New York – The World Car of the Year (WCOTY) award is an automotive competition where vehicles are judged on innovation, safety, excellence and other criteria to determine which vehicle is the best of them all for the year. Nearly 100 international journalists from a whopping 29 different countries test and vote on the cars to pick a winner.
The 2025 World Car of the Year was the Kia EV3, a subcompact fully electric SUV slotted under the compact EV6. Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 World Car of the Year.
BMW’s iX3 just won a double victory for World Car Of The Year and World Electric Vehicle for 2026 at the New York International Auto Show.
The iX3 is a fully-electric midsize SUV primarily sold in Europe. It’s coming to the U.S. market in summer 2026. The electric SUV is the first production model to ride on the Neue Klasse platform. It’s a sleek luxury model that capitalizes on the rising global interest in electric powertrains.
The BMW iX3 beat out the Hyundai Palisade and Nissan Leaf for the World Car of the Year 2026 award. Both the Palisade and Leaf benefit from recent redesigns and have plenty to offer for car buyers.
The BMW iX3 is expected to start at around $60,000 in the United States. It will produce 463 horsepower and around 476 pound-feet of toque. BMW’s new electric vehicle is expected to deliver 400 miles of driving range, which is astounding for the American EV market.
If you’re a fan of the BMW brand and are ready to take the EV leap, the iX3 is worth strong consideration. It’s paving the way for a new generation of BMW vehicles made for drivers who want to enjoy the torque and modern tech that comes with EV ownership.
Charles Singh is an Autos Connect Reporter for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY network. Contact him at CSingh@Gannett.com