UK Car of the Year 2026 Winners Announced: Which Electric Cars Took Top Honours?

The winners across eight categories in the prestigious UK Car of the Year Awards for 2026 have been officially unveiled, showcasing a clear trend towards electric vehicle dominance.

This year's competition, which saw a total of 59 models competing for recognition, was sponsored by Start Rescue. While the category champions are now known, the coveted overall title of UK Car of the Year 2026 will be held back until its grand reveal on February 26th.

Audi proved to be a standout performer, securing two significant victories. The new Audi A6 claimed the top spot in the Executive Car category, while its estate counterpart, the Audi A6 Avant, was crowned the best Estate Car.

Electric SUVs and Crossovers Dominate

The awards highlighted the fierce competition in the crossover market. Skoda, part of the Volkswagen Group, emerged victorious in the incredibly competitive Medium Crossover class with its all-electric Elroq model. This category was notably the largest of the awards, featuring a massive 19 entries.

From Korea, Hyundai continued its winning streak in the Large Crossover category, taking the honour for the second consecutive year, this time with the impressive Ioniq 9. In the Small Crossover segment, the honour went to the Citroën C3/e-C3 Aircross.

Renault's Retro Revival and Kia's Family Success

The Renault 5, a modern electric reinterpretation of a classic, added another trophy to its collection by winning the Small Car category. The retro-styled French EV was a decisive favourite, securing the vote of nearly two-thirds of the judging panel.

The title of Family Car of the Year was awarded to the Kia EV4, underscoring the brand's strong position in the practical family EV market.

Performance Crown for Alpine

Alpine marked a return to the winner's circle, securing the Best Performance Car award for 2026 with its dynamic A290 model.

The Judging Process and Sponsor

The integrity of the awards is upheld by a panel of 33 independent motoring journalists and automotive specialists. Among them is James Batchelor, associate editor at Car Dealer magazine. The 2026 awards mark the first year of sponsorship by Start Rescue.

John Challen, Director of the UK Car Awards, commented on the new partnership: ‘It is great to have Start Rescue onboard, they're just as passionate about keeping motorists informed as we are and they are experts in their own right.’

UK Car of the Year Awards 2026 – Full List of Category Winners

Small Car – Renault 5
Family Car – Kia EV4
Small Crossover – Citroën C3/e-C3 Aircross
Medium Crossover – Skoda Elroq
Large Crossover – Hyundai Ioniq 9
Executive Car – Audi A6
Estate Car – Audi A6 Avant
Performance Car – Alpine A290

All eyes will now be on the announcement later this month to see which of these eight category winners will be named the overall UK Car of the Year 2026.