The Car of the Year 2027 shortlist is out, and for the first time in the award’s history, every finalist is a fully electric car. The organisers published the seven names on October 30, 2026: the BMW iX3, Cupra Raval, Hyundai Ioniq 3, Kia EV2, Renault Twingo, Volkswagen ID. Polo and Volvo EX60.
There is no hybrid on the list, no petrol car and, perhaps more surprising, no Chinese model, even though a record number of Chinese cars were in the running. The winner will be named on January 8, 2027, at the Brussels Motor Show.
For Indian readers, it matters because two of these cars are expected in India next year, and the rest show where small, affordable EVs are heading.
Which cars made the Car of the Year 2027 shortlist?
Seven cars made the cut, listed alphabetically: BMW iX3, Cupra Raval, Hyundai Ioniq 3, Kia EV2, Renault Twingo, Volkswagen ID. Polo and Volvo EX60. All are battery-electric. Five are small or affordable cars, and two, the BMW and the Volvo, are premium SUVs with long claimed ranges and new platforms.
| Finalist | Type | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| BMW iX3 | Premium electric SUV | First Neue Klasse model; Il Sole 24 Ore reports 100,000 orders in its first year |
| Cupra Raval | Small electric hatch | Shares VW Group’s front-drive MEB+ base with the ID. Polo |
| Hyundai Ioniq 3 | Small electric hatchback | Part of a new B-segment EV family |
| Kia EV2 | Small electric crossover | Kia’s crossover answer for the same buyer |
| Renault Twingo | Electric city car | About 3.8 metres long; Il Sole quotes €19,500 |
| Volkswagen ID. Polo | Small electric hatch | Over 30,000 European orders, per Il Sole |
| Volvo EX60 | Premium electric SUV | First Volvo on the SPA3 architecture |
The Irish Times notes that both the iX3 and the EX60 claim official ranges of more than 800km in certain versions. Highmotor points out how wide the power spread is: from 80 CV for the Twingo to 680 CV for the most powerful EX60.
Why are there no hybrids or Chinese cars?
The jury did not exclude them by rule. Hybrids and Chinese models were eligible, and Il Sole 24 Ore says 12 Chinese cars were on the long list of 38 models. They simply did not get enough votes to reach the final seven, which the jury picks on overall merit rather than powertrain.
The Irish Times reads the result as a sign that the EV market has matured. Its view is that judges now focus less on range, charging and comparisons with combustion cars, and more on affordability, design, practicality, quality and how the car drives.
The Chinese result is harder to explain. Our reading is that the jury still values brand-new European and Korean small cars that are built for European roads and city streets. Whether that changes next year is an open question.
How does the Car of the Year vote work?
A jury of roughly 60 motoring journalists from more than 20 European countries votes. Reports differ slightly on the exact numbers, with figures from 62 to 65 jurors quoted. The seven finalists face a final round of tests at the Balocco track in Italy on November 25 and 26, before the January vote.
- A long list of new European models is drawn up. This year it had 38 cars.
- Jurors vote it down to seven finalists.
- The finalists are tested together at Balocco, near Vercelli.
- Each juror then gives points, and the most points wins.
This is the award’s 64th edition. The previous winner, the Car of the Year 2026, was the Mercedes-Benz CLA. That car was offered with both electric and hybrid power, so this year’s all-electric final is a clear step further.
Car of the Year 2027: what is confirmed and what is not
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Seven finalists, all fully electric | Confirmed by the organisers (Oct 30, 2026) |
| First all-electric final in the award’s history | Confirmed in organiser and media reports |
| Winner announced January 8, 2027, Brussels Motor Show | Confirmed |
| Final test days at Balocco, Nov 25-26 | Reported by Il Sole 24 Ore, a jury member’s newspaper |
| Exact jury size | Reports vary (62 to 65 jurors) |
| Favourite to win | Not known; no voting data is public |
| India launch for BMW iX3 LWB | Confirmed by BMW for 2027 |
| India launch for Volvo EX60 | Reported for 2027 by CarWale; not confirmed by Volvo |
Which finalists are coming to India?
