Mercedes-Benz CLA has officially been named “Car of the Year 2026”. The award ceremony took place as part of the Brussels International Motor Show and became one of the most notable events of the year in Europe’s automotive industry.
This year, the competition was held for the 63rd time and was marked by the return of a premium brand to the top of the rankings. CLA’s victory is especially significant amid fierce competition, since all finalists were equipped with electrified powertrains, and most models were fully electric.
Who made it to the final and how the points were distributed
Seven models reached the final: Citroën C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Renault 4 and Škoda Elroq. The Mercedes-Benz CLA managed to beat all rivals, scoring 320 points. In second place was the Škoda Elroq with 220 points, while third went to the Kia EV4 with 208 points. Next came the Citroën C5 Aircross with 207 points, the Fiat Grande Panda with 200, the Dacia Bigster with 170, and the Renault 4 with 150 points.
The voting involved representatives from 23 countries and 59 professional jurors, underscoring the high level of trust in the competition’s results.
Mercedes-Benz’s historic victory
CLA’s victory has special historical significance for the brand. It is only the second time in the competition’s 62-year history that Mercedes-Benz has received the “Car of the Year” title. The first time the German marque won this prestigious trophy was in 1974 with the Mercedes-Benz 450 SE/SEL — exactly 52 years ago. Last year the title belonged to the Renault 5 E-Tech, and in 2026 the Mercedes-Benz CLA became its successor.
How the experts voted
The Mercedes-Benz CLA was the model that received the highest number of first-place votes from the jurors — 22 first-place positions. The Citroën C5 Aircross was the favorite of 15 journalists. Third in the number of top ratings was the Fiat Grande Panda with 9 votes, followed by the Škoda Elroq with 8. The Kia EV4 received top marks from two jurors.
Notably, this year none of the experts placed the Renault 4 in first place. Analysts attribute this to the fact that Renault has already won two years in a row with the Renault 5 E-Tech and Renault Scénic models, and a “brand fatigue” effect may have influenced the jury’s preferences.
Experts note that the success of the Mercedes-Benz CLA reflects a broader trend in the European market: buyers are increasingly choosing premium, yet environmentally friendly cars. The new generation CLA combines electrified technologies, high energy efficiency, and recognizable design, making it one of the key symbols of Europe’s transition to “green” mobility.
For Mercedes-Benz, this victory became not only a prestigious trophy, but also a strong marketing signal confirming that the brand remains a leader in the era of electric and hybrid cars.
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Photos: autokinito.com.cy
