The race to become Car of the Year 2026 is now in its final stretch. After months of testing, analysis, and deliberation, the 60 jurors from 23 European countries have chosen the seven vehicles that will compete for one of the most prestigious titles in the automotive industry.

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From an initial list of 35 candidates, only seven models made it to the final stage. This year's selection combines innovation, design, efficiency, and performance, with a strong presence of electric vehicles, confirming the electrification trend currently dominating the European market.

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The official announcement marks the start of the final testing phase, which will determine which of these models will become the successor to the Renault 5 / Alpine A290, winner of the award in the previous edition.

The seven models chosen for the final

The competition organizers revealed that the seven finalists are: Citroen C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Renault 4, and Skoda Elroq.

This list not only represents established brands in the European market but also a mix of styles and offerings ranging from family SUVs to urban compacts and the latest generation of electric vehicles.

Among the selected vehicles, Three models are fully electric, while three others offer hybrid or alternative propulsion versions. The Renault Group stands out again with two of its models among the finalists, the Renault 4 and the Dacia Bigster, which could give it the opportunity to repeat the award it won in 2025.

A demanding evaluation process

The selection of the finalists is no coincidence. All the models underwent a rigorous technical and driving evaluation, which began with tests carried out at Tannistest, Denmark, last September.

There,The judges were able to test each vehicle under real-world conditions, evaluating aspects such as comfort, technological innovation, safety, energy efficiency, and value for money. Over the next few weeks, the judges will continue testing the vehicles individually before pitting them against each other again in a joint session at Parc Motor Castelloli, a renowned test track located near Montserrat, in Barcelona. This circuit, chosen for its favorable climate and varied terrain, will allow the cars to be evaluated both on the track and on open roads, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of each model's performance. How the winner is chosen: The voting process for the 2026 Car of the Year maintains the traditional system that has characterized the competition for decades. Each of the 60 jurors has 25 points to distribute among the seven finalists, with a maximum of 10 points for a single vehicle. However, there is a key rule: each juror must award points to at least five different models, ensuring a balanced evaluation and preventing favoritism. This methodology aims to reflect a broad consensus among the experts, who represent specialized media outlets across Europe. Once the votes are tallied, the results will remain secret until the official announcement of the winner, which will take place on January 9, 2026, during the Brussels Motor Show. There, the winner of the prestigious Car of the Year title will be revealed. Trends Defining the Future of the European Automobile: The 2026 edition of the award reveals a clear inclination of the jury towards electric and hybrid vehicles, which already dominate the nominations. The presence of models like the Kia EV4, the Mercedes-Benz CLA in its electric version, and the Skoda Elroq confirms the industry's commitment to sustainable mobility. Furthermore, the inclusion of more accessible options like the Dacia Bigster and the Fiat Grande Panda demonstrates that innovation isn't reserved solely for premium vehicles, but is also reaching the most popular segments. Meanwhile, the Renault 4, a modern reinterpretation of a historic icon, adds a touch of nostalgia and demonstrates how manufacturers can combine heritage and modernity in a single vehicle. The final result will reflect the tastes and priorities of the current European market: advanced technology, energy efficiency, and a clear transition to an electric future.Energy efficiency and value for money.

Over the next few weeks, the judges will continue testing the vehicles individually before pitting them against each other again in a joint session at Parc Motor Castelloli, a renowned test track located near Montserrat, in Barcelona.

This circuit, chosen for its favorable climate and varied terrain, will allow the cars to be evaluated both on the track and on open roads, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of each model's performance.

How the winner is chosen

The voting process for Car of the Year 2026 maintains the traditional system that has characterized the competition for decades. Each of the 60 jurors has 25 points that they can distribute among the seven finalists, with a maximum of 10 points for a single vehicle.

However, there is a key rule: each juror must award points to at least five different models, which ensures a balanced evaluation and prevents favoritism.

