A revolution in automotive design, coupled with oodles of luxury features and powerful electrifying performance has seen electric cars sweep away the age of combustion engines in the latest World Car Awards.
And pleasingly, all the winners are, or will be by the end of 2022, available in Australia.
Hyundai Ioniq 5Â took the lead, grabbing three titles at the 2022 awards ceremony in New York on Wednesday, where five out of six categories were won by electric cars. The Audi e-tron GT won the World Performance Car title, and the Mercedes-Benz EQS won the World Luxury Car title.
The Ioniq 5 was the first electric model to bring to market vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology which allows owners to charge devices straight from the vehicle’s large lithium-ion battery, and it is innovations like this that are enabled by EV drivetrain that have apparently won the hearts of judges.
The big battery beneath the floor also allows for a new approach to design in EVs, and the interior of the Ioniq 5, which was dubbed an “electric Tardis” by The Driven expert Bryce Gaton.
Outside, the Ioniq 5 is distinctly different to any car that has come before. It has angular lines and also offers the option of an exterior V2L charge point that makes it simple to plug in an electric bike or other large battery-powered things, such as an electric Harley Livewire. Electric weekend away, anyone?
Its win as World Car of the Year was up against some serious contenders, which were also both fully electric: the Ford Mustang Mach-e, which has by all reports proved a popular addition to the US market, and the Kia EV6, which like the Ioniq 5 is available in Australia and shares the same drivetrain platform.
While the EV6 takes a more traditional approach, both internally in terms of design, it remains a fierce competitor against its South Korean cousin, and with its dynamic looks and focus on driving performance aims to appeal to a younger audience.
Beating down the EV6 in the World Car Design of the Year category, the Ioniq 5 also faced off the Audi e-tron GT, which is the German carmaker’s grand tourer take on its electric e-tron series.
Built on the same platform as the Porsche Taycan, the e-tron GT instead nabbed the World Performance Car of the Year title – this time against two combustion contenders, the BMW M3/M4 and the Toyota GR86 which shares its DNA and its entry application with the Subaru BRZ.
And its performance credentials are impressive: The Audi e-tron GT features a dual electric motor setup that produce a massive 630Nm torque and 350kW of power, which can be increased to 390kW for short periods of time.
The RS e-tron GT takes things a step further, with 21-inch alloy wheels and tungsten carbide brake discs with red callipers. It can sprint from 0-100km/hr in 3.3 seconds, with 440kW of power (up to 475kW on boost) and 830Nm torque, while the e-tron GT isn’t far behind, clocking in at 3.6 seconds.
While the Japanese contenders scored best in terms of value and marginally topped the others for market significance, the e-tron GT – which starts at $181,700 for the e-tron GT quattro and $249,700 for the range-topping RS e-tron GT in Australia – scored higher on every other mark. Unsurprisingly for a performance car, its zero-emissions credentials saw it come way out in front on the Environment scorecard.
Mercedes-Benz’ flagship EQS electric sedan, which nabbed the top luxury car award, barely won its title against another electric luxury contender, the BMW iX.
Both veritable zeppelins showcasing peak technology innovation, they headed off the Genesis GV70 by three score points. But it was the EQS that ultimately won out, with innovation as well as safety front and centre for the judges.
With a massive “hyperscreen” and avante garde ambience for those in the cockpit, Mercedes-Benz hopes to seduce those with high-tech innovation that soothes the senses.
Designer “soundscapes” that evoke Daft-Punkesque expeditions into the future and even a new perfume made specifically for its built-in “air-balance” system also seek to encapsulate both driver and passenger in a cocoon of luxury effervescence, if that happens to be your thing.
For more information on local features, specifications and pricing make sure to check out our EV models pages.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.