Skip advert
Advertisement

New Mazda MX-5 wins World Car of the Year 2016

Mazda's MX-5 roadster wins overall WCOTY title, with Audi R8 the best performance car and BMW 7 Series the best luxury car

Mazda MX-5 Recaro - front tracking

The fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 has been crowned World Car of the Year 2016. At the ceremony during this year's New York Motor Show, the two-seat roadster was gifted the overall gong by a panel of expert judges. 

The MX-5 beat the new Mercedes GLC SUV and Audi A4 into runner-up positions. It also took the award for Best Car Design, beating the Jaguar XE and Mazda's own CX-3.

Audi R8 - sideways

The new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car was awarded Best Green Car, while the BMW 7 Series took the gong for Best Luxury Car. The Performance Car of the Year is the new Audi R8, which beat out the Mercedes-AMG C 63 and Honda Civic Type R

Advertisement - Article continues below

Nominations for each category are given by a committee of automotive journalists from around the world. Previous winners include the Mercedes C-Class (2015), and the Audi A3 (2014). 

Do you think the Mazda MX-5 deserved to win? Let us know below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best cars of the 1990s
Best 90s cars - header image

Best cars of the 1990s

The nineties were a golden age for car dynamics, engineering and design. Here are our team’s top picks of the era
Best cars & vans
11 Mar 2026
Three-car garage: used Mazda CX-5, Mazda MX-5 and Mazda MX-30 for £37k
Mazda Three-car garage for £37k - header image

Three-car garage: used Mazda CX-5, Mazda MX-5 and Mazda MX-30 for £37k

The Japanese brand’s latest SUV is set to cost around £35,000 in high spec. We’ve scoured our classifieds to find three other Mazdas that you might li…
Features
11 Mar 2026
Best performance cars to buy 2026
Best performance cars 03/26

Best performance cars to buy 2026

Performance cars have reached new heights of speed and interaction - here’s a list of our ten favourites from the current crop
Best cars & vans
10 Mar 2026
Mazda MX-5 review
Mazda MX-5 - front tracking

Mazda MX-5 review

The world’s best-selling roadster is getting even better with age
In-depth reviews
6 Feb 2026

Most Popular

Jaecoo 8 review
Auto Express senior content editor Shane Wilkinson standing next to the Jaecoo 8

Jaecoo 8 review

Jaecoo’s biggest car boasts a competitive price, surprising performance and seven seats, but its appeal for large families is limited
In-depth reviews
29 Apr 2026
Crucial new Volkswagen ID. Polo EV arrives with 283-mile range and £25k price tag
Volkswagen ID Polo - front static

Crucial new Volkswagen ID. Polo EV arrives with 283-mile range and £25k price tag

The new Volkswagen ID. Polo is the latest entrant in the rapidly-growing electric supermini sector that includes the Renault 5 Cupra Raval and Hyundai…
News
29 Apr 2026
New Vauxhall Grandland Griffin slashes £5,000 off family SUV’s starting price
Vauxhall Grandland Griffin - front

New Vauxhall Grandland Griffin slashes £5,000 off family SUV’s starting price

The Vauxhall Grandland now starts from £31,495, while the electric version is available from £34,495
News
29 Apr 2026

Find a car with the experts