1 day Ago By Jil McIntosh
Article content The Women’s World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) has announced the category winners for its 2025 awards. The winners are chosen by the association’s membership of 82 female auto writers from 55 countries worldwide; and, unusually this year, all the models of vehicle selected are or will be available in Canada. A final round of voting on those six category winners will determine the Supreme Winner, which will be announced for International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025.
This is the 15 th year for the awards, which were founded by Sandy Myhre of New Zealand, and are now headed up by Marta Garcia of Spain. WWCOTY says it is “the only car awards group in the world comprised exclusively of women motoring journalists,” and is intended to recognize the best cars of the world and “to give a voice to women in the automotive world.” (Disclosure: This author is one of the three judges in Canada.
) Rather than select a “women’s car,” the judges look at all aspects — and so along with factors such as practicality and family-friendliness, they also consider engine performance, driving and handling characteristics, features, styling, value, and more. This year, 81 vehicles were eligible for the awards, which require that a vehicle be all-new or significantly updated, and launched in at least two continents or 40 countries between January and December 2024. The category winners are below.
Urban Model: Mini Cooper The Mini gets a complete overhaul for 2025 , with a longer wheelbase but shorter overall length, and all-new styling. The fourth-generation Cooper arrives as the 3-Door or 5-Door hatchback, and the third-generation Countryman ; there will also be a new Aceman model. Along with the gasoline versions, Mini’s electric models are also getting a major makeover.
In his first-drive of the Mini Cooper SE, Driving.ca’s Graeme Fletcher said , “The stiff structure, suspension, and precise steering combine so the Cooper SE dives into a corner with the sort of tenacity that’s missing from almost all of its electric rivals. The steering was fast without needing constant correction on the highway; and the suspension’s taut nature controlled body roll very well without beating the riders up when puttering around town.
” Compact SUV: Kia EV3 Kia’s all-new and all-electric EV3 will come to Canada as a 2026 model. It’ll slip into the plug-in lineup under the EV6 and three-row EV9 and, we expect, eventually replace the aging Niro EV . We’ll get it with a choice of two batteries, the larger one providing an estimated 605 kilometres (375 miles) of range; and all-wheel-drive (AWD) will eventually be offered as well.
Taking it for a spin on its first-drive launch, Graeme Fletcher said , “The drive is supported by surprisingly nimble dynamics. No, the EV3 will not be mistaken for a sports car, but it did handle everything thrown at it in fine style. The ride is comfortable and quiet; the handling is crisp with minimal body roll through a faster corner.
The secret lies in the Smart Frequency Dampers. They control unwanted body motion by using the internal mechanical valving. In simple terms, the damping firms when the speed of the body’s motion is fast, which limits unwanted roll.
The rest of the time they deliver a relaxed drive and feel.” Large Car: Audi A6 e-tron Another all-electric takes a trophy home here. The A6 e-tron is a “sportback,” in Audi -speak, being a four-door sedan with a hatch that’s hinged above the rear window, rather than a trunk lid, for extra cargo practicality.
In Canada, we’ll get the A6 e-tron and more-powerful S6 e-tron, both with standard Quattro AWD. On a first-drive launch, Jil McIntosh (yes, that’s me) said , “The S6 e-tron is deliciously fun to drive; it’s exceptionally fast but never feels so overpowered that it’s a chore to pilot it. The Quattro system favours the rear wheels — the front motor produces 202 lb-ft of torque, while the rear unit churns out 427 lb-ft.
An air suspension is standard on the S6, optional on the A6, and the ride is luxury-car smooth and composed.” Large SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe The redesigned Santa Fe arrived as a 2024 model, and bearing absolutely no resemblance to its former self. In addition to its new boxy styling (and although it’s an “H” and no doubt for Hyundai , tell us you don’t see the Under Armour clothing logo in those front lights!) it comes as a hybrid or with a zippier turbocharged gas-only engine, and now with three rows of seats.
In her review of the Santa Fe, Renita Naraine said , “Initially, I wondered why the Santa Fe was even given a third row and was not just simply a two-row with more trunk space. But going with the theme of family-friendly features, I think the Hyundai Santa Fe should be considered a two-row vehicle with an awesome bonus feature of a third row, if and when totally necessary. And on that note, it really does finally get its own space in the Hyundai lineup — not just a two-row like the Tucson and not a full three-row like the Palisade.
” 4×4 and Pickup: Toyota Land Cruiser Toyota brought the Land Cruiser name back to the Canadian market for 2024 with this all-new version . Built on Toyota’s truck platform, it uses a hybrid powertrain that delivers 465 lb-ft of torque and with a full-time, two-speed 4×4 transfer case and locking differentials. Driving the Land Cruiser on its launch, Elle Alder said , “Teetered slowly across opposed moguls, the Land Cruiser skips the sorts of creaks and moans audible when off-roading other suburb-softened SUVs such as the unibody Land Rover Defender.
This quiet is particularly impressive for a body-on-frame vehicle, and evidently owes much to the TNGA-F platform’s move from earlier rigs’ traditional C-channels to a fully boxed ladder frame.” Performance and Luxury Car: Porsche Panamera Moving into its third generation, the Panamera comes in a number of flavours, including Porsche’s entry Panamera and Panamera 4, along with E-Hybrids (plug-in hybrid, or PHEV) up to the Turbo E-Hybrid with its 512 horsepower and 567 lb-ft of torque, and a new Active Ride suspension that individually controls each wheel for improved comfort and performance. Driving the Panamera GTS, Elle Alder said , “Nuts to the power and the rest: these new-gen Panameras’ body control thus absolutely shines across twisting undulations.
Contrasted with peers that merely stiffen and squat, a measured softness characterizes the Panamera’s suspension. There’s a 10-mm drop and 50% more sway bar holding everything square, but with softer base spring rates leaving more to the discretion of the selected damper program.” The WWCOTY also handed out two additional awards.
The Best Tech Award went to China-based electric-car company BYD, on the basis of its “Blade Battery” technology. The LFP (lithium-ferro-phosphate) battery has higher energy density and is less prone to damage. The award also recognizes BYD’s dual-mode plug-in hybrid system.
The Sandy Myhre Award, which recognizes “the most committed brand for women,” was given to Volvo for its “large representation of women in the workforce,” along with its use of crash-test dummies representing pregnant women; and its partnership with Girls Who Code that “works to close the gender gap in technology.” Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X , Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice..
