In order for a model to qualify for the title of "Car of the Year", it must be available on the market or appear at dealers in at least five European countries before the end of the year. However, one of the participants — the new generation Volkswagen Golf — has not even been shown to the public yet, but the brand's management has promised that the company will manage to launch sales within the agreed timeframe, before the end of 2019.
The list of contenders for the "Car of the Year" award includes:
- Audi E-Tron
- BMW 1-Series
- BMW Z4
- BMW X6
- BMW X7
- DS3 Crossback
- Ferrari F8 Tributo
- Ford Puma
- Kia e-Soul
- Mazda3
- Mazda CX-30
- Mercedes-Benz CLA
- Mercedes-Benz EQC
- Mercedes-Benz GLB
- Mercedes-Benz GLS
- Nissan Juke
- Opel/Vauxhall Corsa
- Peugeot 208
- Porsche 911
- Porsche Taycan
- Range Rover Evoque
- Renault Captur
- Renault Clio
- Renault Zoe
- Skoda Kamiq
- Skoda Scala
- SsangYong Korando
- Subaru Forester
- Tesla Model 3
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Corolla
- Toyota RAV4
- Toyota GR Supra
- Volkswagen Golf
- Volkswagen T-Cross
The first round of voting will last until November 25, after which the competition judges will determine seven models for the final list. The second stage will take time until spring 2020, and the winner's name will be announced on March 2 — one day before the opening of the international motor show in Geneva.
Last time, the award went to the electric SUV Jaguar I-Pace, which beat the Alpine A110 by just two points.
