It is the start of a new year – and with it comes the race to name to best cars from the previous year. The South African Car of the Year competition is already in progress with the semi-finalists’ having been announced and now it is the turn of the World Car Finals Powered By Brembo.
The top 10 and top five finalists across six vehicle categories have been announced and the process will conclude on April 1, when the category winners are announced at the live World Car Awards ceremony held during the 2026 New York International Auto Show.
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A panel of 98 motoring journalists, representing 33 countries (including two from South Africa), selected these finalists by secret ballot. Their choices stemmed from firsthand evaluations conducted as part of their routine professional road-testing.
Daniele Schillaci, Brembo’s Chief Executive Officer, says: “The World Car Awards align with Brembo’s focus on innovation and quality within the automotive sector. We are pleased to back this respected programme and to recognise all the finalists for their work. Their push to move the industry forward reflects our own commitment to safer mobility, and we anticipate announcing the final winners.”
The 2026 World Car of the Year title will go to one of these ten finalists, shortlisted from an initial field of 58 vehicles:
• Audi Q5 / SQ5
• BMW iX3
• BYD Seal 6 DM-i
• Hyundai Ioniq 9
• Hyundai Palisade
• Kia EV4
• Kia EV5
• Mercedes-Benz CLA
• Nissan Leaf
• Toyota RAV4
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The five finalists for the 2026 World Electric Vehicle award are:
• Audi A6 e-tron / S6 e-tron
• BMW iX3
• Hyundai Ioniq 9
• Mercedes-Benz CLA
• Nissan Leaf
In the running for 2026 World Luxury Car are:
• Audi A6 e-tron / S6 e-tron
• Audi A6/S6
• Cadillac Vistiq
• Lucid Gravity
• Volvo ES90
The 2026 World Performance Car top five are:
• BMW M2 CS
• Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
• Defender OCTA
• Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
• Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro
Selected for the 2026 World Urban Car category:
• Alfa Romeo Junior
• Baojun Yep Plus / Chevrolet Spark EUV
• Firefly
• Hyundai Venue
• Wuling Binguo / Ari Poly
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Every vehicle entered across these five categories also qualifies for the 2026 World Car Design of the Year award. A dedicated design panel has selected its own shortlist of five finalists:
• Firefly
• Kia PV5
• Lynk & Co 08
• Mazda 6e / EZ-6
• Volvo ES90
The next stage will see the Top Three in the World finalists announced virtually on World Car TV on March 3.
All six category winners will be unveiled on April 1during the live World Car Awards ceremony at the New York International Auto Show. This year represents the 21st year of the awards’ partnership with the show.
Mark Schienberg, president of the New York International Auto Show, noted: “The World Car Awards help to highlight the design, innovation and performance influencing where mobility is headed. Our partnership with the awards allows these leading vehicles to be acknowledged on an international platform, with the journey ending here in New York this April.”
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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