March 18, 2026
Cars competing for the title of the best of the year
The list of finalists for the World Car Awards 2026 is now known. A jury of 98 leading automotive journalists from 33 countries has named the top three contenders in each category. The award ceremony will traditionally take place at the New York International Auto Show, and the winners will be announced on April 1, 2026.
The list of finalists for the World Car Awards 2026 is now known. A jury of 98 leading automotive journalists from 33 countries has named the top three contenders in each category.
The award ceremony will traditionally take place at the New York International Auto Show, and the winners will be announced on April 1, 2026.
Top 3 | World Car of the Year 2026
The main prize, World Car of the Year, will be contested by the BMW iX3 (a new-generation electric SUV), Hyundai Palisade (a luxurious three-row crossover), and Nissan Leaf (a relatively budget-friendly electric vehicle).
Last year’s winner of this award was the Kia EV3.
Top 3 | Best Electric Car 2026
The BMW iX3 has also been named among the best electric cars. Another German automotive giant, Mercedes-Benz CLA, will compete for the award, while the Nissan Leaf also appears in the top three.
Top 3 | Best Luxury Cars 2026
Surprisingly, no German car appears in the luxury segment this year. Competing for the title are the Lucid Gravity, Cadillac Vistiq, and Volvo ES90.
Top 3 | Best Performance Cars 2026
It seems the jury decided to give all three types of powertrains (gasoline, hybrid, and electric) a chance in this category, making the competition especially interesting. The finalists for Performance Car of the Year are:
BMW M2 CS – gasoline-powered
Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray - hybrid
Hyundai IONIQ 6 N - fully electric
Top 3 | Best Urban Cars of the Year
Two Chinese vehicles made it to the finals - Baojun Yep Plus and NIO Firefly EV. The Hyundai Venue is also in the top three and is currently one of the most affordable Hyundai models available in the U.S. market.
Top 3 | Best Car Design
Interestingly, the Kia PV5, which is essentially a van, made it into this category. Its competitors will be the stylish electric Mazda EZ-6 and the Swedish sedan Volvo ES90.
The World Car Awards was founded in 2003, with the first winners announced in 2004. In the history of the awards, the German brand Audi holds the record with 11 awards, while Mercedes-Benz ranks second with 9 awards.
