Cupra Raval named The Sun's Car of the Year 2026
The battery-electric Raval, Cupra's small urban EV, won over judges with its sharp looks and sharper handling. The top-spec VZ version (Veloz — Spanish for "rapid") delivers strong pace, but it is the car's B-road agility that sealed the deal. The Raval beats a field of heavyweight rivals to become The Sun's outright champion, with judges praising a car that proves electric cars do not have to be boring.
THE TIMES' CHOICE
The Times and The Sunday Times went a very different direction for their Car of the Year: the Ferrari Amalfi Spider. The open-top Italian supercar topped the judges' list ahead of an eclectic field, underlining the award's split personality — mainstream affordability at The Sun, exotic desirability at The Times.
Jeremy Clarkson, meanwhile, made his own pick: the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring is his Car of the Year, a choice that will surprise nobody who has followed his long-running love affair with the most driver-focused 911 of all.
JAGUAR'S MOMENT
One of the most eye-catching awards went to the Jaguar Type 01, named The Next Big Thing. Jaguar's controversial relaunch has divided opinion, but the judges were unequivocal about the car itself, calling it the most technically advanced Jaguar ever built. With the production car set to be revealed soon, the Type 01 award is a signal of confidence in Jaguar's all-electric future.
SMALL CARS, BIG HONOURS
At the affordable end of the market, the Renault Twingo took Value Car of the Year, while the Honda Super-N won Fun Car of the Year. The Citroen C5 Aircross was named Family Car of the Year, and the Kia EV2 picked up Small SUV/Crossover of the Year.
The Vauxhall Corsa GSE — the hot electric version of Britain's long-time best-seller — won Hot Hatch of the Year, and the Audi RS 5 took Performance Car of the Year.
SUV AND EV GIANTS
The mid-size SUV crown went to the new BMW iX3, praised for its faster-charging battery and a claimed 500-mile range, while the Skoda Peaq — a seven-seat electric SUV — won Large SUV of the Year. The Range Rover Sport Electric was named Electric Car of the Year by The Times and The Sunday Times, and the BYD Seal 6 DM-i Touring took Hybrid Car of the Year.
TECHNOLOGY AND BREAKTHROUGHS
BYD won Tech Innovation of the Year for its Flash Charging system — a 1,500kW charger claimed to add 260 miles of range in just five minutes, with a full charge taking nine. If those figures hold up in the real world, it rewrites the rules on EV charging speed.
The Breakthrough of the Year award went to Jaecoo. Two years ago the Chinese brand did not exist in Britain; today the Jaecoo 7 is reportedly the country's third best-selling car, and parent group Omoda & Jaecoo has passed 100,000 UK sales with 144 dealers appointed. It is one of the fastest market ascents the UK has ever seen.
The Volkswagen Transporter was named The Sun's Van of the Year, the INEOS Grenadier took Adventure Car of the Year, and the Mini Paul Smith Edition won Homegrown Car of the Year. The Volkswagen Golf GTI — now a half-century old — was honoured as the Legend Car of the Year, while Mercedes was named Manufacturer of the Year and the Aston Martin Valhalla took Luxury Car of the Year.
HEROES OF THE YEAR
The human honours went to Andy Green — the only person to break the sound barrier on land — as Hero of the Year, while JCB won the Outstanding Achievement award for its Hydromax project.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR BUYERS
Awards season matters because it is a snapshot of where the smart money in motoring is going. The Cupra Raval's win confirms that the sub-£25,000 EV segment has finally grown up: affordable electric cars are now good enough to beat everything else on sale. The Jaguar Type 01 award suggests the industry is betting big on Jaguar's reinvention. And Jaecoo's breakthrough shows that brand loyalty counts for less than it used to — value and product are winning.
The full list of winners is published at TheSun.co.uk and TheTimes.com.
FAQ
Who won The Sun's Car of the Year 2026? The Cupra Raval, a £22,000 electric supermini, won The Sun's Car of the Year at the News UK Motor Awards 2026.
Who won The Times' Car of the Year 2026? The Ferrari Amalfi Spider was named The Times and The Sunday Times Car of the Year.
What is Jeremy Clarkson's Car of the Year 2026? Jeremy Clarkson chose the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring as his Car of the Year.
What is the Jaguar Type 01? The Type 01 is Jaguar's upcoming all-electric production car, named The Next Big Thing at the awards and described by judges as the most technically advanced Jaguar ever.
Which brand won Breakthrough of the Year? Jaecoo, whose Jaecoo 7 is reportedly Britain's third best-selling car despite the brand launching in the UK only two years ago.
Sources: https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/40546105/car-of-year-clarksons-choice-motor-awards-winners/ | https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/driving/article/the-best-cars-of-2026-sunday-times-motor-awards-6z9dsx5wf | https://www.northerngazette.com/uncategorized/the-times-the-sunday-times-and-the-sun-announce-their-cars-of-the-year-at-the-news-uk-motor-awards-2026/