Two are expected. BMW has confirmed that the long-wheelbase iX3 will launch in India in 2027 as its first Neue Klasse model, according to Autocar India. CarWale has reported that the Volvo EX60 will arrive in 2027, but Volvo has not announced a date. We found no India plans for the other five.
The India-bound iX3 is not exactly the car the jury is judging. Autocar India reports that the long-wheelbase version has a 3,006mm wheelbase, 108mm longer than the standard car. It uses the same 108.7kWh battery, a dual-motor setup with 469hp and 645Nm, and an 800V system that supports DC charging at up to 400kW.
We recently covered the BMW iX4 2027 reveal, which shows how quickly this new generation is spreading across BMW’s range.
For the EX60, CarWale expects India to get a dual-motor version with 510bhp and a claimed 661km range, priced up to ₹75 lakh. Treat those as a report, not Volvo figures for India. If it comes, it will sit in a growing Volvo EV range that we compared in our Volvo ES90 vs EX90 buying guide.
What do the small finalists tell Indian buyers?
They show that affordable, compact EVs are now good enough to compete for Europe’s top car award. Five of the seven are small cars. For India, where small cars make up a large share of sales, that is a useful signal about where global carmakers are putting their best small-car engineering.
None of the five small finalists has been confirmed for India. Still, the Korean pair is the closest fit. Hyundai and Kia both build cars in India, and Hyundai is preparing its own small electric SUV for this market, which we covered in our report on the Hyundai Ioniq P name. That car is a different model, but the thinking behind it is the same.
A roughly 3.8-metre electric car with a price that Il Sole puts at €19,500 is exactly the kind of product Indian buyers keep asking for. The catch is that European prices and Indian prices are not comparable once import duties and local costs are added.
CarBike Insight Analysis
This shortlist is a milestone. Europe’s most established car award has, in effect, said the best new cars of the year are all electric, and that smaller, cheaper EVs deserve as much attention as luxury ones.
Our pick for the favourites, on paper, is the ID. Polo or the Twingo, because juries often reward cars that change things for ordinary buyers. But the iX3 and EX60 bring the biggest technical leaps, and either could win.
Who should wait? Indian luxury EV buyers who are shopping right now should wait for the BMW iX3 LWB in 2027. It is confirmed, and it brings a new platform with fast charging. Who should not wait? Anyone who needs a small EV today. None of the small finalists is confirmed for India, so waiting for them could mean waiting for years.
FAQ
Which cars are the Car of the Year 2027 finalists?
The seven finalists are the BMW iX3, Cupra Raval, Hyundai Ioniq 3, Kia EV2, Renault Twingo, Volkswagen ID. Polo and Volvo EX60. All seven are fully electric, which is a first in the history of the Car of the Year award.
When will the Car of the Year 2027 winner be announced?
The winner will be announced on January 8, 2027, at the Brussels Motor Show. Before that, the seven finalists will be tested together at the Balocco track in Italy on November 25 and 26, according to Il Sole 24 Ore.
Why is there no Chinese car among the finalists?
Chinese cars were eligible, and Il Sole 24 Ore reports that 12 were on the long list of 38. None received enough jury votes to reach the final seven. The jury chooses on overall merit, not on brand or country.
Is the BMW iX3 coming to India?
Yes. BMW has confirmed that the long-wheelbase iX3 will launch in India in 2027, according to Autocar India. It uses a 108.7kWh battery, 469hp dual motors and 400kW DC charging, with a wheelbase 108mm longer than the standard model.
Will the Volvo EX60 launch in India?
CarWale has reported a 2027 India launch for the Volvo EX60, possibly priced up to ₹75 lakh. Volvo has not officially confirmed an India date or price, so treat the report as an expectation rather than a confirmed plan.
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