Car of the Year 2026: how did I vote and why?

The beauty of the Car of the Year award is that it selects a single vehicle from all the models released during the year. It is therefore not a rational choice, since the vehicles being compared do not have the same characteristics, do not target the same customer base, come from different worlds and are not always comparable in terms of price. The exercise is therefore not objective; it is not about comparing the vehicles' performance in detail, but about choosing the one that deserves the Car of the Year award. I see it a bit like choosing the one I would have bought.

From all the new models released this year, the jury members (60 journalists from 23 countries) compiled a list of 35 cars and selected the following seven: Citroën C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Mercedes CLA, Renault 4 and Skoda Elroq.

The jury members met on 16 and 17 December for the general assembly and final tests at the ParcMotor Castelloli circuit near Barcelona.

As I say every year, the first step in my selection process is to eliminate two vehicles to concentrate points on the other five. The rules for awarding points are quite simple: each jury member has 25 points to distribute among at least five cars. It is therefore possible to award no points to two cars, which I do every year to avoid spreading the points too thinly. Obviously, no car that makes it to the final is ‘bad’, and not awarding points is not the same as giving a ‘zero’ in my mind, even though I understand that this is not always understood. I would therefore like to emphasise that the two cars I do not award points to obviously have qualities, as they are among the best releases of the year, but in my opinion, they are not good enough to win this competition.

For this selection, the two cars I have chosen to eliminate are the Fiat Grande Panda and the Dacia Bigster. The Grande Panda is one of the vehicles in the Stellantis series launched with the Citroën C3: it was among last year's finalists and came third. We also had another version of this series on the list, the Opel Fontera, which I find much more interesting, but which did not make it to the finalists. The Grande Panda is a vehicle that claims to be the heir to the iconic Panda, which I personally do not see in this model. I find the exterior design a little ‘flashy’, but it is mainly the interior style that I dislike, with elements that I feel lack consistency and have a low perceived quality. In terms of driving, it has no particular charm and is relatively noisy.

I must say that the elimination of the Dacia Bigster is another completely arbitrary decision on my part. Since I joined this jury, we have only selected electric vehicles or vehicles with an electric version: Kia EV6 (2022), Jeep Avenger (2023), Renault Scénic (2024) and Renault 5 (2025). I think this will now be the rule and that we will no longer reward vehicles that do not offer an electric version. Obviously, this family SUV, measuring nearly 4.60 m, is clearly designed for family use, without compromising on roominess, at a price well below that of most of its competitors. In fact, last year we had the Duster among the finalists, a vehicle that ranked only fifth, even though I think it better embodies the brand's qualities, which, again, is totally subjective. However, the Bigster may be an excellent choice for customers who prioritise usability, budget and robustness.

With five vehicles remaining, I focus on which best addresses the current automotive challenges and provides superior value for money, aligning my choice with the award's core purpose.

I believe that driving pleasure is one of the key factors in selecting the winner of the Car of the Year award. Three vehicles stand out in this regard: the Skoda Elroq, Renault 4 and Mercedes CLA.

Of these three models, I chose to put the Skoda Elroq at the top of the list, awarding it 8 points. For me, it is the pleasant surprise of this edition, with very dynamic handling and precise, enjoyable and safe road holding.

 This 4.49 m family saloon, available only in electric version, offers a wide price range from €33,810 to €50,800 thanks to three battery sizes (52 kWh, 59 kWh, and 77 kWh), with ranges of 375 km to 572 km. The Clever 85 version (77 kWh, 572 km) is priced at €42,970. The Elroq is rear-wheel drive and also offers a 4x4 version (79 kWh, 550 km), which is an advantage for the more electrified markets of northern Europe. The exterior styling, which introduces a new design language, remains understated, as does the very classic interior, which is perceived as being of good quality. In terms of consumption and charging time (20% to 80%), the Elroq is at the top of its class despite its relatively high weight (1,900 to 2,100 kg, depending on the battery). Released in March 2025, the vehicle is already a commercial success with more than 140,000 orders by mid-December, according to the brand's executives.

After rewarding Renault two years in a row for the Renault Scénic and Renault 5, the presence of the Renault 4 in this list of finalists demonstrates the quality of Renault's electric models. Like the previous two, the Renault 4 ticks all the boxes in terms of attractive exterior design, quality of finish & interior layout, and driving pleasure. It is one of the most enjoyable vehicles in this selection and one of the most original in terms of design.

Larger than a city car (4.14 m) but more compact than a family SUV, the R4 strikes the right balance with good roominess in the second row. Easy to handle in the city while offering sufficient space for versatile everyday use, it does, however, suffer from a rather limited range of 409 km for the 52 kWh battery, starting at £35,490, and 308 km for the 40 kWh battery, starting at £29,990. For all these reasons, I have awarded the Renault 4 5 points.

At this stage of my deliberations, there are three very different cars left. I have chosen not to rank these last 4 and award each of them 4 points.

The CLA is Mercedes' new generation of electric vehicles. Its exterior design is elegant and prestigious, as befits a premium brand. Compact according to the brand's nomenclature, but still measuring 4.72 m, the CLA is the longest vehicle in this selection, yet not the most comfortable in the rear seats. The distinctive feature of its dashboard is a set of three screens spanning its entire width, creating a very techy, somewhat cold atmosphere. The vehicle is packed with technology, featuring the latest generation of the in-house operating system. Its main advantage is its excellent fuel consumption, with a range of up to 792 km for an 85 kWh battery and, above all, a top-of-the-range charging speed of 22 minutes from 10% to 80%. Of course, all this comes at a price: the vehicle starts at £48,000 for the 85 kWh battery. A basic version with a 58 kWh battery and a range of 541 km starts at £48,050. The brand has also announced a hybrid version for 2026.

With the Citroën C5 Aircross, the comfort promised by the brand is certainly there. The C5 Aircross is a spacious car, well-suited to family use, with impressive interior space and a comfortable driving position. In the current context of energy transition, the model has a significant advantage: it is available with three engine types. A mild-hybrid version, a plug-in hybrid version, and a 100% electric version cater to very different uses and constraints. The electric version starts at £35,290 with a 73 kWh battery and a range of 520 km. It will also be available with a larger battery for a range of 680 km. Finally, and this is no small detail, the C5 Aircross is manufactured in France, which is a positive argument in terms of carbon footprint and industrial sovereignty. While the C5 Aircross may not be a favourite, it offers a good compromise between comfort, spaciousness and price.

The Kia EV4 is a safe bet in terms of electric vehicles, with the best range in its class and a charging time of around 30 minutes from 20% to 80%. This 4.43 m saloon (slightly shorter than the Elroq) is available with two battery options: 58.3 kWh with a range of 440 km for £38,290 and 81.4 kWh with a range of 625 km for £42,890. It benefits from the 400 V electrical architecture and NMC batteries of the EV3, which was also a finalist last year and placed second. It also features a spacious, well-designed interior that is traditional for the brand.

In the end, the Mercedes-Benz CLA came out on top with 320 points, ahead of the Skoda Elroq (220 points), with the majority of the jury choosing to reward the most technically advanced model.