Forty‑six new car models will fight it out for the coveted title of Irish Car of the Year 2026, in association with Continental Tyres. And for the first year in the history of the awards, the majority of eligible models are electric-powered vehicles.
Voted on by jury members drawn from the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI), a group made up of 29 of Ireland’s most experienced motoring journalists, the Irish Car of the Year awards highlight for Irish motorists the best cars launched in the country each year, taking into account the particular requirements of the Irish market.
Mark Noble, Chairman of the MMAI, said: “The fact that over half of the eligible cars for the 2026 Irish Car of the Year awards are electric is a clear reflection of where the market is going. Just a few years ago, EVs were a niche category — today, they are leading the field. This year’s line‑up shows the breadth of choice now available to Irish motorists, from compact city cars to large SUVs, all powered by electricity. It’s a milestone moment for the awards and for the Irish car market.”
Tom Dennigan of awards sponsor, Continental Tyres, added: “Continental Tyres is proud to once again support the Irish Car of the Year awards, which shine a spotlight on the very best cars available to Irish motorists. The dominance of electric models in this year’s field underlines the pace of change in the industry. For car buyers, it means more options than ever before to choose sustainable, high performing vehicles — and for us, it’s exciting to see how far the market has come in such a short time.”
Last year’s winner of the title of 2025 Irish Car of the Year, in association with Continental Tyres, was the Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric, continuing a strong run for EVs in the competition. Whether the 2026 title will once again go to an electric model remains to be seen, but with more than half of the entrants now battery powered, the odds have never been higher.
The winners from the 2026 Irish Car of the Year awards programme will be revealed at a gala event at The Conrad Hotel, Dublin, on Friday November 14th.
The full field of candidates for the Irish Car of the Year 2026 awards is as follows:
| Alfa Romeo Junior | Dacia Duster | Peugeot 5008 |
| Alpine A290 | Dacia Spring | Porsche Macan Turbo |
| Audi A5/Avant | Ford Capri | Porsche Taycan |
| Audi A6 | Honda HR-V | Renault 5 |
| Audi A6 etron | Hyundai Inster | Skoda Elroq |
| Audi Q5 | Hyundai Ioniq 9 | Skoda Elroq RS |
| BMW M5 | KIA EV3 | Tesla M3 Performance |
| BMW X3 | Mazda CX-80 | Tesla Model Y |
| BYD Dolphin Surf | MG Cyberster | Tesla MY Performance |
| BYD Sealion 7 | MG HS Hybrid | Toyota Landcruiser |
| BYD Seal-U | MG S5 | Volkswagen ID.3 GTX |
| Citroen C3 | MG ZS Hybrid | Volkswagen Tayron |
| Cupra Born VZ | Mini Aceman | Volvo EX90 |
| Cupra Tavascan | Nissan Ariya Nismo | XPeng G6 |
| Cupra Terramar | Opel Frontera | |
| Dacia Bigster | Opel Grandland |
