The international World Car Awards has announced the list of winners for their 2021 edition, putting the Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV at the top of their list.
The all-electric ID.4 made it to the top by beating an initial list of 24 vehicles, which didn’t include any Tesla vehicles. That list was then whittled down to just three finalists – the VW ID.4, Honda e, and Toyota Yaris.
A panel of 93 international journalists from 28 countries then voted on several categories. The ID.4 earned 798 points, while the Honda e came in second with 742 points, followed by the Toyota Yaris with 732 points.
In naming the ID.4 as the winner during a livestream event, the electric SUV was praised for its zero-emissions powertrain, and technology like the optional head-up display that can show key driving and navigation information on the windshield.
In a press release, VW said their over-the-air (OTA) software updates also helped them win, even though the feature won’t be available until later this year. Ignoring the fact that Tesla pioneered them and has been offering OTA software updates for many years, VW said they are “the first provider in the volume segment to offer this” feature.
The automaker did not provide a definition for “volume segment”.
To be eligible for the award, the automaker must manufacture at least 10,000 units of them per year, must be priced lower than the luxury-car level in their primary markets, and be offered for sale on at least two continents.
