Hyundai Motor wins two car awards in Canada

By Lee Min-hyung

Hyundai Motor's Santa Fe and IONIQ 5 N electric vehicle (EV) won two major honors at the 2025 Canadian Car of the Year Awards, demonstrating their commercial value in the key North American market, the carmaker said on Sunday.

According to the carmaker, its flagship Santa Fe SUV was named the winner of the Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year category, receiving positive feedback for its ergonomic design and intuitive infotainment system.

This marks Hyundai Motor’s third achievement in the segment, following the Tucson SUV and IONIQ 5 EV, which claimed the title in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

The carmaker’s high-performance EV — the IONIQ 5 N — was also hailed as the Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year for its strong driving performance with 641 horsepower. The vehicle was praised for providing a sporty and fun driving experience.

Early this year, the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada announced three short-listed cars for each award category. The Santa Fe and IONIQ 5 N defeated rivals from carmakers such as Toyota and Kia.

“Hyundai Motor was highly recognized for its excellent commercial value in Canada by winning the two renowned awards,” a Hyundai official said. “We will keep developing innovative and quality vehicles to strengthen our presence not just in Canada, but also in other global markets.”

A total of 47 expert jurors — including journalists and car experts in Canada — vote for winners of the awards each year. The Canadian Car of the Year is considered one of the most prestigious awards in Canada.