Electric Vehicles Dominate 2026 World Car Awards

Every category at the 2026 World Car Awards was won by an electric vehicle, marking a significant shift in the automotive landscape. BMW, Hyundai, and Lucid were among the leading brands recognized at the annual event.

BMW iX3 Crowned World Car of the Year

The BMW iX3 secured two prestigious awards, being named both 2026 World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle. It triumphed over the redesigned Hyundai Palisade and the Nissan Leaf to claim the overall title.

Lucid Gravity Takes Luxury Title

In the luxury segment, the Lucid Gravity SUV was awarded World Luxury Car. Offering a range of up to 450 miles, it beat out the Cadillac Vistiq and Volvo ES90.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 N Wins Controversial Performance Award

The most debated award of the night was World Performance Car, which went to the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N. This victory surprised many, as it beat out the BMW M2 CS and the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. The Ioniq 6 N boasts 641 horsepower.

Performance Car Specs

  • Hyundai Ioniq 6 N: 641 hp
  • BMW M2 CS: 523 hp, 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, Nordschleife lap time of 7:25.534
  • Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray: 655 hp (combined), all-wheel drive, EV-only mode

Other Award Winners

The Nio Firefly was named World Urban Car, surpassing the Hyundai Venue and Baojun Yep Plus / Chevrolet Spark EUV. The Mazda 6e / EZ-6 won World Car Design of the Year, selected by a panel of design experts, beating the Kia PV5 and Volvo ES90.

2026 World Car Awards – Full List of Winners

  • World Car of the Year: BMW iX3
  • World Electric Vehicle: BMW iX3
  • World Luxury Car: Lucid Gravity
  • World Performance Car: Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
  • World Urban Car: Nio Firefly
  • World Car Design of the Year: Mazda 6e / EZ-6