Hyundai Motor Wins Three Honors at 2026 What Car? Electric Car Awards
- Hyundai Motor Company
- 2026.09.07 (KST)
- 분량8min
- 조회수 445Views
- All-electric IONIQ 6 N named Best Electric Performance Car at the 2026 What Car? Electric Car Awards
- Current TUCSON Plug-in Hybrid named Best Used Hybrid Family SUV
- Previous-generation SANTA FE named Best Used Hybrid Seven-Seat MPV
SEOUL/LEATHERHEAD, UK, September 7, 2026 – Hyundai Motor Company has won three titles at the 2026 What Car? Electric Car Awards, including Best Electric Performance Car for IONIQ 6 N.
The awards, decided annually by What Car?’s team of expert testers, celebrate the finest new and used electrified vehicles on sale, spanning everything from outright performance to best value used cars.
In addition to the recognition for IONIQ 6 N, the company also picked up the Best Used Hybrid Family SUV award for the current TUCSON Plug-in Hybrid and Best Used Hybrid Seven-Seat MPV award for the previous-generation SANTA FE.
“The Hyundai Motor UK range is defined both by its breadth and its depth. A great amount of thought goes into the usability and longevity of every single model, including its specific use-case as a family car, a performance car or anything in between. The decisions aren’t just made to last a few years but for the long-term, resulting in cars that are just as desirable after ten years as they are brand new. This recognition from What Car? — a massively important automotive consumer champion – is a testament to all that work.” – Ashley Andrew, President of Hyundai & Genesis UK
What Makes IONIQ 6 N the Best Electric Performance Car?
Topping the electric performance class, IONIQ 6 N was named Best Electric Performance Car. IONIQ 6 N produces up to 650 PS and 770 Nm of torque from its dual-motor powertrain, enabling a 0-62 mph time of 3.2 seconds with N Launch Control and a top speed of 160 mph.
An 84 kWh battery delivers up to 302 miles of WLTP range, while Hyundai Motor’s N e-Shift virtual gearbox and N Active Sound+ system combine to replicate the engagement of a combustion-engined performance car.
“While plenty of electric cars are fast, IONIQ 6 N stands out because it combines its monstrous pace with a level of agility and driving fun that no rival can match. You can make the handling as placid or playful as you wish. And Hyundai’s N eShift virtual gearbox brilliantly mimics the real thing, adding to the engagement and sense of control.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?
Why Was the TUCSON Plug-in Hybrid Recognized as Best Used Family SUV?
In the used car categories, the current TUCSON 1.6 T-GDi Plug-in Hybrid was named Best Used Hybrid Family SUV. Pairing a 1.6-liter T-GDi Smartstream engine with a 13.8 kWh battery, the TUCSON PHEV delivers a combined 288 PS and 379 Nm of torque alongside up to 43.5 miles of zero-emission electric range, making it a compelling purchase for family SUV buyers seeking lower running costs.
“The current Hyundai Tucson has always been one of the best family SUVs on sale, thanks to its generous spec and comfortable, user-friendly interior. What’s more, the PHEV version delivers a good real-world electric range. Even though most of them will still be covered by the original manufacturer warranty, used examples are well priced.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?
What Earned the SANTA FE Its Award?
Completing the hat-trick, the previous-generation SANTA FE — sold in the UK between 2018 and 2024 — has been named Best Used Hybrid Seven-Seat MPV. The seven-seat family SUV was offered with a 1.6-liter T-GDi Hybrid powertrain producing 261 bhp alongside a Plug-in Hybrid option, and cars up to five years old remain covered by Hyundai Motor’s five-year unlimited mileage warranty.
“If you can’t afford a new Santa Fe — our reigning Seven-Seat SUV of the Year, no less — it’s well worth considering the generation before. Large, practical and good value, it makes a brilliant family car. And, as with all Hyundais, there’s the reassurance of the brand’s strong reliability record and long warranty.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?
How Does This Build on Hyundai Motor's Success at the What Car? Awards?
This year’s awards build on a well-established run of success for Hyundai Motor at the What Car? Awards. The current-generation SANTA FE was named the publication’s Seven-Seat SUV of the Year for 2026, having also claimed the same title in 2025. IONIQ 6 N’s win follows in the footsteps of IONIQ 5 N, which secured What Car?’s Technology Award and Best Electric Hot Hatch title in 2025, underlining the continued momentum of Hyundai Motor’s N performance brand in the electric era.
