These are the seven finalists for the Car of the Year 2026 award

During the opening of the Brussels International Motor Show, on 9 January, the winner of the prestigious “European Car of the Year” (COTY) award will be announced. As has become customary in recent editions, all the finalist models feature electric or electrified powertrains.

We already know the list of the seven finalist models that may compete for the Car of the Year 2026 award, which this year celebrates its 63rd edition.

The seven selected models, chosen by 59 jurors from 23 European countries to reach the grand final (Spain has six members representing the Car of the Year jury), come from a list of 35 candidates presented on the European market throughout 2023.

All electric or electrified

On this occasion, all the models offer electric or electrified versions; four of them are sold only with an electric motor (Kia EV4, Mercedes CLA, Renault 4 E-Tech and Skoda Elroq), two others have at least one electric motorisation (Fiat Grande Panda and Citroën C5 Aircross) and only one is sold with hybrid, liquefied petroleum gas or petrol powertrains (Dacia Bigster).

Curiously, two of them offer different body styles, as the Mercedes GLA has been designed with a coupé or shooting brake silhouette (available in 2026), while the Kia EV4 is on sale with a four-door saloon or five-door fastback body. In both cases, the Kia is available with a single 204 CV powertrain and batteries of 58 and 81 kWh.

The seven, magnificent

The seven models competing for the Car of the Year 2026 title are: Citroën C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Mercedes CLA, Renault 4 E-Tech and Skoda Elroq.

As for pricing positioning, the Fiat Grande Panda is the most affordable, with a price range starting at 17,000 euros; the Dacia Bigster at 24,990 euros; the Skoda Elroq at 26,500 euros; the Renault 4 E-Tech at 28,600 euros; the Citroën at 29,700 euros; the Kia EV4 at 35,900 euros and Mercedes GLA at 54,700 euros.