16 vehicles from 13 brands advance in '2027 Car of the Year' first-half review

Final judging set for Q1 next year

8 categories, 60 media outlets each cast one vote

[Provided by the Korean Automotive Journalists Association]

The Korean Automotive Journalists Association announced Monday that 16 vehicles from 13 brands — spanning domestic automakers and importers — have passed the first-half screening for the 2027 Korea Car of the Year and will advance to the final judging in the first quarter of next year.

The association evaluated 25 new models (including facelifts) from 14 brands launched between January and June this year, conducting the first-half review from Aug. 20 to Wednesday. Of those, 16 vehicles from 13 brands made it through to the final stage.

Kia, Porsche and Hyundai Motor each had two vehicles advance — the most of any brand — followed by Land Rover, Renault, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Genesis, GMC, KG Mobility, Toyota and Peugeot, each with one.

Each year, the association selects and announces the best car in South Korea through four rounds of evaluation covering new models released domestically: a first-half review, a second-half review, and a two-stage final judging consisting of an online round and an in-person vehicle assessment. Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 9 took the 2026 Korea Car of the Year title.

The eight award categories are Car of the Year, Korean Car of the Year (or Import Car of the Year), Utility of the Year, Commercial Mobility of the Year, xEV of the Year, Design of the Year, Performance of the Year and Innovation of the Year. Each of the association's 60 member media outlets receives one vote.

The association's Car of the Year Selection Committee also announces a monthly Car of the Month. Vehicles named Car of the Month receive a fast-track pass to the final judging, bypassing both the first- and second-half screening rounds.

Eight vehicles advanced through the first-half review in the Car of the Year category: the Kia EV5 GT and the All-New Seltos, the Renault Filante Hybrid E-Tech, the Lincoln Nautilus, the Audi The New A6, the Toyota RAV4, and the Hyundai Motor The New Grandeur and The New Staria Electric.

Six vehicles secured a spot in the final for the Utility of the Year category: the Kia EV5 GT and the All-New Seltos, the Renault Filante Hybrid E-Tech, the Lincoln Nautilus, the Toyota RAV4, and the Hyundai Motor The New Staria Electric.

Two vehicles advanced to the final in the Commercial Mobility of the Year category: the KG Mobility Musso and the Hyundai Motor The New Staria Electric.

Amid a growing number of electrified model launches each year, eight vehicles will compete in the final for the xEV of the Year category: the Kia EV5 GT and the All-New Seltos, the Renault Filante Hybrid E-Tech, the Lincoln Nautilus, the Genesis GV60 Magma, the Toyota RAV4, and the Hyundai Motor The New Grandeur and The New Staria Electric.

Thirteen vehicles advanced to the final in the Design of the Year category: the Kia EV5 GT and the All-New Seltos, the Renault Filante Hybrid E-Tech, the Lincoln Nautilus, the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+, the Audi The New A6, the GV60 Magma, the Hummer EV SUV, the Toyota RAV4, the Porsche 911 Turbo S, the Peugeot 5008 Smart Hybrid, and the Hyundai Motor The New Grandeur and The New Staria Electric.

Five vehicles passed the first-half review in the Performance of the Year category: the Land Rover Defender Octa, the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+, the Genesis GV60 Magma, and the Porsche 911 Turbo S and Macan GTS Electric.

Won Seon-ung, chair of the Car of the Year Selection Committee, said fierce competition is expected between domestic and import brands for the title of South Korea's best car. "We will conduct an even fairer and more rigorous evaluation," he said, adding that the association would "do its best to faithfully provide accurate new-car information to consumers both at home and abroad through the Car of the Year judging process."

eyre@heraldcorp.com