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RAV4, Mercedes CLA Lost Out As BMW iX3, Hyundai Palisade And Nissan Leaf Battle For ‘World Car Of The Year’ Crown

Published

5 months ago

March 18, 2026

RAV4, Mercedes CLA lost out as BMW iX3, Hyundai Palisade and Nissan Leaf battle for ‘World Car Of The Year’ Crown.

Also released by The World Car Finals are the top 3 finalists in the other five (5) World Car Awards vehicle categories.

The top three finalists were selected by a jury of 98 automotive journalists from 33 countries through a secret ballot.

Hyundai Palisade

The World Car Finals, powered by Italian manufacturer of automotive, Brembo, has released the shortlist of top three (3) contenders for this year’s 2026 World Car of the Year (WCOTY).

Also released are the top 3 finalists in the other five (5) World Car Awards vehicle categories – all selected by a jury of 98 automotive journalists from 33 countries through a secret ballot based on their evaluation of each eligible vehicle.

Nissan Leaf

The countdown ends on Wednesday April 1st, when the winners in each category will be announced live at the 2026 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).

Below are the Top Three finalists for each category :

World Car of the Year

– BMW iX3
– Hyundai Palisade
– Nissan Leaf

World Electric Vehicle

– BMW iX3
– Mercedes-Benz CLA
– Nissan Leaf

World Luxury Car

– Cadillac Vistiq
– Lucid Gravity
– Volvo ES90

World Performance Car

– BMW M2 CS
– Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
– Hyundai Ioniq 6 N

World Urban Car

– Baojun Yep Plus / Chevrolet Spark EUV
– Firefly
– Hyundai Venue

World Car Design of the Year

– Kia PV5
– Mazda 6e / EZ-6
– Volvo ES90

BMW iX3

2026 marks the 21st year of the World Car Awards’ partnership with the New York International Auto Show.

“The announcement of the finalists is an important moment for the global automotive industry as it represents one of the most respected honors in our business,” said Mark Schienberg, president of the New York International Auto Show.

“The anticipation surrounding this year’s contenders reflects the innovation, performance, and vision shaping the future of mobility, and we extend our congratulations to the finalists and to the World Car organization for its continued leadership.”