Small electric cars dominate 2025 Car of the Year shortlist
The latest European Car of the Year award shortlist is dominated by electric cars.
Five of the seven finalists for the overall 2025 Car of the Year are pure BEV models, including several compact hatchback models.
Previous years have seen larger EVs competing, including the Kia EV6 and EV9, and the Renault Megane and Scenic E-Tech. However, the 2025 shortlist marks the significant rise of smaller, cheaper EVs over recent months.
This year, the A-segment Hyundai Inster, which costs from £23,495, is among the competitors, alongside the Citroen E-C3/C3 supermini, which is priced from £21,990.
Joining them on the list are another sub-£25,000 supermini in the shape of the Renault 5/Alpine A290, alongside the Kia EV3 and Alfa Romeo Junior compact SUVs.
The list of finalists is completed by the Dacia Duster and Cupra Terremar.
The seven finalists were whittled down from a long list of 42 models by a panel of 60 jurors from 23 European countries. Judges will now have eight weeks to further assess all the candidates before a final joint test at the Mettet Test facility in Belgium.
The winner will be announced on 10 January at the Brussels International Motor Show.
EVs have won the title for the previous three years. Last year, the Renault Scenic E-Tech beat rivals including the Kia EV9 and Volvo EX30 to take the title. The year before, the Jeep Avenger EV won, with the Kia EV6 picking up the accolade in 2022.