This methodology seeks to reflect a broad consensus among experts, representing specialized media outlets across Europe. Once the votes are tallied, the results will remain secret until the official announcement of the winner, which will take place on January 9, 2026, during the Brussels Motor Show. There, the winner of the prestigious Car of the Year title will be revealed. Trends Defining the Future of the European Automobile: The 2026 edition of the award reveals a clear inclination of the jury towards electric and hybrid vehicles, which already dominate the nominations. The presence of models like the Kia EV4, the Mercedes-Benz CLA in its electric version, and the Skoda Elroq confirms the industry's commitment to sustainable mobility. Furthermore, the inclusion of more accessible options like the Dacia Bigster and the Fiat Grande Panda demonstrates that innovation isn't reserved solely for premium vehicles, but is also reaching the most popular segments. Meanwhile, the Renault 4, a modern reinterpretation of a historic icon, adds a touch of nostalgia and demonstrates how manufacturers can combine heritage and modernity in a single vehicle. The final result will reflect the tastes and priorities of the current European market: advanced technology, energy efficiency, and a clear transition to an electric future.Energy efficiency and value for money.

Over the next few weeks, the judges will continue testing the vehicles individually before pitting them against each other again in a joint session at Parc Motor Castelloli, a renowned test track located near Montserrat, in Barcelona.

This circuit, chosen for its favorable climate and varied terrain, will allow the cars to be evaluated both on the track and on open roads, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of each model's performance.

How the winner is chosen

The voting process for Car of the Year 2026 maintains the traditional system that has characterized the competition for decades. Each of the 60 jurors has 25 points that they can distribute among the seven finalists, with a maximum of 10 points for a single vehicle.

However, there is a key rule: each juror must award points to at least five different models, which ensures a balanced evaluation and prevents favoritism.

This methodology seeks to reflect a broad consensus among experts, representing specialized media outlets across Europe. Once the votes are tallied, the results will remain secret until the official announcement of the winner, which will take place on January 9, 2026, during the Brussels Motor Show. There, the winner of the prestigious Car of the Year title will be revealed. Trends Defining the Future of the European Automobile: The 2026 edition of the award reveals a clear inclination of the jury towards electric and hybrid vehicles, which already dominate the nominations. The presence of models like the Kia EV4, the Mercedes-Benz CLA in its electric version, and the Skoda Elroq confirms the industry's commitment to sustainable mobility. Furthermore, the inclusion of more accessible options like the Dacia Bigster and the Fiat Grande Panda demonstrates that innovation isn't reserved solely for premium vehicles, but is also reaching the most popular segments. Meanwhile, the Renault 4, a modern reinterpretation of a historic icon, adds a touch of nostalgia and demonstrates how manufacturers can combine heritage and modernity in a single vehicle. The final result will reflect the tastes and priorities of the current European market: advanced technology, energy efficiency, and a clear transition to an electric future.

This circuit, chosen for its favorable climate and varied terrain, will allow the cars to be evaluated both on the track and on open roads, guaranteeing a comprehensive assessment of each model's performance.

How the winner is chosen

The voting process for Car of the Year 2026 maintains the traditional system that has characterized the competition for decades. Each of the 60 jurors has 25 points that they can distribute among the seven finalists, with a maximum of 10 points for a single vehicle.

However, there is a key rule: each juror must award points to at least five different models, which ensures a balanced evaluation and prevents favoritism. This methodology seeks to reflect a broad consensus among the experts, who represent specialized media outlets from across Europe.

Once the votes are tallied, the results will remain secret until the official announcement of the winner, which will take place on January 9, 2026, during the Brussels Motor Show. There, the winner of the prestigious Car of the Year title will be revealed among the seven finalists.

Trends defining the future of the European automobile

The 2026 edition of the award reveals a clear inclination of the jury towards electric and hybrid vehicles, which already dominate the nominations. The presence of models like the Kia EV4, the Mercedes-Benz CLA in its electric version, and the Skoda Elroq confirms the industry's commitment to sustainable mobility. Furthermore, the inclusion of more accessible options like the Dacia Bigster and the Fiat Grande Panda demonstrates that innovation isn't reserved solely for premium vehicles, but is also reaching the most popular segments. Meanwhile, the Renault 4, a modern reinterpretation of a historic icon, adds a touch of nostalgia and demonstrates how manufacturers can combine heritage and modernity in a single vehicle. The final result will reflect the tastes and priorities of the current European market: advanced technology, energy efficiency, and a clear transition to an electric future.

This circuit, chosen for its favorable climate and varied terrain, will allow the cars to be evaluated both on the track and on open roads, guaranteeing a comprehensive assessment of each model's performance.

