- Car of the Year 2025 shortlist revealed
- Major European accolade to be announced in January
- Shortlist dominated by affordable EVs
- Read the full run-down below
The seven finalists for The Car Of The Year 2025 award have been revealed - and the list is dominated by compact EVs.
The prestigious Car of the Year is a European event that has been taking place since the 1960s, with the winner decided upon by a squadron of 60 jurors from 23 European countries.
This year’s winner will be announced on January 10 during the Brussels International Motor Show.
We can now reveal which cars are in contention for the accolade - and the majority of them are both fully-electric and affordable.
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The shortlist comprises the Alfa Romeo Junior (above), Citroen C3 / e-C3 (considered jointly), CUPRA Terramar, Dacia Duster, Hyundai Inster, Kia EV3 and Renault 5 / Alpine A290 (considered as the same model).
The nod for the Renault / Alpine A290 is significant, with the car not actually due for a proper leasing launch until the beginning of next year.
It’s good news for both Citroen and anyone who likes a bargain, with the award-nominated e-C3 (below) being billed as one of cheapest EVs available in the UK.
A Dacia spokesperson said of the Duster’s nomination: “Since its launch in 2010, the All-New Dacia Duster has attracted more than 2.5 million customers globally. It has been one of the best-selling B-SUVs in Europe since 2018 thanks to its excellent features and value for money.”
When leasing order books for the CUPRA Terramar opens later this month, the sporty SUV will be available with a number of different powertrains. Plug-in hybrid variants offer a range of up to 70 miles using electricity alone.
The Alfa Romeo Junior is currently available with a fully-electric powertrain while hybrid models are set to launch imminently.
The Hyundai Inster (above), meanwhile, is a fully-electric city car with a range of up to 229 miles between charges.
An awards spokesperson said: “From now on, the jurors will have 8 weeks to thoroughly test the candidates and forge a vote that will allow them to choose the best in Europe. Finally, all seven car models will be brought together for a joint test at the Mettet Test facility in Belgium right up to the final vote for the title The Car of the Year 2025.”
Last year's continental crown went to the Renault Scenic E-Tech which won the final vote over six other contenders - BMW 5 Series, BYD Seal, Kia EV9, Peugeot 3008, Toyota C-HR and Volvo EX30. Runner-up in 2023 was the BMW 5 Series.
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