China's BYD makes the Car of the Year shortlist

The Car of the Year 2024 shortlist is out – and BYD is the first Chinese car maker to be nominated for Europe’s top motoring award.

BYD has launched three cars in the UK market in 2023 alone, the Atto 3 midsize SUV, Dolphin hatchback and Seal saloon. And it’s the latter, Tesla Model 3 rival that’s got the nod from the jury of 61 motoring journalists from 23 European countries.

As usual, the jury – including Car’s Phil McNamara – has voted for their seven favourite cars from 28 eligible all-new models launched in 2023, amalgamated into this shortlist:

• BMW i5/5-series
• BYD Seal
• Kia EV9
• Peugeot E-3008/3008 
• Renault Scenic
• Toyota C-HR
• Volvo EX30

The shortlist contains four strictly EVs, two models – the BMW and Peugeot – available with both pure electric and combustion models, and the strictly hybrid Toyota C-HR.

BMW i5/5-series

It’s been around since 1972 and this G60 version is the eighth-incarnation of the 5-series. BMW has never won Car of the Year (its most recent second place with with the i3 in 2013). ‘This is a hugely accomplished EV,’ wrote Car’s Tom Wiltshire having tested the base i5 40 and M60 versions. Could the new big exec break its duck?

BYD Seal

BYD is the world’s second-biggest electric car maker after Tesla and the Seal has impressed with its interior quality and high-performance AWD version, which has a 3.8s on the back to showcase its 0-62mph acceleration sprint. ‘Dynamically, it’s impressive, with incisive steering and sharp handling and a firm suspension set-up,’ wrote Keith Adams for Car. Will BYD’s dream of winning COTY24 come true?

Kia EV9

The EV9 is a rare six/seven seat EV that isn’t van based. It’s based on Kia’s eGMP platform and is a big beast promising luxurious electric people moving. ‘As a solution to families wanting to decarbonise their large car, the EV9 does an excellent job,’ reckoned Piers Ward in Car’s EV9 review. Kia’s EV6 won Car of the Year 2022 – can its big brother repeat the trick?

Peugeot E-3008/3008

The 3008 needs little introduction: Peugeot sold 1.32 million of the second-generation SUV. Its replacement is launching as a pure electric version, which rolls on an all-new Stellantis architecture. Car’s