AJAC selected 20 semi-finalists for its 2026 Canadian Car of the Year Awards.
Final winners to be revealed at Montreal and Toronto auto shows in early 2026.
Jurors evaluated nearly 400 vehicles under real Canadian driving conditions.
The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) has named the semi-finalists for the 2026 Canadian Car of the Year Awards. The list includes 20 vehicles across four categories, with the final winners to be announced at major Canadian auto shows early next year.
The four categories are: Canadian Car of the Year, Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, Canadian Electric Car of the Year, and Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year.
The semi-finalists for Canadian Car of the Year are the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia K4, Porsche 911 Carrera, and Toyota Prius. In the Utility Vehicle category, the finalists are the Ford Maverick, Honda Passport, Hyundai Palisade, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4.
In the Electric Car category, the BMW i4, Hyundai IONIQ 6, Lucid Air, Porsche Taycan, and Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid were named. For Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year, the five vehicles selected are the BMW iX, Hyundai IONIQ 9, Kia EV9, Lucid Gravity, and Porsche Macan Electric.
AJAC’s jury consists of 50 automotive journalists based across Canada. Each member participates in a two-stage voting process, first nominating their top five vehicles per category, followed by a detailed evaluation of the semi-finalists. Vehicles are driven and assessed under Canadian conditions, ensuring real-world testing that reflects daily usage.
2025 Subaru Forester Premier Hybrid | Photo: Matt St-PierreEligibility extends to all vehicles available for the 2026 model year, including those that are all-new, refreshed, or carried over from previous years. This year’s program evaluated nearly 400 vehicles.
The announcement of the 12 Best Vehicles in Canada for 2026 is scheduled for January 15 at the Montreal Auto Show, where they will be on display through January 25. The winners of each category will be revealed at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto on February 12.
The four winning vehicles will also be showcased at additional Canadian auto shows in 2026, including events in Quebec City (March 4–8), Calgary (March 13–16), Vancouver (March 25–29), and Edmonton (April 9–12).
