The shortlist for the UK Car of the Year 2026 title has been announced, with eight cars fighting it out for the top spot.

Revealed ahead of the proclamation of the overall victor on 26 February 2026, the list of triumphant category winners highlights the growing popularity for electric vehicles, which account for more than half of the medallists.

The shortlist, whittled down from 59 contenders, also shows a continuing interest in practicality and interior space among fleet and private drivers alike.

Audi leads the way with two category wins for the UK Car of the Year Awards 2026, which are run in association with Start Rescue. In the Executive Car category, the A6 saloon triumphs, while the best Estate title goes to its sister model, the Audi A6 Avant.

Staying within the Volkswagen Group, Škoda emerges victorious from the Medium Crossover class with the all-electric Elroq. The Czech brand’s model comes out on top within a category containing a whopping 19 entries, as the UK’s love affair with crossovers and SUVs continues.

In the Small Car category, the Renault 5 is a clear winner – with nearly two-thirds of the 33-strong judging panel choosing the French model as their favourite. The Renault is one of five all-electric models to take a category win, while the remaining three have a battery-powered variant in the range.

One of those all-electric models came from Kia – recipient of the overall UK Car of the Year title in 2024 and 2025 with the EV9 and EV3 respectively. This year, the best Family Car is the EV4.

Meanwhile, fellow Korean brand Hyundai claims the Large Crossover title for the second year in a row, after its Santa Fe won the category in 2025. The remaining crossover title – that of Small Crossover – goes to Citroën for its C3/ë-C3 Aircross.

Staying with French brands, Alpine returns to the UK Car of the Year winner’s roster, claiming the Best Performance Car of 2026 with the A290.

Full list of UK Car of the Year Awards 2026 category winners:

Small Car – Renault 5

Family Car – Kia EV4

Small Crossover – Citroën C3/ë-C3 Aircross

Medium Crossover – Škoda Elroq

Large Crossover – Hyundai IONIQ 9

Executive Car – Audi A6

Estate Car – Audi A6 Avant

Performance Car – Alpine A290