Car of the Year 2020 – the shortlist

A shortlist of seven nominations for the Car of the Year 2020 award has been announced, chosen from 30 eligible candidates.

A shortlist of seven nominations for the Car of the Year 2020 award has been announced, chosen from 30 eligible candidates.

Eligible cars must essentially be new models, and available in at least five European countries at the time of voting. Some 60 judges, representing 23 European countries, select the shortlist in a simple vote. Second-stage voting takes place in the new year, with the winning car announced at the Geneva motor show in March 2020.

Autocar is one of seven organising publications. The Jaguar I-Pace won the Car of the Year award in 2018. Let's take a look at the seven finalists in this slideshow - please click the right arrow above to continue:

BMW 1 Series

BMW traditionalists had to look away as the 1 Series went front-wheel drive for the first time. However, its interior is much improved, with more space as well as on-board technology and ambient style.

BMW 1 Series

Its chassis mixes modest driver appeal with decent ride sophistication and refinement, while its three-cylinder engine seems rougher at times, mounted sideways, than it used to. The interior is impressive but not distinctive.

Autocar Star Rating: 4 out of 5

Ford Puma

Plenty of us fondly remember the well-regarded original Puma of the late 1990s, a slinky sports car based on the Fiesta. The nameplate has been reborn, but this time as a funky compact SUV, also based on the Fiesta.

Ford Puma

We haven’t actually driven the car as yet so can’t tell you much about it on that front, but if the current Fiesta is any guide it should be a fun-to-drive crossover.

Autocar Star Rating: Not yet rated

Peugeot 208

While the exterior look of the new 208 is exciting, we reckon its interior is arguably the most attractive driving environment in its class and sits near the top for comfort and certainly in the top half for perceived quality.

Peugeot 208

Ultimately, Peugeot has picked its battles and invested accordingly: the 208’s appeal continues to lie mainly in its design. The big difference is that perceived quality now lives up to the ambitious interior styling and it all sits inside a tremendously attractive body. But its recent disappointing four-star NCAP overall safety rating will count against it both in judging and in the market, we suspect.

Autocar Star Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Porsche Taycan

Porsche first all-electric effort is finely tuned to persuade ardent sports car enthusiasts that the future’s bright in EV land.  The Turbo version is very powerful, while the Turbo S has 751bhp, albeit on overboost, for a few seconds, during launches, when it can hit 60mph from rest in 2.6sec.

Porsche Taycan

But speed is just part of it. The Taycan might just be more enjoyable to drive than any other current four-door Porsche. We really didn’t expect to write that. The best electric car in the world, then? Sure. But let’s not think that’s all there is to it.

Autocar Star Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Renault Clio

Not only is the new Clio an all-new car, but its platform is brand new too. And Renault seems to have a winner. It’s an attractive little car with supple road manners and a strong, distinct interior.

Renault Clio

We think many people would get more satisfaction from owning the Clio than they would the class-leading Ford Fiesta, and that’s because the French car’s character resides in its superficial charm and comfort, both of which are evident every time you go anywhere near it.

Autocar Star Rating: 4 out of 5

Tesla Model 3

The aim of the Model 3 is one that is central to the Tesla vision: the creation of a low-cost, high-volume electric car with the kind of appeal that could wean us all off internal combustion for good. But does it succeed?

Tesla Model 3

We think so. While ride comfort and rolling refinement isn’t perfect, it has the pace and agility to match the quicker German sports saloons, while the icing on the cake is a superb high-speed charging infrastructure which enables easy long-distance travel.

Autocar Star Rating: 4 out of 5

Toyota Corolla

The Corolla name is back, and with some style. If its Auris predecessor was blandly handsome then in the metal the Corolla is just handsome. It also has a much improved interior that almost matches those from premium rivals.

Toyota Corolla

But this hybrid also offers confident handling and we suspect class-leading real world fuel economy.

Autocar Star Rating: 4 out of 5

So which car will win? We’ll find out on the opening day of the Geneva motor show in March 2020.