Skip advert
Advertisement

World Car of the Year 2020 launches in Frankfurt

The overall 2020 World Car of the Year will be revealed in April, but the jurors have already issued a list of potential winners

World Car of the Year Awards 2020 - Frankfurt

Fifty all-new models have been selected as official 2020 World Car Awards (WCA) contenders. They'll be going to war against each other in pursuit of just five coveted trophies to be awarded at a New York International Motor Show ceremony in April next year.

• Auto Express New Car Awards 2019: the winners

Advertisement - Article continues below

Between now and then 80-plus World Car jurors (including Steve Fowler and Mike Rutherford from Auto Express) will be driving and rating the candidate cars in all corners of the globe - including Pasadena, Greater Los Angeles where a week-long WCA test drive programme is staged every autumn.

The 2020 provisional list heavily features models from French, German and South Korean firms, although two UK-based manufacturers are in with a chance of winning trophies. The MINI Electric is a qualifier in the World Car of the Year plus the World Urban Car (sub-4.2 metres) categories. And after securing the prestigious World Car of the Year title with the Jaguar I-Pace in 2019, JLR is hoping that at the New York Auto Show early next year, its all-new Land Rover Evoque will inherit that highly sought after WCOTY title.

Because the eagerly-anticipated Land Rover Defender is not yet in the showrooms across the globe, it will be a contender in the 2021 World Car Awards.

World Car of the Year 2020: candidates

Cadillac CT4DS DS 3 Crossback/EtenseDS DS 7 Crossback/EtenseFord Escape/KugaFord ExplorerHyundai PalisadeHyundai SonataHyundai VenueKia SeltosKia Soul EVKia TellurideLand Rover Range Rover EvoqueMazda CX-30Mazda3Mercedes AMG A35/45Mercedes AMG CLA35/45Mercedes-Benz CLAMercedes-Benz GLBMINI Cooper SEOpel/Vauxhall CorsaPeugeot 2008Peugeot 208Renault CapturRenault ClioRenault ZOE R135SEAT TarracoSkoda KamiqSkoda ScalaSsangYong KorandoVolkswagen GolfVolkswagen T-Cross

We’ll have more information on the 2020 shortlist and subsequent winners as and when it’s available. Bookmark this page to ensure you stay up to date.

Which car do you think deserves to win the World Car of the Year 2020 title? Let us know your thoughts below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Chief columnist

Mike was one of the founding fathers of Auto Express in 1988. He's been motoring editor on four tabloid newspapers - London Evening News, The Sun, News of the World & Daily Mirror. He was also a weekly columnist on the Daily Telegraph, The Independent and The Sunday Times. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Renault 5 updates unlock more range, but the price stays the same
2026 Renault 5 update - front overhead

New Renault 5 updates unlock more range, but the price stays the same

Clever tweaks have unlocked greater efficiency, plus buyers have more scope for customisation
News
22 Sep 2026
Skoda Peaq review
Skoda Peaq 2026 - Ellis Hyde

Skoda Peaq review

The Skoda Peaq is the Czech brand's biggest and most expensive car ever, and is a worthy flagship
In-depth reviews
23 Sep 2026
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2026, 2027 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon 30/06/26

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2026, 2027 and beyond

Here are the most important new cars from Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
21 Sep 2026

Find a car with the experts