Yokohama, Japan – In a thrilling conclusion at Bosch Hall in Yokohama, Subaru’s Forester has narrowly edged out Honda’s Prelude to take home the coveted 2025-2026 Japan Car of the Year (COTY) award. Meanwhile, Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz claimed the Japan Import Car of the Year title, capping a night of celebration for innovation, design, and automotive excellence.
Celebrating its 46th year, the Japan Car of the Year judging panel convened 60 expert jurors at Bosch’s newly established Japan headquarters in Center Kita, Yokohama City. The event also drew 41 representatives from leading automotive and lifestyle publications, alongside numerous industry executives, all witnessing the announcement of Japan’s most prestigious automotive accolades.
For 2025-2026, Japan COTY introduced a major change to its voting method, adopting a Formula 1-style points system. Each juror allocated points across the top 10 finalists, awarding 25 points to their top pick, 18 to second place, 15 to third, and so on down to 1 point for the tenth-ranked car. This new method ensured a more nuanced and competitive evaluation across the field.
Early polling had seen the Forester surge ahead, with the Prelude close on its heels. When the votes were finally tallied, Subaru’s Forester emerged with 1,149 points, narrowly surpassing the Prelude’s 1,076. Toyota Crown (Estate) followed with 654 votes, while Nissan Leaf scored 622. The Volkswagen ID. Buzz finished fifth overall with 578 points, securing both the Import Car of the Year and Best Design awards. The full top ten also included Hyundai Inster (477), BMW 2-Series (416), Peugeot 3008 (393), Suzuki eVitara (357), and Daihatsu Move (338).
Forester chief engineer Katsuro Tadaki, accepting the award, remarked: “In addition to creating the highly lauded new strong hybrid powertrain, we finely tuned the car’s safety systems, packaging, handling, comfort levels, ride quality, and cost performance to make the Forester the best in class.”
The awards ceremony also highlighted exceptional technological and community achievements. Porsche Japan, celebrating its 30th anniversary, saw its 911 Carrera GTS honored with the Technology Award of the Year for its innovative T-Hybrid powertrain, which combines a 3.6-liter boxer engine with an integrated electric motor to deliver enhanced performance and minimal turbo lag. The Porsche Experience Center received a special recognition for its efforts to coexist with the local community and revitalize the Kisarazu region of Chiba.
A second special award went to the Super Endurance Organization (STMO) for its pioneering work in prototype vehicles aimed at a carbon-neutral future, as well as for promoting international cultural exchange through motorsport, including a demonstration run of NASCAR in Japan.
As the 2025-2026 Japan Car of the Year awards demonstrate, Japanese automotive excellence continues to blend performance, innovation, and social responsibility, celebrating vehicles and organizations shaping the industry’s future both on and off the road.
