The BMW iX3 is the World Car of the Year

BMW, Electric cars Earn Top Honors from the International Motor Press

A couple of fourth graders had the idea to visit the New York Auto Show during the final weekend of its annual run, so we tagged along. We noticed dozens of families clustered around shiny new cars through the Jacob K. Javits Center. Our kids took turns hopping in and out of the seats and living out their future driving dreams. We saw proof that auto shows still draw sizable crowds of potential car buyers and car curious folks. And in the week before the public descended on its spring break city destination, the auto industry converged to assess the car business. To kick off the show’s preview days, the World Car of the Year held its annual award ceremony. An international jury of 98 members from 33 countries selected their tops picks — and this year results were definitely electric.

The big winner was the BMW iX3, which took home both the top prize and the electric vehicle of the year category. The Lucid Gravity won the award for the Luxury Car of the Year. Other winners included the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, the Mazda 6e, and the Firefly. We spoke to Jennifer Newman, Editor-in-Chief of Cars.com, who heads up the World Car of the Year North American Steering Committee about the awards, which date back two decades. “Every year, I'm wowed by the palpable feeling of excitement at the World Car Awards presentation,” she said. “The award winners are revealed in real time, with automotive execs jumping up from their tables to accept the awards.”

What stood out to you about the BMW iX3 that won top honors at the World Car of the Year?

The all-electric BMW iX3 won two awards at the 2026 World Car Awards: the 2026 World Electric Vehicle and the 2026 World Car of the Year. The iX3 is BMW's first production model on the Neue Klasse platform, heralding a new approach for the German automaker focused on electric powertrains with more range, faster charging and improved efficiency. The iX3 is visually stunning and delivers impressive driving dynamics that hold true to BMW's driving heritage. With the iX3's two wins, it's clear that World Car Awards jurors approve of BMW's new approach.

The Honda Ioniq 6 N was named World Performance Car of the Year.

And the Lucid Gravity?

The Lucid Gravity's win of 2026 World Luxury Car is impressive as this small automaker beat well-established luxury automakers, Volvo and Cadillac. This is the second time in less than five years that Lucid has won a World Luxury Car award; the first win was the 2023 Lucid Air. The all-electric Gravity embodies luxury with its elegant interior, excellent performance, and impressive range.

What common ground do jurors share across so many regions?

The World Car Awards jury shares a passion for cars, which is apparent when our jurors gather at the Pasadena, Calif., test drives or our annual awards event at the New York International Auto Show. A camaraderie exists among the jurors as they discuss and debate the latest moves and vehicles from automakers around the world.

What stood out to you about the award winners?

It's hard to miss that this year's award winners were all electric vehicles. What's fascinating about the wins is the breadth of EVs that were honored. From the subcompact hatch Firefly to the three-row Lucid Gravity to the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N performance EV, the 2026 World Car Award winners show that EVs have become mainstream globally.

Editor’s Note: Tamara Warren has served as World Car of the Year Juror for two decades.