Hyundai wins three awards at 2026 What Car? Electric Car Awards

September 2, 2026 by Hyundai
• 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
• Awards decided annually by What Car?’s panel of expert testers, recognising the best new and used electrified vehicles on sale

Hyundai has won three titles at the 2026 What Car? Electric Car Awards, including Best Electric Performance Car for the 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.

Topping the electric performance class, the IONIQ 6 N has been named Best Electric Performance Car. Priced from £65,800, the IONIQ 6 N produces up to 650PS and 770Nm of torque from its dual-motor powertrain, enabling a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds with N Launch Control and a top speed of 160mph. An 84kWh battery delivers up to 302 miles of WLTP range, while Hyundai’s N e-Shift virtual gearbox and N Active Sound+ system combine to replicate the engagement of a combustion-engined performance car.

Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?, said: ‘While plenty of electric cars are fast, the 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.’
In the used car categories, the current TUCSON 1.6 T-GDi Plug-in Hybrid has been named Best Used Hybrid Family SUV. Pairing a 1.6-litre T-GDi Smartstream engine with a 13.8kWh battery, the TUCSON PHEV delivers a combined 288PS and 379Nm of torque alongside up to 43.5 miles of zero-emission electric range, making it a compelling used buy for family SUV buyers seeking lower running costs.

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Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?, said: ‘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.’

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-litre T-GDi Hybrid powertrain producing 261bhp alongside a Plug-in Hybrid option, and cars up to five years old remain covered by Hyundai’s Five Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty.

Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?, said: ‘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.’

Ashley Andrew, President of Hyundai & Genesis UK, said: ‘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.’

For more on the Hyundai range, visit www.hyundai.co.uk