- Apr 26, 2023
- 4 min read

Award Winning Cars of 2023

We name the winning vehicles from the most prestigious awards of this year!

The new Hyundai IONIQ 6 has won the prestigious World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle and World Car Design of the Year, lauded by an international jury for its unique aerodynamic design and outstanding all-electric range. World Car Awards revealed the results at a ceremony held in New York earlier this year. A jury of 100 automotive journalists from 32 countries chose IONIQ 6 from the top three finalists, all launched in 2022. This is Hyundai’s second straight triple honors at the World Car Awards. Last year, the jury named IONIQ 5 the winner in the same categories. The IONIQ 6 is the second model in Hyundai’s dedicated all-electric lineup brand, IONIQ. It takes full advantage of a bespoke Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) architecture to offer 800-V, ultra-fast charging capabilities and a spacious interior.

With an ultra-low drag coefficient of just 0.21, IONIQ 6 is one of the most aerodynamic and energy efficient EVs on the market. The Electrified Streamliner’s WLTP rated range on a single charge is 620 kilometres. IONIQ 6’s many features include Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, driver assistance systems and advanced connectivity with over-the-air (OTA) software updates that offer the ultimate in-car experience. The spacious and ergonomic interior takes full advantage of the elongated 2,950 mm wheelbase to provide an array of empowering features, such as Dual Color Ambient Lighting, Speed Sync Lighting, EV Performance Tune-up and Electric Active Sound Design (e-ASD), to enhance the electric mobility experience.

In addition, IONIQ 6 has won prestigious awards during the past few months as it’s been named ‘Saloon of the Year’ at the 2023 GQ Car Awards and ‘New Car of the Year’ hosted by Le Guide de l’auto. Plus, it achieved a five-star safety rating and ‘Best in Class’ selection in the ‘Large Family Car’ category from Euro NCAP. The IONIQ brand’s winning this year will help to energise Hyundai Motor’s efforts to accelerate its electrification strategy and become the world’s leading EV maker. Hyundai Motor plans to introduce 17 new BEV models by 2030, including Genesis luxury brand models, and aims to boost annual global BEV sales to 1.87 million units by 2030. The new IONIQ 6 is now available to order in Ireland from €48,295 from your local Hyundai dealer.

European Car Of The Year 2023

The all-new Jeep Avenger, the brand’s first-ever battery electric vehicle (BEV), has been named European Car of the Year 2023. The compact Jeep Avenger B-SUV is the first Jeep brand vehicle to win this prestigious award in the competition’s 60-year history. The Avenger was shortlisted with six other finalists, which were the Kia Niro, Nissan Ariya, Peugeot 408, Renault Austral, Subaru Solterra/Toyota bZ4X and the Volkswagen ID Buzz. The winner was decided by votes from an independent panel of 57 expert jurors from 22 countries, organized by nine automotive publications. The Avenger’s score was 328 points attracting 21 ‘best’ votes, and it was 87 points ahead of the second placed vehicle. The jurors from all but one country ranked the Avenger in a top three ‘podium’ position.

The introduction of the Jeep Avenger in Europe marks the beginning of the next phase of the electrification of the Jeep brand – the BEV wave – that will see four fully electric vehicles hit the market by 2025. By the end of 2030, the Jeep brand’s European sales will be 100% pure electric. The new Avenger is a compact SUV, which, at just four meters in length, is positioned in the rapidly growing B-SUV the second biggest European segment in terms of volume. Agile, capable, quiet, and fun to drive, it offers dynamic performance levels thanks to its instant torque. The new SUV is for active people who are looking for a vehicle with compact dimensions and state-of-the-art technological features.

With an electric fuel range of up to 400 km in the WLTP cycle and more than 550 km in the city. A new electric powertrain combines a unique 400-volt electric motor with 115 kilowatts and 260 Nm of maximum torque and a new 54 kWh battery. Building on the success of the exclusive 1st Edition, a fully equipped launch version of which 8,000 units were sold following its launch at the Paris Motor Show in October, orders can now be made on the entire Jeep Avenger range. The first deliveries are expected in the second quarter of this year. The all-new Jeep Avenger is available at a competitive price, aimed at facilitating the transition to electric powertrains. In countries where Government incentives are in place, the new Jeep Avenger BEV will be available in Ireland soon with prices estimated to be around €30,000.

Irish Car Of The Year 2023

At an awards ceremony held in the Westin Hotel, Dublin, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz was named as the 2023 Irish Car of the Year in association with Continental Tyres. Members of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI), the grouping that brings together some 32 of Ireland’s most experienced motoring journalists, hosted the awards event attended by Ireland’s leading car brands, importers and distributors. The awards are voted on by the members of the MMAI who individually assess each new car model that is launched in Ireland each year. The all-electric ID. Buzz uses the same 77kWh battery as the Volkswagen ID.4 and delivers a 420km range from a single charge.

Volkswagen took the top award with its latest all electric ID. Buzz model and, the van version, the ID. Buzz Cargo, won the Irish Van of the Year title at the same ceremony, a first in the history of the awards. It is the third time that an electric vehicle has taken the award as Kia EVs also won the 2022 and 2020 Irish Car of the Year titles with the all electric EV6 and e-Soul respectively. Irish buyers for the new ID. Buzz will have the choice of four specification grades to include Life, Family, Tech and Max with pricing kicking off from €67,190.