Blog – Page 5 – Canadian Car of the Year

Lucid Air – 2026 Finalist

The Lucid Air gets plenty of advancements for 2026 to keep it competitive in the luxury electric sedan market. More range and more interior comfort have arrived, along with hands-free driving capability. Lucid is still the new kid on the block, but with sleek styling, luxury appointments and excellent EV efficiency, the brand is quickly cementing itself as a mainstay. Juror Matt St-Pierre had this to say in his Lucid Air review published in Motorillustrated.com: “Lucid may be a startup, but they’ve built an EV that outshines legacy brands. The software has minor quirks, but those can be fixed over …

Honda Civic – 2026 Winner

The Honda Civic comes into the 2026 model year with a slight styling refresh on the outside, and bigger screens and more tech inside. Powertrain options remain familiar, including the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder and the new hybrid variant that was just reintroduced last year. New standard safety equipment is also here for 2026, packing more into even the base model Civic. Juror Kyle Patrick had this to say in his Civic Type R review published in Autoguide.com: “Yet none have that singular, almost obsessive attention to detail as the 2025 Civic Type R. This is the 911 GT3 of hot …

Hyundai Ioniq 9 – 2026 Finalist

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a brand new vehicle for the market in 2026, offering consumers a fully electric three-row SUV that manages over 500 KMs of range. This is the first truly family friendly electric vehicle to come from Hyundai and it plays the part with a spacious interior and first-class inspired back seats that coddle occupants, whether they be kids or full-size adults. Juror Kyle Patrick had this to say in his Hyundai Ioniq 9 review published in Autoguide.com: “The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 delivers a refined, practical three-row experience to easily rival plenty of premium choices on …

Ford Maverick – 2026 Finalist

For 2026, the Ford Maverick remains one of the most unique vehicles on the market, blending compact pickup utility with car-like attributes. Buyers can still choose between a hybrid powertrain or a turbocharged gas engine, and now both are available with all-wheel drive. With its truck bed and urban-friendly size, the Maverick continues to offer a compelling choice for those interested in the smallest of trucks. Juror Stephanie Wallcraft had this to say in her Ford Maverick review published in Roadtripper.ca: “The middling crash test ratings give me a moment of pause, but I would put that aside for how …

Hyundai Elantra – 2026 Finalist

Following its recent refresh, the Elantra lineup sees modest updates for 2026, including revised trim content and improved driver-assistance tech availability. Buyers can still choose between a standard gasoline engine, a hybrid, or the performance-oriented Elantra N. The Elantra’s exterior design, roomy interior, and competitive pricing keep it a mainstay in the compact car segment. Juror Jay Kana had this to say in his Hyundai Elantra review published in Driving.ca: “One drawback here is that the hybrid, like every Elantra for 2025, is front-wheel drive only. Sure, some may say “slap a quality set of winter tires on and you’ll …

Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid – 2026 Finalist

The Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid offers customers one of the best values in a compact car segment, offering a little over 60km of EV mode range. For 2026, the Prius lineup adds new Nightshade blackout packages, kicking up the style on what is already a good looking car. Few vehicles have had a glow up like the Prius, combining its well-known efficiency with handsome style. Juror Jay Kana had this to say in his Toyota Prius Plug-In review published in Driving.ca: “Yes, it’s 220 horsepower which may not seem like a lot on paper, but it’s eager to get moving …

Lucid Gravity – 2026 Finalist

After the launch of the Air sedan as its first vehicle ever, Lucid has followed up with the Gravity, an SUV that can carry up to seven people. It offers 828 horsepower along with over 720 KMs of range, allowing you to thrill your family and friends while you take them a long way. A spacious interior is also key here, allowing Lucid to claim the interior space of a full-size SUV, with the footprint of a midsize.

Porsche 911 Carrera – 2026 Finalist

The Porsche 911 Carrera enters the 2026 model year with a number of important changes, including the addition of the new T-Hybrid powertrain for the range-topping Turbo S model. The T-Hybrid is also standard with the GTS model. 2026 911 brings some interior updates and revised materials and infotainment changes, while some tuning adjustments have also arrived for the twin-turbo flat-six engine. Rear-wheel drive remains standard on the base 911, though all-wheel drive is available on higher trim models. The 911 continues to be the benchmark among many competing models in the sports car segment. Juror Peter Bleakney had this …

Toyota RAV4 – 2026 Finalist

A brand new RAV4 hits Canadian roads in 2026, bringing standard hybrid power, an all-new system architecture and fresh styling to the table. The base powertrain option is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid, while those who want more power and some all-electric range can opt for the plug-in hybrid model. Driving refinement has been enhanced for this new model, which expands its model lineup with an adventure focused Woodland trim and a fun GR Sport model. Juror Stephanie Wallcraft had this to say in her Toyota RAV4 review published in RoadTripper.ca: “However, given that Toyota was already having hard time keeping …

BMW iX – 2026 Semi-Finalist

A refresh has brought the BMW iX a host of changes for 2026 including more range, more power and new styling. Going for an iX offers a luxury driving experience and a cabin big enough to comfortably handle a load of people and all their stuff. And with the slightly less polarizing style which arrived with this update, the iX should appeal to a wider audience. Juror Jodi Lai had this to say in her BMW iX review published in Autotrader.ca: “The 2026 BMW iX gets a lot right, and many of the minor missteps are easily forgiven because of …