ST Car of the Year 2024: 7 EVs and three hybrids shortlisted

SINGAPORE – The Straits Times Car of the Year award is 22 years young in 2024.

Keeping to tradition, only new cars from authorised agents reviewed locally between mid-November 2023 and mid-November 2024 are considered. Facelifts and variants that were introduced within the period have been left out.

In 2024, there were 37 new models that qualified.

The process has been refined over the years. Each car is put through its paces by the team of eight motoring writers, who carefully consider them against cars in their respective segments, rather than the other cars in the shortlist.

So, the performance score for a small family hatchback comes from being assessed against other comparable rivals and not against a sports car, for example.

For consistency, the same scoring matrix, which was revised two years ago, is applied here.

The nine criteria being evaluated are: performance, handling, ride quality, build quality, efficiency, practicality, styling, value for money and X-factor.

Practicality and value for money carry greater weightage to balance against the other attributes, which are more driver-centric. Practicality captures elements like how easy it is to use the boot or connect to the car’s infotainment system.

Here are the 10 cars vying for the coveted ST Car of the Year in alphabetical order. The winner will be announced on Dec 20.

Denza D9

The D9 is the first model to be introduced here under BYD’s luxury arm, Denza, and it is impressive. The electric multi-purpose vehicle is not just fitted with every conceivable luxury feature, but it also feels well-built and is competitively priced.

Hyundai Santa Fe

Five generations on, the Hyundai Santa Fe has morphed from a merely functional machine to become an object of desire. Besides thoughtful features in the cabin, the car feels posh and its 1.6-litre hybrid delivers decent performance too.

Lexus LBX

To call the LBX a Lexus-fied Toyota Yaris Cross will be selling it a bit short. The LBX is effortless to drive, pampers the occupants and is finished with some of the best materials in the business. It is a fun drive too, especially when zipping around in the city.

Mini Cooper E

The Cooper Electric has just the right amount of performance to be fun, but not so much so that it is overly expensive. The Cooper is the only electric three-door hatchback on sale. It is a wonder that other carmakers have not caught on to this format: Small electric cars deliver big delight.

Mini Countryman E

The Countryman Electric is the answer to those who want a Mini, but need space. The latest generation is as practical as any premium sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a hint of whimsy that has made the Mini brand so endearing. Making the car even more attractive is the equipment level of the variants in Singapore, which is more generous than the comparable BMW or Mercedes-Benz models.

Nissan Ariya

The Nissan is a highly capable electric vehicle (EV) that is low on gimmicks and high on substance. The user interface feels natural and the cabin manages to be even more spacious than it looks from the outside, with plenty of storage space and thoughtful features to make this a good family car.

Smart #1

The #1 is a solidly conventional take on the modern EV formula in terms of its form and size. But the brand has been able to imbue the five-door electric crossover with character that is uncommon among EVs. In the fiery Brabus form, the #1 is laugh-out-loud fun.

Toyota Camry

It is a wonder why Toyota even bothered to build a new Camry when the world seems to have moved on to the SUV. However, it is such a treat that it did because the car is everything one expects of a mid-sized Toyota saloon, yet manages to impress in unexpected ways, such as with a surprising dollop of driving finesse. Never has “fun to drive” been used to describe a Camry, but that is exactly what this car is.

Volvo EX30

Looks may not be everything, but it is impossible to ignore the Volvo EX30’s design. Being a ground-up EV allows the EX30 to be more spacious and practical than any similarly sized vehicle that has to accommodate a combustion engine and associated components. It is also an enjoyable drive, made even sweeter with its competitive price tag.

Xpeng G6

The Xpeng G6 is a technological showcase with its advanced assisted driving technology. As a family car, the electric SUV is practical and feels better conceived than some other newfangled Chinese EVs that people have been seeing recently.