2026 – Canadian Car of the Year

AJAC 12 Best Vehicles in Canada 2026

The 12 Best Vehicles in Canada for 2026 comprise a competitive mix of brand-new contenders, updated vehicles, and evergreen favourites among Canadian car-buyers. Selected by an expert jury from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), these 12 excellent vehicles also go forward as the finalists in four categories for the 2026 Canadian Car of the Year Awards.

The 2026 Canadian Car of the Year Awards Semi-Finalists

Voting is underway by the jury, which comprises 50 expert AJAC journalists from across Canada. In a two-stage process, journalists first name their top five vehicles in each category. The jury then completes detailed ballots for the semi-finalists in each category. Stage one of the voting is now complete and after collation of the votes cast, the semi-finalists have been named as follows: The five semi-finalists for 2026 Canadian Car of the Year are: The five semi-finalists for 2026 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year are: The five semi-finalists for 2026 Canadian Electric Car of the Year are: The five …

Hyundai Palisade – 2026 Winner

Hyundai’s flagship SUV returns for 2026 with a full make-over, offering a new off-road focused trim, all-new interior materials and fresh technology. A V6 engine continues to be in the lineup, while a new four-cylinder turbocharged hybrid is available. With three rows, standard all-wheel drive, and a large suite of safety systems, the Palisade offers Canadians a strong choice in the highly competitive large SUV market. Juror Andrew McCredie had this to say in his Hyundai Palisade review published in Driving.ca: “And that stellar highway fuel economy would mean more money for apres-ski and less for Big Oil. Hyundai has …

Porsche Taycan – 2026 Winner

Porsche’s athletic player in the all-electric sedan market is the Taycan, and for 2026 it receives some subtle changes. The 2026 model now offers more charging power for your devices, a new sport sound system for the driver and new special edition models – to name some of the changes. With Porsche’s dedication to driving enjoyment, the Taycan offers precise handling combined with a responsive electric powertrain to deliver driving enjoyment. Juror Kyle Patrick had this to say in his Porsche Taycan review published in AutoGuide.com: “The Taycan is an excellent road-tripper, thanks to its power, its comfort, and a …

Kia EV9 – 2026 Winner

Kia has a family hauling electric SUV of its own, the EV9, and it receives some updates to keep it fresh for 2026. Performance has been ramped up thanks to the new GT trim with over 500 HP, while new Nightfall editions bring more style. Canadians will appreciate the new terrain modes for all-wheel drive models, making sure you’re ready to drive through all weather conditions. Juror Matt St-Pierre had this to say in his Kia EV9 review published in Motorillustrated.com: “To sum it up: for the money, for the size, for the real-world range, and for my day-to-day life, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …