LONDON/TOKYO, October 30, 2025 — The global automotive stage has its newest set of champions. The Best Cars of the Year (Best COTY) organisation, custodian of the annual New Car World Championships, has confirmed the final results for the 2025/2026 season — a lineup that spans seven manufacturing powerhouses across Europe and Asia and highlights the industry’s most compelling new vehicles.
From electric icons to value-driven SUVs and heritage-defining legends, this year’s awards reflect an industry accelerating into its next era with confidence, innovation and global diversity.
Renault 4: The New Car World Champion 25/26
The biggest headline of the season belongs unmistakably to the all-new Renault 4, which has secured the title of New Car World Champion 25/26. The reinvented icon didn’t just impress — it dominated, also taking home the award for Best Electric Car.
Renault’s reinterpretation of the classic 4 blends nostalgia with forward-thinking engineering, delivering a modern EV that resonates emotionally while meeting the technical standards expected from the world’s most competitive automotive arena. The model’s global appeal ultimately helped cement Renault’s position at the top of the standings.
Renault Group: Best Car Company
The triumph of the Renault 4 is only part of a broader success story. The Renault Group has been named Best Car Company, outshining industry giants across Asia, Europe and North America. Judges praised the group’s strategic clarity, its accelerated EV rollout and its ability to meet market needs across price points — from entry-level mobility to premium electrified products.
Dacia Bigster: Best Value Car
Supporting Renault Group’s standout performance, Dacia delivered its own milestone with the Bigster earning the Best Value Car title. The rugged, spacious SUV embodies Dacia’s mission to democratise robust, practical transportation without compromising quality. This win reinforces the Romanian brand’s growing influence in global value-driven segments.
Fiat Grande Panda: Best Small Car
Italy’s Fiat returns to the spotlight with the Grande Panda, crowned Best Small Car. Compact yet refined, playful yet purposeful, the Grande Panda impressed the international jury for combining affordability with intelligent packaging — a formula Fiat has perfected over decades.
Honda Prelude: Best Coupe
Japan’s icon returns with authority. The revived Honda Prelude claimed the title of Best Coupe, celebrating the brand’s commitment to driver-focused performance in an era increasingly dominated by electrification. The Prelude’s balance of hybrid technology and classic coupe dynamics made it one of the most enthusiast-favoured entries of the year.
Hyundai Santa Fe: Best 7-Seat SUV
From South Korea, the adventurous Hyundai Santa Fe secured the honour of Best 7-Seat SUV. With its bold new design, elevated interior quality and improved efficiency, the Santa Fe continues its evolution into a globally respected family flagship.
Toyota Crown / Signia: Best Estate Car
In the estate category, Japanese excellence prevailed again as Toyota’s Crown/Signia lineup earned Best Estate Car. With premium comfort, crossover-inspired versatility and Toyota’s latest hybrid architecture, the Crown/Signia series represents the modern reinvention of the long-roof format.
Denza B5: Best Prospect
China’s rising premium EV brand Denza marked a major milestone with the B5 receiving Best Prospect. Judges highlighted the model’s potential to disrupt established premium segments, reflecting China’s accelerating influence in global automotive innovation.
Volkswagen Transporter: Best LCV Range
Germany’s automotive heritage continues to deliver benchmark commercial mobility. The iconic Volkswagen Transporter was named Best LCV Range, recognising its long-standing versatility, engineering depth and broad appeal across small-business and fleet applications.
Volkswagen Polo: Best Car of the Half Century (1975–2025)
In a special honour spanning 50 years of global automotive evolution, the Volkswagen Polo has been awarded Best Car of the Half Century. Since its debut in 1975, the Polo has remained a global staple — compact, reliable, continually evolving and universally recognisable. Its enduring relevance across generations underscores why it remains one of Volkswagen’s most treasured nameplates.
A Truly Global Championship
The 2025/26 awards season reflects a beautifully international field: winners represent China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Romania. This diversity reinforces the New Car World Championships as a genuinely global competition — one shaped by innovation rather than geography.
Best Cars of the Year / The New Car World Champions remains a non-profit entity, with an esteemed jury of globally recognised car designers, engineers, industry leaders, motorsport icons, journalists, broadcasters and media specialists. While the international panel shapes the final outcomes, everyday car buyers also take part in the voting, ensuring that real-world needs and preferences are represented alongside expert evaluation.
The 2025/26 champions now move into the global spotlight — a showcase of where the industry stands today, and where it’s shaping the road ahead.
