The race for the 2026 World Car of the Year title is heating up, and the top three finalists have been revealed! But this year's competition has an intriguing twist. Will it be a German, Korean, or Japanese brand that takes the crown? And will the winner be electric? Here's the lowdown:
The final contenders are the BMW iX3, Hyundai Palisade, and Nissan Leaf. This trio has left Kia fans disappointed, as the brand's hopes for a third consecutive win have been dashed. However, Hyundai remains in the game, and Kia could still triumph in other categories.
The top 10 finalists were announced in January, and now the top three have been selected by a jury of 98 automotive journalists from 33 countries. But here's where it gets interesting: the finalists for the other categories have also been unveiled, and some fan favorites have been eliminated.
In the World Electric Vehicle category, the Audi A6/S6 e-tron and Hyundai Ioniq 9 have been knocked out, leaving the BMW iX3, Mercedes-Benz CLA, and Nissan Leaf in the running. And for the World Luxury Car award, the electric and combustion-powered Audi A6/S6 range is out, with the Cadillac Vistiq, Lucid Gravity, and Volvo ES90 making the cut.
The World Performance Car category has seen the Defender OCTA and Mercedes-AMG GT63 Pro eliminated, leaving the BMW M2 CS, Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, and Hyundai Ioniq 6 N as finalists. As for the World Urban Car, it won't be the Alfa Romeo Junior or the Wuling Binguo/Ari Poly, with the Baojun Yep Plus/Chevrolet Spark EUV, Firefly, and Hyundai Venue making the top three.
And now, for the World Car Design of the Year award, the finalists are the Kia PV5, Mazda 6e, and Volvo ES90. A design panel of seven global experts created the shortlist, and the final winner will be decided by the jurors' vote.
Interestingly, all finalists are available in Australia or set for an Australian launch, except for the Baojun Yep Plus, Firefly, and Lucid Gravity. The Hyundai Venue, however, is an Indian-sold version with some upgrades.
The winners will be chosen by secret ballot, adding an air of mystery to the process. And with Korean brands dominating the World Car of the Year awards this decade, it's anyone's guess who will take the top spot this year. Will it be a Korean brand for the third year in a row, or will another manufacturer surprise us?
What do you think? Are you rooting for an electric vehicle to take the crown? Or do you have a favorite brand you'd like to see win? The automotive world is waiting with bated breath for the results on April 1st at the New York International Auto Show. Stay tuned!
