European car of the year finalists

A list of seven finalists for the 2025 European Car of the Year awards has been published, and it is dominated by small electric cars. The shortlisted models include the Alfa Romeo Junior, Citroen C3/eC3 (European-spec), Cupra Terramar, Dacia Duster, Hyundai Inster, Kia EV3, and the Renault 5/Alpine A290 (considered as the same model).

Sixty jurors from 23 countries selected seven cars each from a long list of 42 eligible candidates launched in 2024. The seven cars with the most votes have made up the shortlist, and the winner will be announced at the Brussels Motor Show on January 10.

2025 European Car of the Year finalists

Hyundai's new city car, the Inster, is the smallest one on the list, while the Renault 5 (nominated jointly with the Alpine A290) and the e-C3 (ditto with the petrol C3) are superminis. The Junior is a crossover that's offered in both electric and hybrid forms and is closely related to 2023’s Car of the Year, the Jeep Renegade. The EV3 is the latest electric Kia to make the shortlist. The Kia EV6 won the 2022 Car of the Year award, and the Kia EV9 came fourth last year.

As for the non-electric models, the Terramar is a hybrid SUV that’s closely related to the Volkswagen Tiguan and competes in a new market for the fast-growing Cupra brand. Remarkably, the Duster SUV is the first Dacia to ever make the Car of the Year shortlist.

The 2024 Car of the Year was the Renault Scenic electric SUV. The BMW 5 Series and Peugeot 3008 finished second and third, respectively.

Judging criteria for Car of the Year

Car of the Year statutes dictate that "the main criteria on which a car should be judged are as follows: general design, comfort, safety, economy, handling and general roadworthiness, performance, functionality, general environmental requirements, driver satisfaction, and price. Technical innovation and value for money are major factors."

The jurors will now have eight weeks to thoroughly test the cars. All seven will be brought together for a joint test at the Mettet Test Facility in Belgium right up to the final vote for the title of The Car of the Year 2025.

Our sister publication, Autocar UK, is a sponsor of and has a jury place on Car of the Year, which was first held in 1964, when the Rover 2000 won the prize.

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