'2027 Korea Car of the Year' First-Half Judging Narrows Field to 16 Models From 13 Brands

[Financial News] The Korea Automobile Journalists Association (KAJA) said on the 31st that 16 models from 13 domestic and imported brands advanced past the preliminary round in the first-half judging for the 2027 Korea Car of the Year (K-COTY).
KAJA conducted the first-half judging from the 20th to the 26th, evaluating 25 new models, including facelifted versions, launched between January and June this year across 14 brands. Of those, 16 models from 13 brands advanced to the final stage and will compete in the final judging in the first quarter of next year.
Kia, Porsche and Hyundai Motor Company had the most models advance, with two each. They were followed by Land Rover, Renault, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Genesis, GMC, KGM, Toyota and Peugeot, each with one model.
Each year, the association selects and announces Korea's best car after four rounds of evaluation for new models launched in the country: first-half judging, second-half judging and final judging, which consists of an online round and an on-site vehicle assessment.
There are eight award categories: Car of the Year, Domestic Car of the Year or Imported Car of the Year, Utility of the Year, Commercial Mobility of the Year, xEV of the Year, Design of the Year, Performance of the Year and Innovation of the Year.
The association's Car of the Year Selection Committee announces the monthly Car of the Year. Vehicles selected as Car of the Month go straight to the final judging without going through the first- and second-half screenings.
In the Car of the Year category, eight models advanced from the first-half judging, including the Kia EV5 GT, The All-new Seltos, Renault Filante Hybrid E-Tech, Lincoln Nautilus, Audi A6, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Motor Company The New Grandeur and Hyundai Motor Company The New Staria Electric.
In the Utility of the Year category, six models secured places in the final round, including the Kia EV5 GT, The All-new Seltos, Renault Filante Hybrid E-Tech, Lincoln Nautilus, Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Motor Company The New Staria Electric. In the Commercial Mobility of the Year category, two models advanced to the final judging: the KGM Musso and Hyundai Motor Company The New Staria Electric.
As the number of electrified models continues to grow each year, eight models will compete in the xEV of the Year category in the final judging, including the Kia EV5 GT, The All-new Seltos, Renault Filante Hybrid E-Tech, Lincoln Nautilus, Genesis GV60 Magma, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Motor Company The New Grandeur and Hyundai Motor Company The New Staria Electric.
In the Design of the Year category, 13 models advanced to the final round, including the Kia EV5 GT, The All-new Seltos, Renault Filante Hybrid E-Tech, Lincoln Nautilus, Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+, Audi A6, GV60 Magma, GMC Hummer EV SUV, Toyota RAV4, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Peugeot 5008 Hybrid and Hyundai Motor Company The New Grandeur and Hyundai Motor Company The New Staria Electric.
In the Performance of the Year category, five models passed the first-half judging: the Land Rover Defender OCTA, Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+, Genesis GV60 Magma, Porsche 911 Turbo S and Macan GTS Electric.
Won Sun-woong, chair of the Car of the Year Selection Committee, said, "As fierce competition is expected between domestic and imported brands for the title of Korea's best car, we will conduct the evaluation more fairly and rigorously." He added, "Through the Car of the Year judging, we will do our utmost to provide consumers at home and abroad with accurate information on new models."
KAJA has 60 member news organizations, including major domestic newspapers, broadcasters, wire services, online media outlets and automotive magazines, and more than 200 affiliated reporters are active in the association.

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