The 2026 World Car Finals Powered by Brembo officially began with the announcement of top ten and top five finalists across six vehicle categories. Winners will be revealed at the World Car Awards ceremony during the 2026 New York International Auto Show on April 1, 2026.
A jury of 98 automotive journalists from 33 countries selected finalists by secret ballot. KPMG tabulated the vote results. The World Car of the Year category narrowed from 58 initial contenders to 10 finalists, while the remaining five categories each advanced five finalists.
Highlights
- Electric vehicles dominate multiple categories, with the BMW iX3, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Mercedes-Benz CLA, and Nissan Leaf appearing in both World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle finalist lists
- Jury of 98 international automotive journalists selected finalists from 33 countries based on professional vehicle evaluations
- Winners across all six categories will be announced live at the New York International Auto Show on April 1, 2026
- World Car Design finalists include the Firefly, Kia PV5, Lynk & Co 08, Mazda 6e / EZ-6, and Volvo ES90
World Car of the Year Finalists
The flagship category features a mix of electric, hybrid, and conventional powertrains. The top ten finalists are:
- 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
World Electric Vehicle Finalists
The dedicated EV category advanced five finalists representing German, South Korean, and Japanese automakers:
- Audi A6 e-tron / S6 e-tron
- BMW iX3
- Hyundai Ioniq 9
- Mercedes-Benz CLA
- Nissan Leaf
World Luxury Car Finalists
Premium vehicles competing for the luxury title include both electric and combustion-powered entries:
- Audi A6 e-tron / S6 e-tron
- Audi A6 / S6
- Cadillac Vistiq
- Lucid Gravity
- Volvo ES90
World Performance Car Finalists
High-performance vehicles spanning electric, hybrid, and traditional powertrains earned recognition:
- BMW M2 CS
- Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
- Defender OCTA
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
- Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro
World Urban Car Finalists
Compact vehicles designed for city driving advanced to the final round:
- Alfa Romeo Junior
- Baojun Yep Plus / Chevrolet Spark EUV
- Firefly
- Hyundai Venue
- Wuling Binguo / Ari Poly
World Car Design of the Year Finalists
A panel of seven design experts established the shortlist for juror voting. The design panel includes representatives from Pforzheim University, Art Center College of Design, and industry veterans from Renault and other organizations.
The five design finalists are:
- Firefly
- Kia PV5
- Lynk & Co 08
- Mazda 6e / EZ-6
- Volvo ES90
Timeline and Voting Process
Top three finalists in each category will be announced via World Car TV on March 3, 2026. Final winners will be revealed during the live ceremony at the New York International Auto Show on April 1, 2026.
The 2026 awards mark the 21st year of partnership between World Car Awards and NYIAS. The program is supported by official partners including AITASTIC Research & Consult, Brembo, KPMG, and Newspress.
“The World Car Awards shine a spotlight on the innovation, performance, and design that are shaping the future of mobility,” said Mark Schienberg, president of NYIAS.
For additional information, visit worldcarawards.com.
Sign up for our popular daily email to catch all the latest EV news!
