In association with MotorEasy
Car of the Year Awards 2026: Readers' Choice
What Car? readers were given a 12-car shortlist, and asked to vote for the upcoming model that they're most excited about seeing in showrooms...
Volvo EX60
Like Bruce Banner existing alongside his gamma-irradiated alter ego, the Volvo XC60 family SUV is about to gain a very different second self. It’ll be no green monster but the most advanced, efficient car its maker has ever made, and it needs to be – with an arch rival as popular and capable as the Tesla Model Y.
To take the fight to the Model Y, as well as other rivals such as the Audi Q6 e-tron and BMW iX3, the EX60 uses new underpinnings that support charging rates of up to 400kW, meaning a 10-80% top-up could take as little as 20 minutes. Not that you’ll need to do that much, mind, because the Volvo EX60’s official range is a whopping 503 miles. That means it should be able to go farther between top-ups than any other electric vehicle on sale in the UK, including the new iX3. To put that figure into context, it’s enough to get you from Plymouth to Edinburgh without having to stop.
The EX60 echoes the super-modern exterior styling of the larger EX90 and ES90, and we expect a luxurious interior swathed in plush materials and built with the same blend of precision and solidity that makes the ES90 so special inside. What’s more, there’s the same Google-based infotainment system, which is super-easy to get along with.
Unlike the EX90, the EX60 won’t get a seven-seat option, but it should house six-footers at least as well as the XC60, and its boot should live up to Volvo’s reputation for practicality.
Prices are expected to start at around £60,000, making it more expensive than the Tesla Model Y but in the same ballpark as the Q6 and iX3.
The technology used to underpin the EX60 is scalable, meaning we could see more electric Volvos that include models both smaller than today’s EX30 and larger than the EX90. That means the brand’s line-up will offer something to suit any team of Avengers, no matter how varied their physiques are.
2nd Hyundai Ioniq 3
It may look like it belongs in the 22nd century, but this Hyundai Concept Three actually previews Hyundai’s rival to the Cupra Born and Volkswagen ID 3. The concept’s distinctive swept-back look showcases Hyundai’s latest steel-forming techniques. A ducktail spoiler and rear-hinged rear doors cap it off.
The concept previews the production Hyundai Ioniq 3. Due on sale in the summer, it’s expected to use the same 55kWh and 78kWh battery options as the closely related Kia EV3, offering a range of up to 375 miles. And while most Ioniq 3s will prioritise efficiency, the line-up should be crowned by a sporty N version.
3rd Honda Super-N
Showing that things really do come in small packages, the Honda Super-N is based on the Japan-only N-One E – the successor to the Honda E electric city car.
Technical details are scarce, but the Super-N is expected to come close to the 183-mile official range of the regular N-One E, while building on that model’s modest 63bhp with a ‘boost’ mode for a burst of extra shove in the name of excitement. The Super-N also mimics the sound and feel of a manual gearbox via steering wheel-mounted paddles, just like a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N in miniature. Expect prices to start at around £25,000.
How the winner was chosen
We asked readers to vote for the car they’re most excited about seeing in showrooms in 2026, from a shortlist of 12 contenders. Readers could vote via our dedicated website, which was promoted via our social media channels and newsletters. Thousands of votes were cast, and these are the top three cars
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