The finalists for the World Car Awards 2026 have been announced. The winners will be revealed on April 1st at the New York Auto Show. The list of nominees is notable for its dominance by electric vehicles.
In the "Car of the Year" category, the finalists are the BMW iX3, Hyundai Palisade, and Nissan Leaf. The Leaf starts at $29,990 and offers a range of up to 488 km. The iX3 is equipped with a 108.7 kWh battery and a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing 463 hp. It accelerates to 96 km/h in 4.7 seconds, with a WLTP range of up to 805 km. The Palisade is available with an ICE or a hybrid powertrain producing 329 hp, with a fuel consumption of 7 liters per 100 km.
For the title of best electric vehicle, the iX3 and Leaf will compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which features an 85 kWh battery and versions with 268 and 349 hp.
In the running for the title of best city car are the Chevrolet Spark EUV (Baojun Yep Plus), Nio Firefly, and Hyundai Venue. In the "Car Design of the Year" category are the Kia PV5, Mazda 6e, and Volvo ES90.