Electrifying.com Awards 2025

Brand of the Year: Hyundai

The Electrifying.com Brand of the Year 2025 title goes to Hyundai for another incredible year in the world of electric cars. Although we’ll have to wait until next year for all-new products to land in the UK – spearheaded by the quirky but clever INSTER and its forthcoming seven-seater – the brand has consolidated its position in the UK with both the IONIQ 5N and the facelifted IONIQ 5.

The IONIQ 5N arrived in Spring and took the performance car world by storm. Developed by Hyundai’s acclaimed N division (headed up by former BMW M chief Albert Biermann), the N redefined the concept of performance car driving in the electric era. Not only is the 5N incredibly fast, thanks to its 640bhp output, it also drives like a proper (if rather large) hot hatch. And while some of the gadgets and gizmos like the artificial ‘gear change’ sound like the stuff of nightmares, most are so well integrated that they genuinely enhance the driving experience. Factor in a vast cabin, all-day comfort and a 287 mile range, and the 5N becomes even more impressive.

Meanwhile, the facelifted IONIQ 5 ironed out the very few wrinkles the original 2021 model had and added a host of small but significant improvements, including the arrival (finally) of a rear wiper! Elsewhere, the increase in battery size from 77kWh to 84kWh will come as welcome news to potential buyers requiring a range of more than 350 miles.

This award also reflects Hyundai’s product pipeline, which suggests that the best is yet to come. The brand’s decision to bring the quirky INSTER to Europe raised eyebrows when it was announced, but having experienced it in the metal and discovered its generous specification, it makes complete sense. Aimed at drivers who want all the tech and comfort of a range-topping EV without the price tag or the parking hassles, it’s one of the smartest packages we’ve seen in a long time.

And at the other end of the scale, we have Hyundai’s much-anticipated seven-seater, which is set to arrive early next year. Expected to wear the IONIQ 9 badge, it will top the brand’s electric range and offer a vast 300 mile range as standard. Equipped with Hyundai’s 800 volt electrical system, it also comes with the promise of ultra-fast charging, always a plus for long distance driving.

Ginny Buckley, founder of Electrifying.com, said:

“We believe Hyundai is the only brand that offers a complete range of high-quality electric cars that appeal to buyers across the entire market spectrum. There’s a car for everyone in Hyundai’s model line-up - from the great value-for-money INSTER to its forthcoming seven-seat SUV, along with cars that appeal to both family and business drivers alike. Topping its range is the brilliantly fun IONIQ 5N, which has redefined the concept of performance car driving in the electric era. Hyundai’s leadership in electric cars shines through when you look at the breadth of its model line-up, and it's a worthy winner of our EV Brand of the Year.”