Car of the Year 2026: The official finalists

It's official. We now have the list of the seven finalists for the 2026 edition. The 60 jury members, from 23 European countries, had to choose from 35 models those they consider most likely to win the continental award. The winner of the Car of the Year award will be announced on January 9, 2026, during the Brussels International Motor Show.

In September, the candidates underwent their first major test at the Tannistest in Denmark, and now, after the first round of voting, the seven finalists are (in alphabetical order): Citroën C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Renault 4, and Skoda Elroq.

From now on, the jury will have several weeks to thoroughly test the candidates and cast their votes to choose the best in Europe. Finally, the seven car models will undergo a joint test in Spain, at the Parc Motor Castellolí test track, before the final vote to choose the 2026 Car of the Year. For the first time, this demanding joint test will be held in Spain to guarantee good weather and take advantage of the incomparable setting of the roads surrounding the circuit, in the Montserrat area of Barcelona.

For the final decision, each juror will be able to award 25 points, with a maximum of 10 points per car, and must vote for at least five of the seven finalists, including a winning model.

Last year, the Renault 5/Alpine A290 took the continental title after winning the final vote against six other contenders: Alfa Romeo Junio, Citroën C3/eC3, Cupra Terramar, Dacia Duster, Hyundai Inter, and Kia EV3.

The Renault/Alpine received the most votes with 353 points, surpassing the Kia EV3, which obtained 291 points, and the Citroën C3/eC3, with 215 points. Fourth place went to the Hyundai Interster (172 points), fifth to the Dacia Duster (168 points), sixth to the Cupra Terramar (165 points), and seventh to the Alfa Romeo Junior with 136 points.

The seven finalists for Car of the Year 2026: