Hyundai, Kia make Wards Auto's top 10 electric propulsion systems

Hyundai's Ioniq 5 N and Kia's EV9 GT, both on the E-GMP platform, were on the 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems list compiled by Wards Auto.

Hyundai Ioinq 5 N [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Hyundai Motor and Kia both had an EV included on the Wards Auto list of the 10 best propulsion systems, proving their prowess on the international stage.

The Korean carmakers said Tuesday that Hyundai's Ioniq 5 N and Kia's EV9 GT, both using the E-GMP EV-dedicated platform, made this year’s edition of the Wards Auto 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems list.

Kia's EV9 GT [KIA]

The publication's editors evaluated 34 nominees for this year's list, including 13 battery-powered vehicles and 12 hybrid vehicles. The list is not ranked.

Wards Auto gave good scores to the Ioniq 5 N and EV9 for their high-performance driving and long range on a single charge.

The Ioniq 5 N, topped with an 84-kilowatt-hour battery capacity, boasts up to 650 horsepower and 78.5 kilogram-meters (568 pound-feet) of torque. The N brand is Hyundai's high-performance line, targeting the same market as Mercedes-Benz’s AMG and BMW’s M ranges.

The GT spec of the EV9 is powered by 99.8 kilowatt-hours of battery and can travel up to 270 miles per charge.

This year marks the third consecutive year that a Hyundai drivetrain has been included on the list. Since 1995, a total of 18 Hyundai and Kia vehicles have been among the 10 best engine and propulsion systems per the U.S. publication. In 2023, Hyundai's Ioniq 6 was included.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]