Eyes on the Prize
Automakers rewrote their EV roadmaps in 2025 as the market turned. Nonetheless, this year’s World Car of the Year (WCOTY) top 10 finalists are all available with some form of electrification, selected from an initial field of 58 contenders.
The shortlist includes the Audi Q5/SQ5, BMW iX3, BYD Seal 6 DM-i, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Hyundai Palisade, Kia EV4, Kia EV5, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Nissan Leaf, and Toyota RAV4. These vehicles will be evaluated by a jury of 98 automotive journalists from 33 countries as they compete to dethrone the reigning WCOTY winner, the Kia EV3.
Hyundai
The EV Dynasty
Not every finalist employs the same type of electrification. Models such as the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz CLA are available with 48-volt mild-hybrid systems, while others – including the Nissan Leaf, BMW iX3, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Kia EV4, and Kia EV5 – are fully electric. For the 2026 model year, the Toyota RAV4 lineup in the U.S. is hybrid-only, while the Hyundai Palisade now offers a hybrid variant producing around 329 horsepower.
Chinese automaker BYD enters the race with the Seal 6 DM-i, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) as part of the brand’s DM-i series.
With four entries on the WCOTY top-10 list, Hyundai Motor Group – the parent company of Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis – is well positioned to extend its winning streak to five consecutive years. The group’s previous WCOTY winners include the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2022), Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2023), Kia EV9 (2024), and Kia EV3 (2025).
Here are the other lists of awards, along with their respective finalists:
2026 World Electric Vehicle
- Audi A6 e-tron/S6 e-tron
- BMW iX3
- Hyundai Ioniq 9
- Mercedes-Benz CLA
- Nissan Leaf
2026 World Luxury Car
2026 World Performance Car
2026 World Urban Car
- Alfa Romeo Junior
- Baojun Yep Plus/Chevrolet Spark EUV
- Firefly
- Hyundai Venue
- Wuling Binguo/Ari Poly
Mark the Calendar
All nominees across these categories are also eligible for the 2026 World Car Design of the Year award.
The top three finalists for the WCOTY title will be announced on March 3, ahead of the final winners in all six categories, which will be revealed on April 1 at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). The 2026 ceremony marks the 21st year of partnership between the World Car Awards and NYIAS, dating back to the inaugural winner, the Audi A6, in 2005.
