The electric vehicle market in Malaysia has grown so much over the past year. According to the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, over 9,000 units of EVs have been registered in 2023 alone.
As a comparison, there were only around 3,000 EVs registered from 2021 to 2022. That is an increase of 300% in just one year which is quite astonishing.
Aside from EV pioneers such as BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Renault, and Volvo, we have also witnessed the arrival of several EV-oriented brands in Malaysia. Among them include BYD, Neta, Smart, and of course, Tesla.
The number of “traditional” brands that now have fully electric offerings in their line-up has also increased with the addition of Audi, Jaguar, and Rolls-Royce. While the price barrier for EVs in Malaysia is still relatively high, it now has gone down to as low as RM100,000.
All in all, it has been an exciting year for EVs in Malaysia. Hence, our EV of the Year awards have also been expanded to mark the rapid growth of the segment.
In case you are wondering, we had an open nomination process involving the whole SoyaCincau team to gather the entries for this category from as many POVs as possible. We then compiled and shortlisted the nominations before a panel of experts to decide on the winners.
In case you were wondering, the panel members consist of Alexander Wong, Najib Hamid, Raymond Saw, Jonathan Lee, Hanif Azrai, Putra Aziz, Sharil Abdul Rahman, Chief Chapree, and Sudarshan Duke, with our social media manager Amalin Aisyah also contributing.
Read the rest of our Awards
- SoyaCincau Awards 2023: The best smartphones of the year
- SoyaCincau Awards 2023: The best tablets of the year
- SoyaCincau Awards 2023: The best laptops and gadgets of the year
- SoyaCincau Awards 2023: The best telcos this year
Value EV of the Year
GOLD: BYD Dolphin
The purpose of this award is to recognise the cars that deliver the most amount of kit, tech, performance and comfort for the least amount of money. The BYD Dolphin certainly has the latter sorted—it’s one of the cheapest EVs you can buy, starting at around RM100,000 (its only other electric rival is the decidedly subpar Neta V), and even its top trim barely crests RM125,000. What’s astonishing is that its bargain price tag is easily the least impressive thing about it.
Even the base Dynamic Standard model offers unbeatable value, with the Atto 3’s trademark rotating 12.8-inch touchscreen and loads of driver assists. And while its 94hp motor doesn’t seem all that adequate on paper, the instant torque provides ample get-up-and-go for daily driving. Okay, so its 340km of range isn’t all that much, but for an (admittedly not insignificant) extra RM25,000, you can get the Atto 3’s 201hp motor and a circa-420km range—and this way, you don’t have to contend with the SUV’s weirdly muscly dashboard and guitar-string door pockets. – Jonathan Lee
Learn more about the BYD Dolphin right here.
SILVER: Tesla Model 3
Next to the Dolphin, the Tesla Model 3 doesn’t seem like particularly good value—not when it’s knocking on the door of RM200,000. But the genius of this slightly bulbous sedan is that you get a very complete EV with generous range, a spacious, airy cabin and plenty of verve for much, much less than what you’d pay for something from an established premium make. And you have Tesla’s revolutionary Gigapress production process to thank for that.
Yes, Tesla also cut costs everywhere on the car (you don’t even get indicator or wiper stalks, for crying out loud), the listed prices are slightly misleading, the options cost a laughable amount of money and you don’t get the trappings of a traditional sales experience. But in return, you get a class-leading infotainment system and the prestige of owning a Tesla—plus access to the Supercharger network that should (hopefully) be as reliable as everywhere else in the world. – JL
Learn more about the Tesla Model 3 right here.
BRONZE: BYD Atto 3
The BYD Atto 3 may have been usurped by its smaller sibling as a bargain proposition, but it was a sensation on the market just 12 months ago. It immediately got to work dispatching its only other rival at the time, the Ora Good Cat, by offering a vastly more practical cabin and far less headache-inducing tech.
Even today, the Atto 3 holds its own against newer, more premium competition, thanks to its impressive build quality, (almost) peerless efficiency, oodles of kit and the most comfortable ride this side of a Rolls-Royce (no, really). Only its wallowy handling and slightly immature interior styling let the side down. – JL
Learn more about the BYD Atto 3 right here.
Electric SUV of the Year
GOLD: Smart #1
Sometimes, it isn’t enough for a car to simply be competent—it needs to have that certain something, that je ne sais quoi that makes it stand out. To us, the Smart #1 is exactly that car, regardless of whether you think that name is stupid (we do) or not. It all starts with the funky Mercedes-Benz design; love it or hate it, you’re bound to have a strong reaction to it, one way or another. This extends to the interior, which is backed up by quality materials and finishes and, given its compact size, a surprising amount of room for occupants.
The #1 also comes packed with tech and lots of nifty features, such as cooled storage for your drinks, while its performance ranges from agreeable to ridiculous (Brabus). But the most surprising thing is its ride and handling—whereas most Chinese cars are biased towards comfort, the Smart’s road manners are decidedly European, which is to say grown up. The small-ish boot and the base Pro’s inadequate range count against it, but the #1 is still a fantastic electric SUV—one that looks like nothing else on the road. – JL
Learn more about the Smart #1 right here.
