The organizers of the European Car of the Year competition have announced the official list of finalists for 2027, all of them electric

Seven electric models compete for the prestigious European Car of the Year 2027 trophy

The evolution of the global automotive market is reaching a historic turning point in the race for the industry's most prestigious trophy. The organizers of the international Car of the Year (COTY) competition have published the long-awaited official list of finalists for the 2027 edition, marking an absolute first in the competition's decades-long history: for the first time, all seven cars reaching the final stage are powered exclusively by 100% electric powertrains.

The battle for the trophy: The seven finalists of the 2027 edition

The shortlist was established following rigorous evaluations by a jury of leading automotive journalists from numerous European countries. The seven models competing for the grand prize reflect the growing diversity of the zero-emissions segment, spanning from affordable urban classes to high-performance premium SUVs:

1.     BMW iX3
2.     Cupra Raval
3.     Hyundai Ioniq 3
4.     Kia EV2
5.     Renault Twingo E-Tech
6.     Volkswagen ID. Polo
7.     Volvo EX60

Decision timeline: Circuit tests and the big announcement in Brussels

The competition is now entering its decisive phase, with the journalists on the jury tasked with comparative testing the seven finalist models in dedicated sessions scheduled for November 25 and 26.

After detailed analyses related to dynamics, efficiency, comfort, technological innovation and price-quality ratio, each juror will express his final vote by December 31. The official winner of the "Car of the Year in Europe 2027" trophy will be designated and made public in the first days of next year, more precisely on January 8, on the occasion of the official opening of the prestigious Brussels Motor Show.

Recent history: Winners of the European Car of the Year title over the past decade

To better understand the weight of this distinction and the accelerated technological transition that the automotive industry has undergone in the last ten years, here are the models that have won the coveted trophy over the past decade: