World Car Awards 2027 Competition Begins with 56 Nominees

The 23rd annual World Car Awards competition has officially launched its "Road to World Car 2027" season, with 56 vehicles nominated across various categories. The international jury, comprising 100 leading automotive journalists from around the globe, including Kfir Kashrian representing Israel, has begun evaluating new models. The World Car Awards maintains its position as the leading global automotive awards event for the 14th consecutive year, reaching over 493 million people in the past season.

The 56 nominees for the main "World Car of the Year" award reflect the automotive industry's rapid changes, featuring a mix of traditional European, Japanese, and American brands, alongside a growing presence of Chinese manufacturers. To qualify, vehicles must be produced in annual volumes exceeding 10,000 units, be priced below supercar levels, and be sold in at least two major markets on two different continents between January 1, 2026, and March 19, 2027.

Notable contenders include the new BMW i3, Cupra Raval, Volvo EX60, and electric versions of the Mercedes C-Class and GLA. Asian representation includes Mazda CX-5 and CX-6e, Hyundai Ioniq 3, Tucson, and Ioniq, along with Kia's EV2, Seltos, and Telluride. Chinese brands like BYD (Ti7), Xpeng (G6, P7+), Deepal, Omoda, Zeekr, and Leapmotor are also strongly represented.

The competition timeline includes traditional LA test drives in November 2026, the announcement of the top 10 finalists in January 2027, and the reveal of the "Person of the Year" in February 2027. The top three finalists in each category will be announced in early March 2027, with the final winners announced on March 24, 2027, during the New York International Auto Show.