The Car of the Year jury has announced its shortlist for the 2027 edition, and it marks a turning point. For the first time in the 63 year history of the award, all seven finalists are fully electric. No petrol, diesel or hybrid model made the final cut.
The shift reflects how much the European market has changed. Stricter EU regulations pushed manufacturers towards zero emission technology, and European buyers are now adopting electric cars at a faster pace after a slower than expected start.
The seven finalists
The contenders are the BMW iX3, Cupra Raval (review here), Hyundai Ioniq 3 (here), Kia EV2 (review here), Renault Twingo (review here), Volkswagen ID. Polo (review here) and Volvo EX60 (here).
The shortlist covers a wide range of body styles and buyers. It runs from compact city cars such as the Twingo and the ID. Polo to higher segment models such as the iX3 and the EX60. All seven reached the market during 2026.
Electric cars are not new to the award
Battery powered winners already have a place in the record books. The Renault Scenic took the title for 2024, followed by the Renault 5 for 2025. Last year the award went to the Mercedes CLA, which is offered with both combustion and electric powertrains.
What sets 2027 apart is that the entire final shortlist is electric, which makes this the first edition where the winner is guaranteed to be a zero emission car.
How the winner will be chosen
The decision rests with 65 jurors from 25 countries. On 25 and 26 November they will gather at the Balocco proving ground to test all seven finalists back to back and form their rankings.
Each juror then has until 31 December to submit a vote. Every member distributes 25 points among the seven cars, with a maximum of 10 points for any single model. The combined scores produce the final ranking.
When the result will be announced
The winner of Car of the Year 2027 will be revealed on Friday 8 January, on the opening day of the Brussels Motor Show. The Belgian show has hosted the announcement for the past three editions.
With the jury tests only weeks away, the next step is to see how seven very different electric cars compare on the road.
