Commenced in 2005, the Audi A6 was the first car to win the World Car of the Year award. Since then, the ceremony recognises 5 different categories including performance, design, luxury, urban and the overall winner. For the year 2021, Volkswagen ID.4 has been crowned the World car of the Year.
The jury for this Award comprises 93 international journalists from 28 different countries. The process involves all the jurors driving and evaluating a wide range of cars that are either new or redesigned for the current year.
The jurors this year had extra three weeks to test drive each candidate before the first round of voting. Before the final round of voting the list of top 10 contenders were revealed. The list goes like this:
- Audi A3
- BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe
- BMW 4-Series
- Honda e
- Kia K5
- Kia Sorento
- Mazda MX-30
- Mercedes-Benz GLA
- Toyota Yaris
- Volkswagen ID.4
The World Car of the Year 2021: Volkswagen ID.4
Volkswagen ID.4 becomes the fifth Volkswagen car and its first electric car to win the World Car of the year. The ID.4 is the electric SUV aimed to take on the Tesla Model Y with a total range of 520 kilometres in one charge.
The crossover is based on Volkswagen’s MEB architecture primarily focused on electric cars. ID.4 packs a 77kWh battery pack and a rear-mounted synchronous electric motor which makes 204bhp and 310 Nm of Torque.
The ID.4 delivers more miles than the Tesla Model Y, but it sure is not quick. The Crossover takes 8.5sec to hit the 100kmph mark, whereas the Model Y only takes 3.5sec.
The ID.4 features a lot of bespoke styling elements and carries forward VW’s new design language set for EVs. It gets sleek LED headlights with wraparound LED DRLs on the grille. A new 3D LED tail light cluster and wheels with a diameter of up to 21 inches. It gets a massive 523 litres of boot space which can be expanded up to 1,575 litres.
Volkswagen plans on delivering around 150,000 units of ID.4 across the world by the end of this year. However, India is not on this list, but we can expect the EV to come around 2022.
Other winners of the World Car Awards
The Land Rover Defender won the World Car Design award edging the Honda e and Mazda MX30. Mercedes-Benz S-Class grabbed the honours for World Luxury Car. Another non-surprise on the list is the Porsche 911 Turbo winning the World Performance Car award.
The last award, the World Urban Car award goes to Honda e that is available in Japan and the European market.
The award for the World Green Car category for electric and hybrid cars was stopped in 2020. But a new category devoted specifically to electric cars will arrive next year.
Also, read: Struggles of owning a discontinued model in India
