Winners revealed for UK Car of the Year 2026

• Eight cars picked from 59 contenders
• Five electric cars among category winners
• Audi has the most category wins with two
• Overall winner will be revealed on 26 February

Eight cars have been announced as category winners in the UK Car of the Year Awards. 

Voted for by 33 of the country’s top motoring journalists, UKCOTY is an annual event and this year saw 59 contenders whittled down to individual winners in eight categories. These will now compete for the overall title, which will be announced at the end of February.

Audi picked up two category wins for the A6 Saloon and the A6 Avant estate, and five electric cars picked up awards, reflecting the growing percentage of battery-powered sales in the UK market.

Kia, which received the overall title in 2024 with the EV9 and in 2025 with the EV3, picked up another category win in 2026 with the EV4. Hyundai picked up the Large Crossover title for the second year in a row, with the Ioniq 9 emerging triumphant; the Santa Fe won in 2025.

Alpine, winner of the Performance Car category in 2019 with the A110, returns to the podium in the same category for the new A290.

The category winners are:

Small car: Renault 5 E-Tech
Family car: Kia EV4
Small crossover: Citroen C3 Aircross/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

The overall winner of the UK Car of the Year will be announced on 26 February.