Seven Electric Cars Vie for Car of the Year
All seven finalists for the 2027 European Car of the Year award are 100% electric vehicles, with a winner to be presented in January.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Every finalist for the 2027 Car of the Year award is a fully electric vehicle, with no combustion-engine models among the seven contenders. The shortlist includes the BMW iX3, Cupra Raval, Hyundai Ioniq 3, Kia EV2, Renault Twingo, Volkswagen ID.Polo and Volvo EX60.
Why it matters
The all-electric shortlist reflects a shift in the European car market, which the award's organizers link to a fuel crisis triggered by the war in Iran that has increased the number of electric car users. The winner will succeed Mercedes-Benz CLA as the award holder.
The seven finalists were selected by a jury of 65 automotive journalists from 25 European countries, and each jury member will allocate 25 points among the finalists, with a maximum of 10 points for a round winner. The award has been presented since 1964.
The players
Car of the Year award
An annual European automotive award established in 1964 that is judged by a panel of journalists from across the continent.
Mercedes-Benz CLA
The Mercedes-Benz compact sedan that won the previous year's Car of the Year award.
The details
Jury members will test the seven finalists at the Balocco circuit in Italy on November 25 and 26, 2026, before voting. The jury assesses vehicles on technical innovation, design, safety, driving performance and value for money.
Timeline
Nov 25–26, 2026: Jury tests finalists at the Balocco circuit in Italy.
Dec 31, 2026: Deadline for jury members to cast votes.
Jan 8, 2027: Winner presented at the Brussels Motor Show.
Roadmap
The Mercedes-Benz CLA took the 2026 title, and the winner of this year's award will replace it as the European crown holder. The all-electric shortlist extends the Car of the Year's recent pattern of recognizing battery-electric vehicles.
For drivers weighing a new car, the shortlist offers a set of fully electric options in several price segments. Buyers choosing among these models will need to consider charging access and ownership costs alongside the award's assessment of value for money.
The takeaway
The all-electric shortlist signals that battery-electric cars now dominate the field of Europe's most prominent new-car award. Readers considering an electric vehicle can use the award's criteria of value for money and safety to compare the finalists.
What happens next
The jury will test the finalists at the Balocco circuit on November 25 and 26, 2026, with votes due by December 31, 2026, and the winner will be presented at the Brussels Motor Show on January 8, 2027.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in our Electric Vehicles section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CarSifu.
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