The finalists of the Car Of The Year 2025 under the spotlight

What is Car of the Year? (COTY)

It is the most important car award in Europe, given by 60 independent journalists from 23 countries -specialised in motoring news- in which the best European car sold during the 12 months prior to the date of the award is chosen. It was born in 1963 at the hands of the most important automotive specialist publications in Europe.

Car of The Year is a non-profit institution, independent of the motor industry and whose members receive no fee for sitting on the jury. Expenses are financed by the nine organising publications.

Who sits on the jury?

A total of 60 journalists from 23 European countries make up the jury. National representation is proportional to the size of the market and its importance in the automotive industry. Thus, the five markets that sell the most units, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain have six members, the rest have fewer, in proportion. Members are invited by the Jury Committee for their expertise.

In Spain, the jury is made up of six members: Félix Cerezo (El Mundo); Juan Ignacio Eguiara (Autopista); Rafael Guitart (Highmotor); Pedro Martín (El Confidencial); Francisco Javier Pérez (El Periódico de Catalunya) and Pere Prat (La Vanguardia).

Who can be a candidate for Car Of The Year?

All new models that went on sale during the previous year in at least 5 European markets and with expected sales of at least 5,000 units per year. In this way, the possibility of very exclusive versions or special series with little market impact winning is excluded.

How is the vote held?

The vote takes place in two phases. The first takes place in November; in it, each juror chooses their 7 favourite cars from among all the candidates presented over the year, previously entered on the “long list”. The 7 most-voted models become the finalists. The final vote usually takes place before the Brussels Motor Show, which is usually held in mid-January.

For the final vote, each juror has 25 points to distribute among at least five cars, with a maximum score of 10 points, but two maximum scores cannot be given, that is, there must always be one winning model. The total of the scores must always add up to 25 points, no more, no less.

What makes it different from other awards?

The votes are always public. Each juror issues their assessment, which is made public on the day of the announcement and presentation of the trophy to the winner. And, above all, it is argued, justifying the reason for each vote cast for the finalist models.

They remain published on the Car of the Year website www.caroftheyear.org. The selection of the winning model follows a process that repeats year after year. The key lies in the transparency and professionalism of the juries that make up Car of the Year. The vote is public and always argued.

A highly recognised award in Europe

The award is a recognition of the prestige, quality and interest the model in question has had, endorsed by 60 specialist journalists from 23 European countries, in addition to the advantages it brings in marketing terms for the brand, since this trophy is the most prestigious of all those held in the automotive sector worldwide.

Brands know that this award is clean, transparent and solvent, which is why they truly value it.

As every year, to be on the list of “the seven finalists”, after learning the full list of novelties that have reached the market, the most important thing is to have presented an interesting project, both in terms of performance and technology and design, with arguments of continuity. A finalist model, in addition to meeting the organisers’ requirements, such as being marketed during the previous year in at least five European markets or having been driven for long enough to form a solid opinion of the car, must offer novelty and freshness, but also qualities in terms of technology, safety, environment, value for money, consumption and reliability. A finalist must be a model that can be recommended to the general public.

On top of all this, it must combine a transparent commercial strategy, without distortions that lead the customer to doubt. This award was the first to be given at international level and, therefore, constitutes a very important prestigious recognition. Battling it out with the other six best cars in Europe and winning means that work has been done correctly, that the message conveyed is clear and that the user is able to identify with the model.

Exploiting that award in a commercial campaign has a double effect: the customer who has already acquired the model takes pride in having done so and becomes further convinced of the right choice and, on the other hand, the customer who is not yet one perceives the winner as something positive, proven, and bearing the guarantee seal of a specialised and independent jury.

2025, a complicated year

The selection is never easy, since the seven finalist models stand out especially among all the models marketed over the year (usually more than 30 new models).

In recent editions, there has been a strong presence of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, models that tend to spread the vote more depending on the regional latitudes of the jurors. It is true that the Nordic countries have a longer tradition of supporting electric models, while Mediterranean countries tend to be more traditional regarding type of propulsion. However, this trend is changing and over the last ten years four exclusively electric models have been chosen (Renault 5, Renault Scénic E-Tech, Kia EV6, Jaguar I-Pace). Previously the Opel Ampera and the Nissan Leaf had emerged as winners.

Personally, this year’s vote has been particularly complicated, since most of the eligible models offered different types of propulsion: petrol, petrol/electric hybrids, plug-in hybrid, pure electric or LPG/petrol, three of them being exclusively 100 percent electric. Below we show the assessment and the vote for each of the finalists.

Alfa Romeo Junior: 4 Points

Interesting compact sporty SUV derived from Stellantis’ e-CMP2 platform, shared with the DS 3, Fiat 600e, Jeep Avenger, Opel Mokka and Peugeot 2008. The electric variants stand out with power outputs of 156 and 280 CV, both for sportiness and driving pleasure and tuning, although its range could be improved. The 136 CV hybrid variant is somewhat less refined. It offers good boot capacity for a model of its segment.

Citroën C3/ëC3: 3 Points

A new take on the model, modern and practical, in petrol, hybrid and electric versions, with affordable prices, complete equipment and good interior space. Agile model, with low consumption and great ease of driving. It will soon have a cheaper electric variant and an Aircross version, more family-oriented, with up to seven seats. Very attractive starting price.

Cupra Terramar: 4 Points

An attractive SUV, spacious and with high-quality finishes, in the style of Audi. It has engines from 150 to 272 CV, petrol, mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid, all with a sporty character, good handling and equipped with DSG gearbox. The TSI versions offer four-wheel drive. The plug-in hybrid variant stands out, with great range in electric mode and high-power charging capacity. Its prices are somewhat high.

Dacia Duster: 3 Points

A great evolution of the model with greater off-road abilities of Dacia, available with engines powered by LPG, petrol and hybrids, with outputs between 100 and 140 CV. It also has all-wheel drive in the 130 CV TCe versions, although, for now, it does not offer plug-in or 100% electric variants. It offers good interior space, versatility of use and good behaviour on the road and off it. The interior materials could be better, but in return it offers competitive prices.

Hyundai Inster: 0 Points

A shame not to have had the chance to drive it enough to assess it properly, as the concept is very interesting as a purely electric city car, available in two power levels and battery capacities of 42 and 49 kWh. It offers a well-used high-quality cabin, with excellent rear seats, good performance and modest consumption that allow a reasonable range in urban use.

KIA EV3: 6 Points

Original design inspired by KIA’s new electric range, with square shapes that give rise to a spacious and airy cabin, with good finish, plenty of information and high-quality screens. Only available in 100% electric versions with 204 CV of power and two battery configurations, of 51.3 and 81.4 kWh, which allows great everyday range and the possibility of use as the only family car. It stands out for its space, ease of use, extensive equipment and high charging power, of up to 128 kW.

Renault 5: 5 Points. Winner of COTY 2025

A faithful interpretation of the legendary 1970s model in exclusively electric variants, with power outputs of 95, 120 and 150 CV and battery capacities of 40 and 52 kWh, giving homologated ranges between 300 and 400 km. Excellent chassis tuning, great ease of driving, V2L system, or integration with Google, are some of its main features. Reasonable boot space, but very tight rear seats that limit its use beyond urban driving.

The Renault 5 has been the model chosen as Car of the Year 2025, achieving a total of 323 points and 25 first places in the vote, compared with Kia EV3, which scored 291 points and 11 first places. The runner-up, Citroën C3 and ë-C3, scored 215 points and 5 first places in the vote.

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