Currently reading: European Car of the Year shortlist announced
The Jaguar XE, Volvo XC90 and Mazda MX-5 are all finalists in the running to win the title of 2016 European Car of the Year

The shortlist for the European Car of the Year has been announced, with models from Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Mazda, Vauxhall, Skoda and Volvo all in contention to win the coveted title for 2016.

A long list of 40 cars was announced in the summer, but that has been whittled down to just seven entrants. Judges, including Autocar's Matt Prior, will take part in final judging early next year before the winner is announced on the eve of the Geneva motor show in March. Last year, Volkswagen's Passat took the title. The winner in 2014 was the Peugeot 308. 

European Car of the Year 2016 - the finalists

Audi A4 - the fifth generation of Audi's junior executive saloon went on sale in the UK in November. Featuring a heavily updated interior and minor styling changes outside, this larger A4 comes with more storage space than its predecessor as well as an updated range of engines. We've already awarded the new A4 a four-star rating in our road test.

Audi a4 rt 2015 0024 0

BMW 7 Series - BMW's new luxury saloon competes in the same market as the dominant Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but early tests have rated it well. Developments for the new model include the adoption of new six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, as well as the option of a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the first time. We've awarded the new 7 Series a four-star rating in our road test.

Bmw 7er rt 2015 0029

Back to top

Jaguar XE - One of the biggest new car launches of 2015 was Jaguar's new BMW 3 Series rival, the XE. Featuring a new range of 'Ingenium' diesel engines and based on Jaguar Land Rover's aluminium-intensive architecture, the XE has proven itself a worthy rival to the premium German brands in our group tests. It has also earned a four-and-a-half-star rating in our road test.

Jag xe rt 2015 021

Mazda MX-5 - Mazda wanted to return to the fun driving roots of the original MX-5 with its latest model, which made its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer. Priced from £18,495, the new MX-5 has shown that enjoyable motoring needn't be expensive and has fared well in group tests against faster and more expensive rivals. Our road test earned the latest MX-5 a four-and-a-half-star rating.

Mazda mx 5 road test 2015 0003

Back to top

Vauxhall Astra - The new Vauxhall Astra is shorter and lower than the car it replaces but features more cabin and storage space inside. It also comes with a much improved interior layout, evolved styling outside and a more efficient range of engines. Prices starting from £15,295 make it competitive in the UK, too. In our road test, the new Astra has been awarded a four-star rating.

Vauxhall astra 0001

Skoda Superb - the cliché goes that Superb is just the right name for Skoda's executive saloon. In its latest generation that remains true, as the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat rival continues to offer an excellent blend of frugal engines, great cabin design and luxurious ride quality. We've awarded it four stars in our first drive.

428004

Back to top

Volvo XC90 - The all-new XC90 is a far more premium product than the car it replaces, and as such is aiming higher than ever before. The range is crowned by a T8 'twin-engine' hybrid model with CO2 emissions of just 49g/km. The car is based on Volvo's SPA platform, which will also underpin the upcoming S90. We've given the new XC90 four stars in our road test.

Xc90 rt 1

Join the debate

Comments
3
Add a comment…
5wheels 20 December 2015

COTY good year

Like a very rare wine sometimes you get serious entrants for COTY - with the exception of Skoda and Volvo which really are rehash or borrowed metal and shouldnt be there - the others will have a fight on their hands. For me the Mazda hands down (or hands up for those who agree)
Outoftowner1969 15 December 2015

mis-representative

Odd, that in an era where the car market has changed so dramatically, that 4 out of the 7 contenders for car of the year are traditional saloons. Given the cheating, I can't see how it can be a VW product that wins. The other traditional car type - family hatch, represented here by the Astra hasn't gone to the top of its class, so I don't see that taking the honours either. The MX5 is just too niche, so that leaves the Jag & the Volvo, right? I've only driven the Jag, so I can't really tell about the others, but I think it would be pretty worthy winner.
fadyady 14 December 2015

Volkswagen

Don't know about the car but the European Cheater of the Year goes to...