How the winner is chosen

The voting process for Car of the Year 2026 maintains the traditional system that has characterized the competition for decades. Each of the 60 jurors has 25 points that they can distribute among the seven finalists, with a maximum of 10 points for a single vehicle.

However, there is a key rule: each juror must award points to at least five different models, which ensures a balanced evaluation and prevents favoritism. This methodology seeks to reflect a broad consensus among the experts, who represent specialized media outlets from across Europe.

Once the votes are tallied, the results will remain secret until the official announcement of the winner, which will take place on January 9, 2026, during the Brussels Motor Show. There, the winner of the prestigious Car of the Year title will be revealed among the seven finalists.

Trends defining the future of the European automobile

The 2026 edition of the award reveals a clear inclination of the jury towards electric and hybrid vehicles, which already dominate the nominations. The presence of models like the Kia EV4, the Mercedes-Benz CLA in its electric version, and the Skoda Elroq confirms the industry's commitment to sustainable mobility. Furthermore, the inclusion of more accessible options like the Dacia Bigster and the Fiat Grande Panda demonstrates that innovation isn't reserved solely for premium vehicles, but is also reaching the most popular segments. Meanwhile, the Renault 4, a modern reinterpretation of a historic icon, adds a touch of nostalgia and demonstrates how manufacturers can combine heritage and modernity in a single vehicle. The final result will reflect the tastes and priorities of the current European market: advanced technology, energy efficiency, and a clear transition to an electric future.Each juror must award points to at least five different models, ensuring a balanced evaluation and preventing favoritism. This methodology aims to reflect a broad consensus among the experts, who represent specialized media outlets across Europe. Once the votes are tallied, the results will remain secret until the official announcement of the winner, which will take place on January 9, 2026, during the Brussels Motor Show. There, the winner of the prestigious Car of the Year title will be revealed. Trends Defining the Future of the European Automobile: The 2026 edition of the award reveals a clear inclination of the jury towards electric and hybrid vehicles, which already dominate the nominations. The presence of models like the Kia EV4, the Mercedes-Benz CLA in its electric version, and the Skoda Elroq confirms the industry's commitment to sustainable mobility. Furthermore, the inclusion of more accessible options like the Dacia Bigster and the Fiat Grande Panda demonstrates that innovation isn't reserved solely for premium vehicles, but is also reaching the most popular segments. Meanwhile, the Renault 4, a modern reinterpretation of a historic icon, adds a touch of nostalgia and demonstrates how manufacturers can combine heritage and modernity in a single vehicle. The final result will reflect the tastes and priorities of the current European market: advanced technology, energy efficiency, and a clear transition to an electric future.Each juror must award points to at least five different models, ensuring a balanced evaluation and preventing favoritism. This methodology aims to reflect a broad consensus among the experts, who represent specialized media outlets across Europe. Once the votes are tallied, the results will remain secret until the official announcement of the winner, which will take place on January 9, 2026, during the Brussels Motor Show. There, the winner of the prestigious Car of the Year title will be revealed. Trends Defining the Future of the European Automobile: The 2026 edition of the award reveals a clear inclination of the jury towards electric and hybrid vehicles, which already dominate the nominations. The presence of models like the Kia EV4, the Mercedes-Benz CLA in its electric version, and the Skoda Elroq confirms the industry's commitment to sustainable mobility. Furthermore, the inclusion of more accessible options like the Dacia Bigster and the Fiat Grande Panda demonstrates that innovation isn't reserved solely for premium vehicles, but is also reaching the most popular segments. Meanwhile, the Renault 4, a modern reinterpretation of a historic icon, adds a touch of nostalgia and demonstrates how manufacturers can combine heritage and modernity in a single vehicle. The final result will reflect the tastes and priorities of the current European market: advanced technology, energy efficiency, and a clear transition to an electric future.The Renault 4, a modern reinterpretation of a historic icon, brings a touch of nostalgia and demonstrates how manufacturers can combine heritage and modernity in a single vehicle. The final result will reflect the tastes and priorities of today's European market: advanced technology, energy efficiency, and a clear transition to an electric future.The Renault 4, a modern reinterpretation of a historic icon, brings a touch of nostalgia and demonstrates how manufacturers can combine heritage and modernity in a single vehicle. The final result will reflect the tastes and priorities of today's European market: advanced technology, energy efficiency, and a clear transition to an electric future.