The World Car Finals have begun with the announcement of the top ten and top five finalists across six World Car Awards vehicle categories. The countdown culminates on Wednesday, 1st April, when the winners will be revealed during the World Car Awards ceremony, broadcast live at the 2026 New York International Auto Show.
A distinguished jury comprising 98 automotive journalists from 33 countries selected the finalists through secret ballot, based on their professional evaluation of each eligible vehicle. The selection process reflects the expertise and diverse perspectives of motoring journalists from around the globe.
The 2026 World Car of the Year winner will be chosen from ten finalists, narrowed down from an initial list of 58 contenders. The shortlist includes the Audi Q5 / SQ5, BMW iX3, BYD Seal 6 DM-I, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Hyundai Palisade, Kia EV4, Kia EV5, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Nissan Leaf and the Toyota RAV4.
In the World Electric Vehicle category, five finalists have emerged: the Audi A6 e-tron / S6 e-tron, BMW iX3, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Mercedes-Benz CLA and the Nissan Leaf. This category reflects the automotive industry's continued shift towards electrification and sustainable mobility solutions.
The World Luxury Car category showcases five prestigious contenders: the Audi A6 e-tron / S6 e-tron, Audi A6/S6, Cadillac Vistiq, Lucid Gravity and the Volvo ES90. These vehicles represent the pinnacle of automotive craftsmanship, technology and refinement.
Performance enthusiasts will be watching the World Performance Car category closely, with five exciting finalists: the BMW M2 CS, Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, Defender OCTA, Hyundai Ioniq 6 N and the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro. These vehicles demonstrate the cutting edge of automotive performance engineering.
The World Urban Car category recognises vehicles designed for city living, with five finalists: the Alfa Romeo Junior, Baojun Yep Plus / Chevrolet Spark EUV, Firefly, Hyundai Venue and Wuling Binguo / Ari Poly. These compact vehicles offer practicality and efficiency for urban environments.
All vehicles competing across these five categories are also eligible for the 2026 World Car Design of the Year award. The top three finalists in this prestigious design category will be announced virtually via World Car TV on Tuesday, 3rd March 2026.
Three South African motoring journalists form part of the 98-member judging panel. Lerato Matebese, Founding Editor of Petrolhead Africa, is an award-winning journalist who entered the industry in 2006. Brenwin Naidu serves as Section Editor for Sunday Times Lifestyle Motoring and Sowetan Motoring, having begun his career in 2011. Hannes Oosthuizen contributes to Cars.co.za and previously served as the youngest-ever editor of CAR magazine.
Winners across all six categories will be announced on Wednesday, 1st April 2026, during a live World Car Awards ceremony at the New York International Auto Show. This year marks the 21st year of the World Car Awards partnership with this prestigious automotive event.
