Wednesday 14 January 2026 Issue

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

As every year, choosing a Car of the Year meant comparing very different vehicles. In 2026, the finalists were the Citroën C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Mercedes CLA, Renault 4, and Skoda Elroq. As every year, my final choice is the result of entirely personal preferences, which I will explain here.