Seven shortlisted for Car of the Year 2026
Michael McAleer
The seven contenders for Car of the Year 2026 have been revealed: Citroën C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Renault 4, and Škoda Elroq.
Six of the shortlisted models are available as fully electric vehicles, while the Bigster will come with petrol and hybrid options.
Renault makes the cut with the all-electric revival of its famous 4 model, following its success in last year’s awards with the Renault 5.
The seven were selected from a longlist of 35 new cars by 59 jury members from across Europe. The process included extensive testing, notably the week-long Tannis Test in northern Denmark.
There, competing cars are put through their paces on a mix of road types and at a closed-course airfield, where the Elk Test takes place — a sharp, high-speed swerve designed to simulate avoiding an animal. It’s a benchmark for assessing handling, balance and stability control.
Before year-end, the finalists will face further evaluations across Europe, testing each available powertrain variant.
The winner will be announced at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9th.
