What do the class of 2026 have in common in the new car world? If not too downbeat a hook to draw you into this story: not a great deal of originality. But stick with me.
There were 29 cars from 23 brands at the annual Tannistest in northern Denmark, a test event to help the 59 Car of the Year (COTY) jurors from 23 countries whittle down a longlist of 35 eligible vehicles (some of them weren't represented at the event) to a final shortlist of seven, from which the 2026 COTY will be announced in January.
And what the Tannistest field showcased is an industry wrestling with parallel investments in EVs and combustion-engined vehicles and no wiggle room to take a risk on something truly new.
That's not to say the cars weren't any good - quite the opposite. Many are refined, quiet, comfortable and pleasing to drive, even more with good interiors and impressive technology. Perhaps the best example of this quiet competence is the Skoda Elroq: it must be the 100th four-and-a-half-metre-long electric family crossover launched this decade but it's the very best example yet and worthy of its place on the 2026 COTY shortlist.
And 'not a great deal of originality' means there was still some on display. The Fiat Grande Panda is about as conventional as small cars get underneath but it is just so fun and funky and has so much charm on the surface and to drive. It was the first eligible car for the 2026 COTY award I tested back in January and it still feels fresh now despite the familiarity.
Last year, the Grande Panda's platform twin, the Citroën C3, felt quite charming itself on first acquaintance earlier in 2024, only for it to actually feel quite old when it was lined up next to its peers at Tannis. It shows how right Fiat has got it with the Grande Panda, another welcome addition to the shortlist.
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