Car of the Year Europe 2026: finalists, EVs dominate
Car of the Year Europe 2026 finalists: EVs set the pace
Car of the Year Europe 2026: finalists, EVs dominate
Seven finalists for Car of the Year Europe 2026 revealed: EVs dominate the shortlist. Final tests in Spain; winner announced Jan 9 in Brussels. See finalists.
2025-11-01T02:15:00+03:00
2025-11-01T02:15:00+03:00
2025-11-01T02:15:00+03:00
The jury for the prestigious Car of the Year in Europe 2026 award has named its finalists. From 35 contenders, seven models made the cut — a snapshot of an industry where electric cars now set the pace. The shortlist features five battery-electric vehicles, one hybrid and just a single gasoline model.According to SPEEDME.RU, the contenders are the Citroen C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Renault 4 and Skoda Elroq. Only the Dacia Bigster sticks with a conventional internal-combustion engine; the rest are either hybrids or fully electric.For the first time, the final tests will be held in Spain, at the Parc Motor Castelloli circuit near Barcelona. There, 60 journalists from 23 countries will assess handling, comfort and energy efficiency — a setting that should bring chassis tuning and real-world frugality into sharp focus.The winner will be announced on January 9 during the Brussels Motor Show. Analysts expect another victory for cleaner technologies, echoing 2025, when the Renault 5 edged past the Kia EV3 and Citroen eC3.Even so, experts allow for surprises: the affordable, practical Dacia Bigster could emerge as the crowd-pleaser, while the Mercedes CLA Electric would neatly symbolize the premium segment’s step into a new era.
Car of the Year Europe 2026, finalists, EVs, electric cars, hybrid, Dacia Bigster, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Kia EV4, Renault 4, Fiat Grande Panda, Citroen C5 Aircross, Skoda Elroq, Brussels Motor Show
2025
Michael Powers
news
Car of the Year Europe 2026 finalists: EVs set the pace
Seven finalists for Car of the Year Europe 2026 revealed: EVs dominate the shortlist. Final tests in Spain; winner announced Jan 9 in Brussels. See finalists.
Michael Powers, Editor
The jury for the prestigious Car of the Year in Europe 2026 award has named its finalists. From 35 contenders, seven models made the cut — a snapshot of an industry where electric cars now set the pace. The shortlist features five battery-electric vehicles, one hybrid and just a single gasoline model.
According to SPEEDME.RU, the contenders are the Citroen C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Renault 4 and Skoda Elroq. Only the Dacia Bigster sticks with a conventional internal-combustion engine; the rest are either hybrids or fully electric.
For the first time, the final tests will be held in Spain, at the Parc Motor Castelloli circuit near Barcelona. There, 60 journalists from 23 countries will assess handling, comfort and energy efficiency — a setting that should bring chassis tuning and real-world frugality into sharp focus.
The winner will be announced on January 9 during the Brussels Motor Show. Analysts expect another victory for cleaner technologies, echoing 2025, when the Renault 5 edged past the Kia EV3 and Citroen eC3.
Even so, experts allow for surprises: the affordable, practical Dacia Bigster could emerge as the crowd-pleaser, while the Mercedes CLA Electric would neatly symbolize the premium segment’s step into a new era.
