The UK Car of the Year Awards announced their 2026 category winners, with electric vehicles claiming five of eight segments. The annual competition recognizes outstanding vehicles across key market categories.
Judges narrowed down 59 initial contenders to select eight category winners. These models will now compete for the overall UK Car of the Year title.
Electric vehicles dominated the shortlist – five pure EVs won their categories outright. One additional winner offers buyers a choice between petrol, hybrid, or all-electric powertrains.
Small Cars Lead Electric Charge
The Renault 5 claimed the Small Car of the Year award with overwhelming support. Nearly two-thirds of the 33-member judging panel selected the French supermini as their top choice.
Its performance-focused sibling, the Alpine A290, continued collecting awards by winning the Performance Car category.
Kia Extends Winning Streak
The Kia EV4 secured top honors in the Family Car segment. This marks another victory for Kia’s electric lineup – the brand’s EVs have claimed the overall UK Car of the Year title in both 2024 and 2025.
The EV9 and EV3 took those previous honors respectively.
Combustion Engines Hold Ground
Only three category winners offer traditional petrol engines among their powertrain options.
The Citroen C3 Aircross/E-C3 Aircross won best Small Crossover. Buyers can choose between conventional and electric versions of this model.
Audi was the only manufacturer to win multiple categories with combustion-powered vehicles. The A6 saloon took best Executive Car, while the A6 Avant claimed best Estate.
Crossover Competition Heats Up
The Skoda Elroq earned recognition as best Medium Crossover. The Volkswagen Group model has collected numerous awards since its launch.
Moving up in size, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 dominated the Large Crossover category. Judges selected the three-row electric SUV over its competition.
The awards program has partnered with Start Rescue for the first time this year. The breakdown service provider shares Which? Recommended status.
“It’s great to have Start Rescue onboard,” said John Challen, director of the UK Car of the Year Awards. “They’re just as passionate about keeping motorists informed as we are and they are experts in their own right.”
The overall UK Car of the Year 2026 winner will be announced on February 26.
