The organisers of the World Car Awards have announced the 10 finalists vying for the overall 2026 World Car of the Year title, plus 5 finalists in each sub-category…
- 2026 World Car Awards finalists announced
- Will Kia grab third consecutive overall title?
- All winners will be revealed on 1 April 2026
The 22nd running of the World Car Awards has officially kicked into gear with the announcement of the 10 finalists in the running for the overall 2026 World Car of the Year title. In addition, the organisers have confirmed the 5 finalists in each of the competition’s 5 sub-categories.
A jury of 98 international automotive journalists from 33 countries selected the finalists by secret ballot, choosing from an initial list of 58 contenders. Cars.co.za’s very own Hannes Oosthuizen, who is South Africa’s longest-standing representative on the World Car of the Year jury, has also had his say.
The top 3 finalists in each of the categories (including the overall class) will be announced on 3 March 2026, before all the winners are officially crowned on 1 April 2026 at the New York International Auto Show.
As a reminder, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 won the overall gong in 2022, before the Hyundai Ioniq 6 took the title in 2023. The Kia EV9 grabbed top honours in 2024, with the Kia EV3 taking first place in 2025. But which vehicle will win the title this year? Check out all the finalists below, with Kia and Hyundai interestingly each securing 2 spots on the list of 10 finalists battling for the overall title…
2026 World Car of the Year finalists
- Audi Q5/SQ5
- BMW iX3
- BYD Seal 6 DM-i
- Hyundai Ioniq 9
- Hyundai Palisade
- Kia EV4
- Kia EV5
- Mercedes-Benz CLA
- Nissan Leaf
- Toyota RAV4
2026 World Electric Vehicle finalists
- Audi A6 e-tron/S6 e-tron
- BMW iX3
- Hyundai Ioniq 9
- Mercedes-Benz CLA
- Nissan Leaf
2026 World Luxury Car finalists
- Audi A6 e-tron/S6 e-tron
- Audi A6/S6
- Cadillac Vistiq
- Lucid Gravity
- Volvo ES90
2026 World Performance Car finalists
- BMW M2 CS
- Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
- Land Rover Defender Octa
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
- Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro
2026 World Urban Car finalists
- Alfa Romeo Junior
- Baojun Yep Plus/Chevrolet Spark EUV
- Firefly
- Hyundai Venue
- Wuling Binguo/Ari Poly
2026 World Car Design of the Year finalists
- Firefly
- Kia PV5
- Lynk & Co 08
- Mazda 6e/EZ-6
- Volvo ES90
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the 2026 World Car Awards
Q: When will the winners of the 2026 World Car Awards be announced?
A: The overall winners for the 2026 World Car of the Year and its 5 sub-categories will be officially crowned on 1 April 2026. The announcement will take place live during a special ceremony at the New York International Auto Show.
Q: How are the finalists for the World Car Awards selected?
A: The finalists are chosen by a jury of 98 international automotive journalists from 33 different countries. They selected the final shortlist from an initial pool of 58 contenders via a secret ballot. South Africa is represented on this panel by Hannes Oosthuizen from Cars.co.za.
Q: Which vehicles are the main contenders for the 2026 World Car of the Year title?
A: There are 10 finalists vying for the top spot, including the Audi Q5/SQ5, BMW iX3, BYD Seal 6 DM-i, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Hyundai Palisade, Kia EV4, Kia EV5, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Nissan Leaf and Toyota RAV4. This list will be narrowed down to the “Top 3 in the World” on 3 March 2026.
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