What Car? Awards 2026: From Mechanical Beginnings to an Electric Future
Few events capture the story of modern motoring quite like the What Car? Car of the Year Awards. Each year, they don’t just tell us which cars are the best right now - they reveal where the industry is heading next.
The 2026 awards, held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London, did exactly that. They showcased a market in confident transition: electric cars leading from the front, hybrids playing a crucial supporting role, and buyers no longer forced to choose between efficiency, practicality and enjoyment.
For MotorEasy, it was also a landmark night - returning as headline partner for the sixth consecutive year, continuing a long-standing partnership built on a shared goal: helping drivers make confident decisions, not just when buying a car, but throughout the entire ownership journey.
From Radios and Heaters to Software on Wheels
When the What Car? Awards were first introduced in the 1970s, the definition of a “great car” was refreshingly simple. Reliability mattered. Value for money mattered. Everyday usability mattered. Safety features were limited, emissions were barely part of the conversation, and in-car technology rarely extended beyond a radio and a heater that worked most of the time.
The very first What Car? Car of the Year, the Renault 20 TS in 1978, stood out because it offered features like power steering, electric windows and central locking - luxuries that were usually reserved for much more expensive models.
Over the decades, that definition evolved dramatically.
The 1980s and 1990s ushered in the digital dawn. Electronic fuel injection replaced carburettors, onboard diagnostics began to appear, and safety features like airbags and ABS became increasingly common. Cars such as the Vauxhall Astra and Rover 214 Si, both past Car of the Year winners, reflected a shift toward comfort, refinement and intelligent engineering.
By the 2000s, safety and efficiency took centre stage. Crash testing reshaped expectations, engines became smaller and cleaner, turbocharging grew in popularity, and hybrid technology entered the mainstream. Cars like the Skoda Fabia, crowned Car of the Year in 2000, proved that quality and value could go hand in hand.
The 2010s accelerated everything. Touchscreens replaced buttons, smartphones integrated seamlessly, driver assistance systems became the norm, and electrification moved from concept to reality. Cars stopped simply responding to drivers - they started supporting them.
Today, modern vehicles are best described as software on wheels. Connectivity, sensors and AI now shape everything from safety and performance to route planning and predictive maintenance. And as cars have become smarter, ownership has become more complex.
Which is exactly why MotorEasy’s partnership with What Car? matters more than ever.
A Big Night - and a New Chapter for Drivers
The 2026 awards coincided with the announcement of My What Car?, a brand-new car ownership platform launching to consumers in February.
Developed collaboratively by What Car? and Intelligent Motoring - MotorEasy’s parent company - and powered by the IM Connect technology platform, My What Car? is designed to simplify the increasingly fragmented ownership experience.
It brings together What Car?’s trusted editorial expertise and extensive data with a suite of smart digital tools, offering drivers:
- MOT, tax and servicing reminders
- Vehicle recall alerts
- Guidance on ULEZ and Clean Air Zone charges
- A secure digital space to store vehicle documents, including synced service records and receipts
Shaped by real customer insight - including findings from the annual What Car? Reliability Survey - the platform focuses on what genuinely matters to everyday drivers. Alongside MotorEasy’s own ownership and protection solutions, it also features trusted partner services across insurance, breakdown, warranty, servicing and repairs.
As Duncan McClure Fisher, CEO of Intelligent Motoring, explains:
“By combining What Car?’s authority with Intelligent Motoring’s technology, we’re helping redefine car ownership - making it simpler for drivers to manage, protect and keep their cars safely on the road.”
What Car? Awards 2026: What the Winners Tell Us
The cars celebrated at this year’s awards perfectly reflect that evolution.
Electric Cars Lead the Way
Electric vehicles dominated the 2026 awards, not as alternatives, but as category leaders. The BMW iX3, crowned Car of the Year 2026, impressed with its long range, fast charging and engaging drive - proof that EVs are no longer about compromise.
From premium and family electric SUVs to smaller EVs like the Renault 5, the message was clear: electric cars are no longer the future - they are the present.
Hybrids Still Matter
Despite the EV surge, hybrids remain a vital part of the transition. Winners like the Toyota Aygo X, Honda Civic and MG HS show that electrification can deliver efficiency and affordability without forcing drivers to go fully electric before they’re ready.
Choice Is King
SUVs continued to dominate, but with more variety than ever - from compact models like the Volkswagen T-Roc, to family favourites like the Kia Sportage, seven-seat practicality from the Hyundai Santa Fe, and luxury comfort in the BMW X7.
At the same time, practical cars still shone. The Skoda Superb Estate and Kia PV5 proved that space and usability never go out of fashion.
Trust, Safety and Enjoyment Still Count
Reliability and safety remain crucial as technology advances. Honda topped the reliability rankings, while the BMW X3 impressed for its quietly effective safety tech. And performance hasn’t disappeared either - with wins for the BMW M3 Touring, Porsche 911 and Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet.
Looking Ahead
The What Car? Awards 2026 show an industry that’s confident in its direction. Electric cars are leading the charge, hybrids are supporting the transition, and drivers no longer need to choose between efficiency, practicality and enjoyment.
For MotorEasy, being headline partner for the sixth year - and launching My What Car? alongside the awards - feels like a natural next step.
Cars have evolved dramatically over the last 50 years. Now, car ownership is evolving too.
