The Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year, the all-female automotive award-giving body, has decided on this year’s best car. Comprised of 75 female motoring journalists and experts spread out across five continents, the WWCOTY announcement was dropped in time for International Women’s Day.

And the winner is the Kia EV9. Declared the overall 2024 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year and Best SUV, the full-size seven-seater electric SUV was selected as the top choice given the level of excellence all other contenders also exhibited.

“This year’s selection was particularly difficult due to the excellent level of candidates,” explains Marta Garcia, president of the WWCOTY. “Each of the finalists had sufficient merit to win the trophy. The Kia EV9 has won out over its rivals because it is a vehicle capable of satisfying the needs of consumers everywhere.”

Given its size and capacity, the EV9 showed excellence in aerodynamics, all-around performance, and reliability. It was rated the top choice by the judges for its cutting-edge design and superior technology with its fast charging and autonomous driving capabilities. It was also noted for being the most family-friendly and versatile among all other candidates.

The Korean automaker also seemed to have given the future of EV technology a very positive outlook, as Liz Swanton (Australia) articulates: “The EV9 excited me about the future of possibilities for multipurpose electric vehicles. It was hard to believe this large, comfortable, and versatile vehicle did not need a tank of petrol or diesel.”

The other awardees are:

• Best Family Car – Volvo EX30
• Best Large Car – BMW 5-Series
• Best 4×4/Pickup – Volkswagen Amarok
• Best Exclusive Car – Aston Martin DB12

All winners in each of the five categories were deliberated with a deeper focus on sustainability as well as performance. Garcia expressed that this year’s voting was not an easy task. All 62 candidates had to pass through a number of driving challenges, detailed research, and evaluation.

Each candidate was also analyzed in terms of comparison to the competition. These studies are what seal the Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year as a trusted source relied on by female car enthusiasts and buyers worldwide.

NOTE: If you follow these specific awards and you’ve noticed that the award-giving body is now called “Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year” instead of “Women’s World Car of the Year,” we are just as confused as you are.