2026 World Car Finals; Top Three cars in the World Finalists Announced
The 2026 World Car Finals announced the Top Three in the World finalists in six world car award categories.
The Top Three in the World finalists in each category are:
World Car of the Year
BMW iX3
Power – 286 hp electric motor
Battery – 74 kWh
Range – 460 (WLTP)
Drivetrain – Rear-wheel-drive
0-100 km/h – 6.8 seconds
Charging – DC fast charging up to 150 kW
2. Hyundai Palisade
Engine – 3.8-litre V6 petrol
Power – 291 hp
Torque – 355 Nm
Transmission – 8-speed automatic
Drivetrain – FWD/AWD options
Seating – 6 or 7 passengers
3. Nissan Leaf
Motor – Electric
Power- 147 hp (standard) / 214 hp (leaf plus)
Battery – 40 kWh/62 kWh
Range – Up to 385 km (WLTP)
Drivetrain – Front-wheel drive
World Electric Vehicle
BMW iX3
Power – 286 hp electric motor
Battery – 74 kWh
Range – 460 (WLTP)
Drivetrain – Rear-wheel-drive
0-100 km/h – 6.8 seconds
Charging – DC fast charging up to 150 kW
Mercedes-Benz CLA EV
Platform – Mercedes MMA EV platform
Range – Up to 750 km (WLTP expected)
Charging – 800V architecture
Fast Charging – Up to 250 kW
Drivetrain – RWD/AWD options
3. Nissan Leaf
Motor – Electric
Power- 147 hp (standard) / 214 hp (leaf plus)
Battery – 40 kWh/62 kWh
Range – Up to 385 km (WLTP)
Drivetrain – Front-wheel drive
World Luxury Car
Cadillac Vistiq
Powertrain – Dual-motor electric AWD
Estimated Power – 500 hp+
Battery – Ultium battery platform
Range – 480 km (estimated)
Seating – 3 rows / up to 7 passengers
Platform – GM Ultium
2. Lucid Gravity
Power – Up to 800 hp (performance version)
Range – Up to 700 km (estimated)
Battery – 120 kWh
Drivetrain – Dual-motor AWD
0-100 km/h – 3.5 seconds
Charging – Ultra-fast DC charging
3. Volvo ES90
Platform – SPA2 electric platform
Drivetrain – Dual-motor AWD
Range – Up to 600 km (estimated)
Charging – Fast DC charging capability
Interior – Sustainable materials
World Performance Car
BMW M2 CS
Engine – 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six
Power – 520 hp (expected)
Transmission – automatic/manual options
Drivetrain – Rear-wheel drive
0-100 km/h – 3.8 seconds
2. Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
Engine – 6.2-litre V8 + electric motor
Combined power – 655 hp
Drivetrain – AWD (first AWD Corvette)
0-100 km/h – 2.5 seconds
Transmission – 8- speed dual clutch
Battery – 1.9 kWh hybrid battery
3. Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
Power – 641 (with boost)
Battery – 84 kWh
Drivetrain – Dual-motor AWD
0-100 km/h – 3.2 seconds
Range – 500 km (estimated)
World Urban Car
Baojun Yep Plus / Chevrolet Spark EUV
Motor – Electric
Power – 101 hp
Battery – 41.9 kWh
Range – 401 km (CLTC)
Drivetrain – Rear-wheel drive
Body – Compact electric SUV
2. Firefly (NIO brand)
Powertrain – Electric
Battery – 42 kWh (expected)
Range – 400 km (estimated)
Segment – Compact city EV
Target Market – Urban mobility
3. Hyundai Venue
Engine – 1.2-litre petrol / 1.0-litre petrol / 1.5-litre diesel
Power – 83-120 hp depending on variant
Transmission – Manual / IMT / DCT
Drivetrain – Front-wheel drive
World Car Design of the Year
Kia PV5
Platform – PBV (purpose-built vehicle) platform
Powertrain – Fully electric
Range – 400-500 km (expected)
Charging – Fast charging capability
2. Mazda 6e / EZ-6
Powertrain – Electric or range-extended EV
Battery – 68-80 kWh
Range – Up to 600 km (CLTC)
Drivetrain – Rear-wheel drive
Segment – Mid-size electric sedan
3. Volvo ES90
Platform – SPA2 electric platform
Drivetrain – Dual-motor AWD
Range – Up to 600 km (estimated)
Charging – Fast DC charging capability
Interior – Sustainable materials
World Car Award Winners will be announced live at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, April, 2026.
Over 98 journalists from 33 countries commit to recognising and rewarding deserving candidates from manufacturers worldwide. Indian members of the jury include famous journalists such as Renuka Kirpalani, Hormazd Sorabjee, and Hani Musthafa, who served from 2019 to 2025.