TORONTO, January 19, 2026 — The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) has revealed the 12 Best Vehicles in Canada for 2026 during a media preview ceremony at the Montreal Auto Show. These vehicles are the finalists for this year’s Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY), with the winners to be announced during the opening ceremony of Media Preview Day at the 2026 Canadian International AutoShow on February 12 in Toronto.
The Canadian Car of the Year Awards recognize excellence across four categories: Canadian Car of the Year, Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, Canadian Electric Car of the Year, and Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year.
“We are excited to host the 2026 Canadian Car of the Year Awards in partnership with AJAC,” said Jason Campbell, General Manager of the Canadian International AutoShow. “It’s an honour to continue our longstanding relationship with AJAC and make this award ceremony an annual highlight of the AutoShow. Congratulations to all the finalists—we look forward to seeing the final results announced on Media Day in Toronto next month.”
“Announcing our finalists for the 2026 Canadian Car of the Year Awards in Montreal is always a highlight of the year for AJAC,” said Evan Williams, President of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. “These vehicles are already standout performers in their respective categories. We look forward to the Canadian International AutoShow in February, where we will reveal the winners in each of these highly competitive segments.”
Selected by Canadian Car of the Year jurors, the 12 Best Vehicles in Canada for 2026 competing for the Canadian Car of the Year Awards are as follows:
Finalists for the 2026 Canadian Car of the Year:
Honda Civic
Hyundai Elantra
Porsche 911 Carrera
Finalists for the 2026 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year:
Ford Maverick
Hyundai Palisade
Toyota RAV4
Finalists for the 2026 Canadian Electric Car of the Year:
Lucid Air
Porsche Taycan
Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
Finalists for the 2026 Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year:
Hyundai IONIQ 9
Kia EV9
Lucid Gravity
The list of 12 Best Vehicles in Canada for 2026 reflects a compelling mix of new arrivals and celebrated and long-established favourites among Canadian consumers.
“Fifty-three of Canada’s top automotive journalists have driven, carefully evaluated and voted on these vehicles and determined them to be the best in the country in their respective categories,” added Williams. “I’m also proud of our jurors, who put in a tremendous amount of effort each year to provide Canadians with reliable and relevant information to help guide their next vehicle purchase.”
The 12 Best Vehicles in Canada are selected based on detailed ballots completed by AJAC’s expert journalist members. More than 1,400 ballots were submitted by AJAC members from across the country, from Vancouver to Halifax. The Canadian Car of the Year Awards are Canada’s only vehicle awards program in which jurors drive every vehicle they evaluate. Vehicles are tested on the same roads and in the same conditions faced by Canadian drivers every day.
The winners in all four Canadian Car of the Year categories will be announced on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto. Results from AJAC journalist ballots are independently audited by international accounting firm KPMG and remain confidential until the envelopes are opened.
The 2026 Canadian International AutoShow, presented by the Toronto Star, takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from February 13 to 23.
The 2026 Canadian International AutoShow returns to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from February 13 to 22, 2026. Tickets are now available for purchase online through the AutoShow’s official website and for more show information visit www.autoshow.ca
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