The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has been selected as the 2024 Car of the Year by the Korean Automobile Journalists Association.
On the 7th of this month, the Korean Automobile Journalists Association announced the final results of the 2024 Car of the Year evaluation, held at the Korea Transportation Safety Authority’s Automotive Safety Research Institute in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. The Ioniq 5 N scored 80.77 points (out of 100) in overall satisfaction, earning it the title of Car of the Year on the 20th of this month. The BMW 5 Series followed closely with a score of 79.90 points. The Kia EV9 scored 79.54 points, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV scored 78.79 points, and the Genesis GV80 Coupe scored 78.76 points in the rankings.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which won the 2024 Car of the Year, also emerged as this year’s EV and Performance vehicle. As the first high-performance electric vehicle under Hyundai’s N brand, which embodies its key electrification strategy ‘Hyundai Motor Way’, the Ioniq 5 N boasts a combined output of 478 kW (650 horsepower, in boost mode) and a maximum torque of 770 Nm (78.5 kgf·m, in boost mode) based on its all-wheel-drive system. Featuring a high-performance 84.0 kWh battery and an efficient thermal management system specific to N electric vehicles, it showcases overwhelming driving performance with a remarkable acceleration capability of 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds.
Additionally, the vehicle has been enhanced for body rigidity and incorporates technologies derived from motorsport experience, providing outstanding cornering abilities. Improvements in vibration during driving lead to enhanced ride comfort, stable handling performance, and an enjoyable driving experience.
In the final assessment for the 2024 Car of the Year, a total of 13 models from nine brands, including Kia, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Chevrolet, Genesis, KG Mobility, Toyota, and Hyundai, fiercely competed.
The final evaluation utilized ten assessment criteria from the perspective of vehicle characteristics and consumer purchase intentions, which included external design, interior and emotional quality, ease of instrument manipulation, handling and driving emotions, acceleration performance, NVH (noise/vibration) performance, high-speed stability and braking performance, safety and convenience equipment, fuel economy and maintenance, as well as vehicle pricing and purchase intent.
This year’s imported car award goes to the BMW 5 Series, which achieved an overall satisfaction score of 79.90 points (out of 100). The BMW 5 Series, first introduced in 1972, is BMW’s flagship premium sedan, with over 8 million units sold worldwide. It has been transformed into the fully redesigned 8th generation model after six years. The BMW 5 Series has been praised for its unique design, combining sportiness and comfort, alongside innovative features and advanced digital services.
The SUV of the Year award went to the Kia EV9. Built on the dedicated electric vehicle platform E-GMP, the EV9 is Kia’s second model that aims to change the concept and approach to mobility. With a majestic exterior, the EV9 features a large 99.8 kWh battery that achieves a driving range of up to 501 km on a single charge under domestic standards, as well as advanced technologies like wireless (OTA) software updates that keep various vehicle functions up to date effortlessly.
The Utility Vehicle award was claimed by the Toyota Alphard. Premium minivan Alphard was developed with a goal of “comfortable mobility happiness,” equipped with various convenience features that satisfy both drivers and passengers, accommodating diverse lifestyles from VIP customers to families enjoying leisure activities. It is designed with noise/vibration reduction technology for tranquility, new shock absorbers, and equipped with a 2.5-liter hybrid engine and E-Four system that achieves high fuel efficiency of 13.5 km per liter and driving stability.
The Vehicle Design award goes to the Genesis GV80 Coupe. The GV80 Coupe, based on Genesis’s design philosophy of ‘dynamic elegance,’ is a luxury SUV that maximizes dynamism and has garnered significant attention from global customers since its concept model unveiled in New York last April. It inherits the elegance and strength of the GV80 while emphasizing a bold silhouette and high-tech sporty interior.
This year’s Innovation award was won by the N e-Shift technology applied in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Hyundai’s N e-Shift is an innovative feature that provides the shift feel of an internal combustion engine vehicle through motor control. It allows drivers to experience similar shift shocks and sensations to high-performance internal combustion engine vehicles, with synced virtual engine RPM and gear displayed in the dashboard, offering a more intuitive driving feel during acceleration and deceleration.
Jung Ji-yeon, the chair of the Car of the Year selection committee, stated, “We conducted thorough evaluations and validation processes this year, including real vehicle assessments on key test tracks like the KATRI high-speed circuit and K-CITY (Autonomous Driving Experimental City), resulting in the selection of the Car of the Year. I sincerely congratulate the brands that won after fierce competition.”
Meanwhile, the award ceremony for the 2024 Car of the Year was held on the evening of the 20th at the convention hall on the 2nd floor of the Sevit Island in Banpo, Seoul. Attendees included Lee Seung-ryeol, Director of Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Kang Nam-hoon, President of the Korea Automobile Mobility Industry Association, Chung Yoon-young, Vice President of the Korea Import Automobile Association, and other government officials, automobile industry representatives, and members of the press association, and it concluded successfully.
The Korean Automobile Journalists Association consists of 58 media outlets, including major domestic daily newspapers, broadcasting stations, telecommunications companies, online outlets, and automotive magazines, with around 200 journalists actively engaged.
Founded in August 2010, the Korean Automobile Journalists Association aims to promote the development of the automotive industry, guide the establishment of proper automotive culture, enhance journalists’ qualifications, and foster mutual exchanges among members.
The Korean Automobile Journalists Association selects and announces the ‘Car of the Year’ annually, holding discussions on various automotive-related issues, and hosting symposiums, seminars, and events like the Automotive Night to seek alternatives and promote solutions.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr