Kia EV6 selected as 2022 Korean Car of the Year

Kia EV6 has been selected as the 2022 Korean Car of the Year. Kia EV6 took home three crowns for this year. Kia EV6 not only won the Car of the Year, but it also has won the EV Crossover of the Year and Design of the Year.

The Chairman of the AWAK(Automobile Writers' Association of Korea), Youngsun Ha (DailyCar) has announced on Dec. 27th that Kia EV6 has won the 2022 AWAK Car of the Year. By earning the coveted distinction, Kia has regained the crown within two years for Kia has won the 2020 Car of the Year with New Kia K5. The Kia EV6 received a total of 6116.2 points, while Genesis G90 received a total of 6041.5 points, so the competition was high. Genesis GV60 followed Kia EV6 and Genesis G90 with a total of 6015.15 points; Kia K7 hybrid received 5866.5 points and Mercedes-Benz EQS received 5737.85 points.

And the category winners are as follows: △EV Sedan: Mercedes-Benz the New EQS, △Internal Combustion Engine Sedan: Genesis G90, △EV Crossover: Kia EV6, △Internal Combustion Engine Crossover: Hyundai Casper, △EV SUV: Genesis GV60, △Internal Combustion Engine SUV: Kia Sportage.

And the Pickup Truck, MPV, Hybrid, City Car, Luxury, Performance, and Design winners are as follows: △Pickup Truck: Ssangyong the New Rexton Sports Khan, △MPV: Hyundai Staria, △Hybrid: Kia K8 Hybrid, △City Car: Hyundai Casper, △Luxury Car: Genesis G90, △Performance: Hyundai Elantra N, △Design of the Year: Kia EV6.

And for the 2022 Person of the Year, Volvo Korea’s CEO Yoon Mo, Lee has been nominated. Mr. Lee has strengthened the After Service network in Korea and led the carbon neutrality movement by discontinuing sales of diesel cars in Korea. And since his appointment as CEO, the sales of Volvo Korea have been growing in double digits.

A total of 26 AWAK Car of the Year judges gathered on the 26th at a racetrack located in Pocheon, S. Korea, and evaluated five criteria including △Design, △Performance, △Comfort/Safety, △Efficiency, and △Innovation. After test driving finalists, judges selected and announced the Car of the Year.

The Chairman of AWAK, Young-Sun Ha highlighted that last year was a very difficult year for everybody because of the COVID-19 and because of chip shortage for the automotive industry worldwide. However, because of high interest in eco-friendly vehicles in Korea and the grand shift into electrification globally had a big impact on this year’s Car of the Year.

Automobile Writers’ Association Korea will present the awards on February 16th at the Swiss Grand Hotel located in Seoul, S. Korea.

As a reference, the previous AWAK Car of the Year is as follows: △2013: Kia K9 & Lexus New ES, △2014: Mercedes-Benz S-Class, △2015: Infinity Q50, △2016: Hyundai Elantra, △2017: Renault Samsung SM6, △2018: Kia Stinger, △2019: Hyundai Palisade, △2020: Kia New K5, △2021 Genesis G80.