.

The Ioniq 6 also won World Car Design of the Year

The World Car Design of the Year is the one that is most subjective of all of the awards. The Inoiq 6 has styling that seems to evoke the Tesla Model 3, but also sprinkles in a bit of Porsche Taycan on the back end with its truncated hatch, and a little bit of BMW in the door sills. Together, all of the elements work to create a car that neither blends in nor stands out too much. However, it seems to be designed to take on the Model 3, which is not just the best-selling electric car today but was the second-best-selling car overall in America in 2022.

In this category, the Land Rover Range Rover and the Lucid Air came in second and third.

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Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.