Four BMW models have achieved accolades from automotive publications across Australia and New Zealand in 2023, with eight category victories.
Three fully electric models were category winners, competing against various powertrain offerings. The brand says this underscored these local emissions-free offerings’ strong impression on independent road testers.
Australia’s Drive awarded the BMW iX xDrive40 Best Luxury Vehicle under $150k, with judges saying that it was “full of ‘wow’ moments inside and out” and took a ‘zero-compromise’ approach.
The Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year, with expert input from 75 women automotive journalists across 52 countries, awarded the BMW i5 its best ‘Large Car’.
In their appraisal, judges said the following about the i5: “The BMW 5 Series is offered with a full range of engines, including for the first time a fully electric version and a family variant. This eighth generation features the most advanced technology, offers a spacious and comfortable cabin for occupants, and is the brand’s first model to incorporate a fully vegan interior as standard.”
The BMW i7 flagship sedan received five awards. This included Car of the Year, awarded by New Zealand’s DriveLife. That publication also judged the i7 Luxury Car of the Year and the Coolest Gadget of the Year, the latter recognising the BMW Touch Command that comprises two built-in touch screen units in the rear doors that control multiple technology and comfort functions.
DriveLife said, “We drove some excellent cars in 2023, many highly rated by the DriveLife team. One stand-out car wowed everyone who experienced it, and the only one rated nine or above out of 10. That was the BMW i7. “We talked around and around the decision because $296,000 is unattainable for all but a select few, but it is the best car we’ve reviewed in 2023.”
Driven Car Guide and Best Premium Car by EVs and Beyond also awarded the BMW i7 Best Luxury Car.
The second-generation BMW M2, launched last year, eclipsed its key rivals to be awarded ‘Most Thrilling Vehicle’ by New Zealand’s Tarmac Life. Judges said of the rear-wheel-drive, high-performance coupe, “It was one of the automotive highlights of 2023. It delivers on all fronts and greatly represents what the Motorsport division stands for.”