The BMW iX3, Cupra Raval, Hyundai Ioniq 3, Kia EV2, Renault Twingo, Volkswagen ID.Polo and Volvo EX60 will contest the title held by the Mercedes-Benz CLA.
A shortlist of seven finalists for the 2027 Car of the Year title was announced on 30 October, and for the first time in 63 years every one is fully electric. The BMW iX3, Cupra Raval, Hyundai Ioniq 3, Kia EV2, Renault Twingo, VW ID.Polo and Volvo EX60 will fight it out. The winner is named in Brussels on 8 January.
For the first time in the 63-year history of the European Car of the Year award, every finalist runs on electricity alone. Organisers announced the seven-car shortlist for the 2027 contest on 30 October, and not one of the cars has a combustion engine.
The line-up mixes a BMW, a Volvo and a Hyundai with a Cupra, a Kia, a Renault and a Volkswagen, in the full list below. They are chasing the title held by the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which sold in both electric and combustion forms when it won last year.
The seven finalists
- BMW iX3
- Cupra Raval
- Hyundai Ioniq 3
- Kia EV2
- Renault Twingo
- Volkswagen ID.Polo
- Volvo EX60
The organisers say the list offers a bit of everything in body styles, but leans heavily towards compact models and, above all, quality. Many other cars deserved a place, they add, though only these seven go forward to the final. The group will be judged on technology, engineering, performance, equipment and value for money.
An electric run
Electric cars have been winning for a while. The Renault Scenic took the award in 2024 and the Renault 5 E-Tech followed in 2025, before the CLA brought a premium badge back to the top step last year.
The organisers tie this year's all-electric line-up to the wider European market, which they describe as moving quickly in that direction. They also point to the fuel crisis set off by the war in Iran, which they say has pushed more drivers into electric cars.
How the winner is chosen
The jury, which the organisers call the senate of the European motoring world, gathers at the Balocco circuit in Italy on 25 and 26 November. Members will drive all seven finalists back to back and settle the criteria they will use to pick the best car in Europe.
Voting then runs until 31 December. Each juror allocates 25 points among the finalists, and the model chosen as the winner in each round of voting can receive no more than 10 of them.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 30 October | Shortlist of seven announced |
| 25 and 26 November | Jury tests the finalists at Balocco, Italy |
| 31 December | Voting closes |
| 8 January | Winner announced at the Brussels Motor Show |
The Brussels Motor Show has hosted the presentation for the last three editions, and the organisers have chosen it again for the 2027 award.
