The finalists for the 2026 European Car of the Year competition have been officially announced. The shortlist includes seven ambitious models, and the winner will be announced in January.

Here are the 2026 Car of the Year finalists

The jury’s final list of seven vehicles includes the Citroën C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, and Fiat Grande Panda.

The list continues with the Kia EV4, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Renault 4, and Skoda Elroq. These vehicles will be evaluated by votes from 60 jury members from 23 European countries.

The winner of the highly anticipated grand prize will be announced at a ceremony to be held at the Brussels International Motor Show on January 9, 2026.

The 2025 European Car of the Year award was won by the Renault 5 and Alpine A290 models. This award was also announced in Brussels on January 10, 2025.

So, what are your thoughts on the 2026 Car of the Year? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!