News / 19 January 2026 / Michael Taylor

2026 World Car Awards finalists announced

The World Car Awards has announced the finalists for the 2026 World Car of the Year competition.

Now in its 22nd year, the World Car Awards features brands and models from across the automotive landscape, showcasing the best that the industry has produced over the last year.

The 2026 awards are no different, as the organisers of the event have compiled a list of finalists across six categories, including the Car of the Year.

There is also a segment for electric vehicles, luxury cars, performance cars, and urban cars, as well as a category for the World Car Design of the Year.

This time around, the finalists are dominated by models from Europe, South Korea, and China, and Japan, though a few American models also made the cut.

The segment categories all have a list of five finalists, while the all-important Car of the Year tent has 10 models competing for the title.

The jury presiding over the competition comprises 98 international car journalists from 33 countries, who have narrowed the selection down from an initial roster of 58 vehicles.

The top three models in each category will be announced on 3 March 2026, though the overall winner will only be declared on 1 April 2026.

While not all of the cars on the list are available in South Africa, it’s a fascinating peek at what the global industry is up to, and what could be in store for our market in the near future.

Many of the cars listed feature a hybrid or electric powertrain, which is something that carmakers like Hyundai and Kia have been reluctant to introduce in South Africa, stating that our landscape isn’t ready for it.

However, these attitudes are likely to change in the near future, as Chinese brands like BYD and Chery are rapidly gaining ground in South Africa thanks to an influx of affordable new-energy vehicles (NEVs).

Additionally, manufacturers like Toyota, BMW, and Ford are starting to ramp up production of NEVs to cater to markets like Europe, which means their South African factories will likely need to start making these cars to stay competitive in the evolving automotive market.