An SUV is the top 2025 vehicle, according to a global panel of female automotive journalists.

The Hyundai Santa Fe takes the title of Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year based on the assessment of more than 80 female journalists who cover the automotive industry.

The SUV, which comes in both gas-powered and plug-in and non-plug-in hybrid versions, supplants the electric Kia EV9, the SUV that won last year’s award by the organization, which represents journalists in 55 countries and says it’s the only all-female jury in the auto industry.

It named the fifth-generation Santa Fe best large SUV before crowning it the overall winner on Thursday in the awards’ 15 edition. The WWCOTY also named winners in seven other categories, saying they represent excellence in safety, driving, technology, comfort, efficiency, environmental impact, value for money and gender equality.

The organization, after evaluating 81 vehicles, “pushing each one to its limits” in test drives, analysis and competitor studies, praised the Santa Fe’s spaciousness and “wealth of practical features.”

It released a video on YouTube announcing its overall pick but issued no press release explaining why it chose the Santa Fe over the other five finalists.

The vehicles assessed for the award must have been offered in at least 40 countries or two continents last year. The panel picked them from the largest pool of vehicles it has ever considered.

WWCOTY also named other category winners: 

• Urban Model - Mini Cooper

• Compact SUV – Kia EV3

• Large Car – Audi A6 e-tron

• 4x4 and Pickup – Toyota Land Cruiser

• Performance and Luxury Car – Porsche Panamera 

• Best Tech – BYD

• Sandy Myhre Award for the brand most committed to women - Volvo

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