Top Three Finalists Revealed for World Car of the Year Award

The 2026 World Car of the Year Finalists

Three finalists have been announced for the prestigious 2026 World Car of the Year award: the BMW iX3, Hyundai Palisade, and Nissan Leaf. These finalists mark the end of Kia’s potential three-year winning streak, with Hyundai still in the running for the top spot. The winner will be revealed at the 2026 New York International Auto Show on April 1.

The initial list of top 10 finalists was unveiled in January, and now the top three contenders have been revealed for the World Car of the Year award.

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The World Car of the Year competition also includes other categories, with General Motors, BMW, and Hyundai having the most top-three finishers in various categories.

At the same time, the top 10 finalists were announced for the overall World Car of the Year award, with winners in other categories to be revealed as well.

For the World Electric Vehicle award, finalists now include models excluding the Audi A6/S6 e-tron and Hyundai Ioniq 9. The World Luxury Car category also saw eliminations, with electric Audis and combustion-powered A6/S6 models no longer in the running.

Other categories such as World Performance Car, World Urban Car, and World Car Design of the Year have their own top three finalists, with winners to be announced alongside the overall champion.

A panel of design experts has shortlisted candidates for the World Car Design of the Year award, with winners being determined by a final vote. All finalists have either been launched in Australia or are scheduled for release, except for a few exceptions.

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The jury for the World Car of the Year awards comprises 98 automotive journalists from 33 countries, including CarExpert co-founder and presenter, Paul Maric. Korean brands have dominated the awards in recent years, with Kia and Hyundai both securing multiple wins.

While Kia has claimed victory three times this decade, other brands like Volkswagen have also made their mark, showcasing the diversity and innovation in the automotive industry.