Awards Hyundai IONIQ 9 Hailed as World’s Best Large SUV at 2026 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year Awards
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Hyundai IONIQ 9 Hailed as World’s Best Large SUV at 2026 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year Awards
SEOUL, January 14, 2026 – Hyundai Motor Company’s all-electric SUV IONIQ 9 has received the prestigious title of World’s Best Large SUV at the 2026 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) Awards. This accolade underscores Hyundai Motor’s continued commitment to excellence, innovation and sustainability within the large SUV market.
A panel of 84 female automotive journalists from 54 countries rigorously evaluated vehicles across all categories, assessing criteria such as safety, quality, design, performance, ease of driving, environmental impact and value for money. IONIQ 9 distinguished itself from nearly 20 other competitors, standing out as an exemplary model in its category.
“Hyundai IONIQ 9 clearly demonstrates how advanced technology and everyday usability can go hand in hand. Its fast and efficient charging capability, outstanding interior space and high overall quality set a new benchmark in the large electric SUV segment. This award also confirms that Hyundai’s commitment to innovation and excellence is consistent, as this is not the first time the brand has been recognized by our jury.” – Marta García, Executive President at Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year
What Makes IONIQ 9 a World-Leading SUV?
IONIQ 9, the flagship model of Hyundai Motor’s acclaimed IONIQ lineup, represents the pinnacle of the company’s innovation and engineering:
IONIQ 9 has won multiple awards since its launch in late 2024, including:
What Makes the WWCOTY Awards a Global Benchmark for Automotive Excellence?
The WWCOTY Awards, the only global car awards judged exclusively by female motoring journalists, is recognized as a benchmark for automotive excellence and has a global audience of 500 million. The awards celebrate vehicles that cater to diverse perspectives, highlighting models that meet the evolving needs of drivers worldwide.
The six categories for the 2026 WWCOTY awards include:
Alongside five other category winners, IONIQ 9 is now a contender for the coveted WWCOTY Supreme Winner title. The final announcement will take place in March.
Sunwoo Kim
sunwookim@hyundai.com
Global PR Contents Team · Hyundai Motor Company
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About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe. Based on the brand vision ‘Progress for Humanity,’ Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to bring about revolutionary mobility solutions while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. In pursuit of a sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero-emission vehicles with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies.
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