An international jury of 98 journalists has decided: The BMW iX3 is the best car in the world in 2026. From 58 candidates, the experts selected ten finalists for the renowned “World Car of the Year Award 2026” – seven of which are electric cars. We’ll show you the complete top ten and explain why Hyundai is the most successful brand of the year.
The “World Car of the Year Award” is one of the most prestigious awards in the automotive industry. Unlike national tests, models must be available worldwide (in at least two major markets on two different continents). This means that niche vehicles are out of the race from the start. What remains are the best globally relevant cars in the world.
98 journalists choose the best car in the world
The award has been presented annually since 2004 and the winner is presented at the New York Auto Show. An international jury of 98 journalists from 33 countries tests the models available for selection and then votes in several rounds. In addition to the main prize, prizes will also be awarded in five other categories. Including the best electric car, the best sports car and the best city car.
The members of the jury are apparently advocates of electromobility. Seven of the ten finalists are electric cars. This also explains Hyundai’s strong position. The manufacturer from South Korea received five nominations across all categories, making it the most successful brand of the year. However, three of the five nominees in the electric car segment come from Germany.
Surprisingly few manufacturers from China made it to the finals. In total there are only four Chinese models, most of which were able to prevail in the city car category. At this point, however, we are interested in the main prize of the World Car of the Year Awards 2026. Since there is no ranking apart from the winner, we present the nine losing finalists in alphabetical order.
Audi Q5 / SQ5: Long-running favorite again in the top ten
The start of the top ten is the new Audi Q5 in combination with the SQ5. The SUV has been one of the best-selling models in its class worldwide for years. Audi alone is sending four models into the race across the various categories.
