- Europe’s Car Of The Year group revealed its seven finalists for 2026.
- Finalists include the Renault 4, Kia EV4, Mercedes CLA, and Dacia Bigster.
- Judges rejected the Jeep Compass, Nissan Leaf, and Toyota C-HR+.
The battle for Europe’s prestigious Car Of The Year title is heating up like the battery of an EV hot-lapping the Nurburgring. The judges have just revealed their seven finalists for the 2026 prize, and the list is packed with some clear favorites for the overall win, but it’s also missing some big-name models.
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Making the cut this year are the Renault 4, Kia EV4, Mercedes CLA, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Citroen C5 Aircross and Skoda Elroq. As is often – though not always – the case with COTY, the finalists are mostly mass-market rather than premium, and five have crossover or SUV-style bodies.
A Mixed Powertrain Lineup
Also of note is that three of the seven are strictly EVs and three more give buyers the choice between combustion and battery power.
Front and center is the Renault 4, the resurrected icon with throwback charm and modern tech. It presses all the emotional buttons while promising real-world usefulness, and looks like a strong contender for the title since its 5 brother scooped the same award last year.
Sharing the spotlight is the new Mercedes-Benz CLA, Stuttgart’s answer to the phenomenally successful Tesla Model 3, and the only premium player on the shortlist. But the CLA better watch out because Kia is catching up fast with cars like the EV4.
COTY jurors, especially the non-UK ones, love high-value, affordable cars, so the reborn Grande Panda, the Bigster, Dacia’s biggest vehicle yet, and the quietly competent Elroq could all be in with a shout at the gold medal.
However, carving out a shortlist also means creating a list of models that didn’t get the call, and you might be surprised at who was left on the cutting room floor.
Who Missed the Cut?
Nissan’s new Leaf didn’t make it to the final seven despite its fresh design and longer legs. Hyundai’s bold-looking Ioniq 9 electric SUV was also asked to sit out, as were the Toyota C-HR+, Jeep Compass, and BYD Dolphin Surf.
What would your final seven look like, and where do you put your money on to be named the 2026 champ? The winner will be announced on January 9.
COTY 2026 – Finalists in Bold
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Image Nissan
