Kia EV3 tops Green Car Journal’s 2027 awards

Green Car Journal named the Kia EV3 its 2027 Green Car of the Year and handed out top honors to BMW, Fiat, Karma, Mitsubishi, RAM and Toyota. The awards spotlight a wide range of electrified and efficient new vehicles, from city cars and family SUVs to commercial vans and luxury EVs.

Why it matters: - Green Car Journal’s annual awards are designed to spotlight the most environmentally positive new vehicles across different buyer needs. - The 2027 winners show how automakers are expanding electrified choices for commuters, families, fleets and luxury buyers. - The awards have been presented annually since 2005 and are described as among the auto industry’s most influential environmental honors.

What happened: - Green Car Journal named the Kia EV3 the 2027 Green Car of the Year. - The magazine announced the full 2027 Green Car Awards lineup in Los Angeles on Sept. 1, 2026. - BMW, Fiat, Karma, Kia, Mitsubishi, RAM and Toyota each earned category wins. - The award categories covered premium, urban, neighborhood, luxury, minivan, SUV, commercial and family segments.

The details: - The Kia EV3 is an all-electric compact SUV starting at $29,890. - Kia says the EV3 offers up to 321 miles of electric range and DC fast-charging capability. - The EV3 is Kia’s most affordable EV and uses EV9-inspired design and advanced technology. - The BMW iX3 won Premium Green Car of the Year as the first series-production model on BMW’s Neue Klasse electric platform. - The BMW iX3 starts at $61,500 and uses sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology, cylindrical battery cells and advanced digital systems for up to 434 miles of range. - Fiat’s 500e won Urban Green Car of the Year and starts at $35,700. - The Fiat 500e offers 149 miles of electric driving and quick-charge capability. - Fiat’s Topolino won Neighborhood Green Car of the Year and starts at $13,995. - The Topolino can travel up to 25 mph when properly equipped for NEV use and is street-legal in jurisdictions that allow neighborhood electric vehicles on roads posted at 35 mph or less. - Karma’s Gyesera won Luxury Green Car of the Year as an ultra-luxury extended-range EV. - The Karma Gyesera pairs battery-electric driving with an onboard engine-generator for longer trips and is hand-crafted in Southern California. - The Kia Carnival Hybrid won Green Minivan of the Year. - The Carnival Hybrid starts at $41,490, delivers up to 33 combined mpg and has a 608-mile driving range. - Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Sportback EV won Green SUV of the Year. - The Mitsubishi model features two 14.3-inch displays, dual charge ports with NACS fast-charging, a 282-mile range, a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile battery and powertrain warranty. - RAM’s ProMaster City won Commercial Green Car of the Year. - The 2027 ProMaster City offers a 2,175-pound payload, 2,000-pound tow rating and 167-cubic-foot cargo area. - Toyota’s Grand Highlander Hybrid won Family Green Car of the Year. - The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid starts at $45,610 and offers up to 36 combined mpg and a 619-mile driving range.

Between the lines: - The winners cover a broad spectrum of price points, from Fiat’s $13,995 Topolino to BMW’s $61,500 iX3. - The lineup underscores how green-car competition now spans mainstream, premium and work-focused segments, not just pure EVs. - Several winners blend battery-electric driving with range-extending or hybrid power, showing that efficiency and practicality remain part of the market’s near-term transition. - Green Car Journal says the magazine has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy and environment since 1992. - The publication’s digital edition is available through GreenCarJournal.com.

What's next: - The awards give automakers a marketing boost as they bring these models to market or expand availability. - Buyers can expect more competition around range, charging, pricing and family-friendly efficiency as the segment grows. - Green Car Journal will continue using the awards to highlight new vehicles that fit different driving needs while reducing environmental impact.

The bottom line: - Kia’s EV3 leads a 2027 awards list that shows electrification is spreading across nearly every vehicle category.