SILVER: Tesla Model Y
It seems strange that we’d put the #1 above the arguably better Tesla Model Y, especially given the praise we’ve heaped onto its sibling, the Model 3. Indeed, for the price, there’s not much that will compete with it, especially when it comes to tech, interior space and range. It’s the default choice for a reason.
But the Model Y is also long in the tooth, having existed since 2020—and given that the Model 3 has just undergone its “Highland” facelift, a similarly far-reaching refresh should come sooner rather than later, so it’s hard to recommend. It’s also not exactly good looking, and a glut of grey imports means you already see it everywhere, even before official units have reached customers’ hands. Still, the Tesla brand does count for something. – JL
Learn more about the Tesla Model Y right here.
BRONZE: BYD Atto 3
It says a lot that even after a full calendar year of EV launches, the BYD Atto 3 still managed to nab the bronze award for electric SUVs. Its value proposition may have eroded somewhat, with the arrival of the Dolphin at one end and the Model Y at the other.
That being said, there are no other electric SUVs in Malaysia at the moment that can offer the same combination of range, performance, space, and price value as per Atto 3. Hence, it is no surprise that thousands of Atto 3 are now on Malaysian roads. – Chief Chapree
Learn more about the BYD Atto 3 right here.
Electric Sedan of the Year
GOLD: Hyundai Ioniq 6
There are no other EVs in Malaysia that have such a distinctive design as per Hyundai Ioniq 6. The eye-catching and sporty design is not just for looks though, since it allows the EV to achieve a low drag coefficient.
Despite the design, this EV is still a proper sedan as it has no problem carrying 4 to 5 adults. Not only that, the Ioniq 6 Max RWD variant is also part of a very exclusive club since it is one of the very few EVs in Malaysia that have a WLTP-rated range of more than 600km.
Aside from being a range master, the Ioniq 6 also has an 800V battery architecture which allows it to be charged from 10% to 80% in just 20 minutes. While the pricing is rather steep especially when compared to Tesla’s offerings, the Ioniq 6 is among the best showcase of how EV technology has progressed so far and thus deserves to become our Electric Sedan of the Year. – CC
Learn more about the Hyundai Ioniq 6 right here.
SILVER: BMW i5
Instead of launching the petrol variant, BMW Malaysia has boldly chosen the BMW i5 eDrive40 M to mark the arrival of the latest generation BMW 5 Series in our market.
I love the design of the new BMW i5: it looked aggressive and bold while still retaining the general outlook of a 5 Series. Some may argue that it still looked like a BMW which I think that’s the point of the design.
If you want to go electric with BMW and want your EV to still look like a BMW instead of some bombastic futuristic design, the i5 is a perfect choice. Performance-wise, the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport provides 335hp and 430Nm of torque alongside a WLTP range of 582km which is rather aplenty for driving in Malaysia.
While it may lose out to close rival Mercedes EQE 350+ AMG Line in terms of range and torque, the competitive pricing of the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport alongside higher horsepower and the ability to go from 0 to 100km/h in six seconds flat surely keep things interesting between the two German giants. – CC
Learn more about the BMW i5 right here.
BRONZE: Tesla Model 3
Even though Tesla marked its debut in Malaysia with Model Y, the Model 3 Highland is the real star of the show. For one, the sedan made its way to local customers ahead of its SUV counterpart and Tesla has also made Malaysia one of the first markets to receive the refreshed Model 3.
In addition to having updated features and a lower price point (albeit not by much) than Model Y, the Tesla Model 3 Highland proved to be a hit over here. Of course, the new Model 3 may not be for everyone – the absence of stalks, the implementation of signal buttons, and the swipe-to-drive interface – but the new EV leads the way in many factors including tech, range, and pricing. – CC
Learn more about the Tesla Model 3 right here.
Best EV of the Year
GOLD: BYD Dolphin
Our Value EV of the Year is also our Best EV of the Year for the same reason: it is fully loaded with features despite being positioned as a budget-oriented EV. With the Dolphin, you don’t have to break the bank to have respectful range, interior comfort, proper Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, and safety features.
It is also one of the most affordable 200hp cars in the market if you go for the Premium Extended variant. It might not be the cheapest EV in Malaysia but there is no other EV in the market that can provide the same value as the BYD Dolphin. – CC
Learn more about the BYD Dolphin right here.
SILVER: Hyundai Ioniq 6
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 might come with a sporty exterior but yet it still managed to meet its prime objective: to be a great EV. In addition to the looks, this EV offers range, efficiency, and super-fast charging as well as a decent interior space.
Ultimately, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a showcase of the Korean giant’s mastery over design and EV technology. – CC
Learn more about the Hyundai Ioniq 6 right here.
BRONZE: Smart #1
Competitively priced with attractive design and performance to match: that is what the Smart #1 is generally about. Also, if you want to have a Brabus without breaking the bank so much, the Smart #1 is the way to go.
All in all, the Mercedes-Geely partnership is certainly off to a great start. I don’t want to get ahead of the curve too much but I certainly am looking forward to what they have in store in the near future. – CC
Learn more about the Smart #1 right here.
