El Car of the Year in EuropeThe most influential award in the automotive sector on the continent has a new winner. At a ceremony held in the Brussels International Motor Show, the Mercedes-Benz CLA It has been proclaimed European Car of the Year 2026, clearly beating its six rivals in the grand final.
This recognition comes after a demanding selection process, in which a jury made up of 59 specialized journalists from 23 European countriesA panel of experts, including several representatives from Spanish media, evaluated the candidates for months. The result solidifies the CLA's position as one of the models that best represents the direction the automotive industry is heading in Europe, combining electrification, technology, and practical everyday use.
To be eligible for the title, candidate models must be brand new vehiclesThese cars, which had been put on sale in a minimum of five European markets before a deadline, were not limited to simple restylings or new body styles or existing mechanical components. From an initial list of 35 cars, the jury made successive cuts until the group was left at Seven finalists, tested intensively both on the open road and on the track.
Mercedes-Benz CLA: the new Car of the Year in Europe
After the final vote, the Mercedes-Benz CLA has won the title of European Car of the Year, securing a resounding victory. The German model has reaped 320 points, clearly distancing themselves from their direct rivals: the Skoda Elroq, second with 220 points, and the Kia EV4, third with 208. Behind them were the Citroën C5 Aircross (207), the Fiat Grande Panda (200), the Dacia Bigster (170) and the Renault 4 E-Tech (150).
The CLA's victory has special symbolic weight, because It is not common for a premium brand to win this award.For Mercedes-Benz, it also represents its second victory in Car of the Year historyMore than half a century after the Mercedes 450SE won the award in the mid-seventies, the new CLA also breaks Renault's streak of two consecutive victories with the Scenic and the Renault 5 E-Tech/Alpine A290 duo.
The jury particularly valued the CLA's ability to combining design, efficiency and technology This is a car that doesn't just remain aspirational, but seeks to meet the current needs of the European driver. Its range of body styles, its electrification solutions, and its overall approach align with the award's trend: not to reward the most expensive or most powerful car, but the one that best represents the current market.
The other six finalists for European Car of the Year
Although the Mercedes-Benz CLA was the winner, the level of the six models who accompanied him in the final It clearly explains the technological and conceptual diversity that coexists in the European market today:
- Skoda Elroq: Family-focused electric SUV, with a range of five motors that prioritizes ease of use and range, supported by the classic "Simply Clever" solutions of the Czech brand.
- Kia EV4: an electric model that takes a step further than the EV3, with more space in the rear, an ambitious technological offering and a clear focus on the full electrification within the compact segment.
- Citroen C5 AircrossStellantis' multi-energy strategy, offering hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric versions to reach a very broad audience that still combines combustion and electrification.
- Fiat Grande Panda: a modern reinterpretation of a historical name, conceived as affordable and practical optionwith attractive design, multi-energy offering and special attention to the cost of use.
- dacia bigster: Family SUV that reinforces the brand's positioning in functionality and affordable price, with simple technological solutions, but well oriented to everyday use and the value-performance ratio.
- Renault 4 E-Tech: electric heir to an icon of the past, extending the French brand's battery-powered model offensive after the success of the Renault 5 E-Tech and the Alpine A290.
The latest cars of the year: from compact combustion engines to electric vehicles
Looking at recent editions, it's clear how the award has kept pace with market transformation. In the last decade, the title has been awarded to models as diverse as the Opel Astra, the Peugeot 3008, the Volvo XC40, the Jaguar I-Pace, the Peugeot 208, the Toyota Yaris, the Kia EV6, the jeep avenger, the Renault Scenic E-Tech and, later, the duo Renault 5 E-Tech / Alpine A290.
This succession of winners illustrates the transition from mainstream combustion engine cars towards hybrid and electric optionsMany of these cars belong to segments traditionally key for European drivers: compacts, mid-size SUVs, city cars, and versatile crossovers. The current victory of the Mercedes-Benz CLA fits as a new step in this evolution, offering a car that combines a premium approach with a wide range of electrified solutions.
