There were a few big surprises in the 2024 Car of the Year election in Germany, and the MG4 Electric was the first winner from China. In the entry-level class of small and compact cars up to 35,000 euros, the electric MG4 prevailed against strong competition from Europe. Once again proof of how much MG is gaining ground among SAIC’s own brands, particularly in Europe. The 4.28 meter long MG4 in particular is a big hit for the SAIC subsidiary, because the compact electric model does not have to hide behind an expected volume vehicle with a plug such as the VW ID3. In addition to the standard model with its 150 kW / 204 hp rear-wheel drive, the Chinese are now launching the 320 kW / 435 hp sports version of the MG4 Xpower, which the international competition currently has little to match.
In the class of premium vehicles up to 70,000 euros, the new VW ID7 prevailed with the German specialist journalists; the electric counterpart to the VW Passat. The 4.96 meter long mid-size sedan is also based on the modular electrical system and is available with batteries of 77 and 85 kWh. The expected volume model is likely to be the version with a 210 kW / 286 hp rear-wheel drive. Above that is the 250 kW / 340 hp all-wheel drive vehicle. The large battery pack ensures a maximum range of 700 kilometers before it can be refueled with 170 to 200 kilowatts.
In the upper / luxury class, there is a surprise winner in the German Car of the Year 2024, which, like the VW ID7, will not be launched until the end of the year. The Kia EV9 is an electric SUV around five meters long that hardly any other manufacturer outside of the premium league currently offers. At the price of around 80,000 euros, there is hardly a crossover that currently offers more car and more equipment for the money. With its EV6, Kia has created an impressive electric model that is causing a stir even in the premium brand class. Now Kia is climbing further with its new EV9. The power range is between 250 and initially over 400 hp, with the electric motors being fed by a battery pack with a capacity of almost 100 kWh. It is recharged with fast 800-volt technology and in the interior there is space for six or seven people and every imaginable comfort for the electric SUV, which is available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6, which won the GCOTY class of vehicles with alternative drives, is on the same group platform. The direct competitor of the VW ID7, with its battery packs of 53 and 77 kWh, focuses in particular on design and aerodynamics. The top version with two electric motors and the large battery has 239 kW / 325 hp, a torque of 605 Newton meters and breaks the 100 km/h mark from a standing start in 5.1 seconds. Design and standard equipment are also remarkable in this upper middle class.
Of the five class winners in the 2024 Car of the Year election, only one combustion engine was able to prevail and it roars around the world from Zuffenhausen. The Porsche 911 Carrera T won here ahead of the strong Bavarian clown BMW M2. The Porsche 911 T is the particularly puristic basic model of the 992 series with an unladen weight of less than 1.5 tons, rear-wheel drive and manual transmission – something like this won’t be around for much longer and is probably the last bastion against the overpowering electric models of the coming years.
