European Car of the Year finalists announced

Models from Cupra, Hyundai and Ford all appear in the list

The finalists for the upcoming European Car of the Year awards have been announced, with EVs dominating. 

The annual award celebrates the best cars of the year, and is voted for by motoring journalists from across Europe, including the UK. Recent winners include the Jaguar I-Pace, Peugeot 208 and Toyota Yaris, which scooped the top prize in 2019, 2020 and 2021 respectively. 

Now the European Car of Year is gearing up for its 2022 prizes, with the organisation now revealing the seven finalists. Unsurprisingly given the dominance of electric cars at the moment, these battery-powered models appear prominently, making up six of the seven contenders.

The first 2022 finalist is the Cupra Born, which is the Spanish performance brand’s first EV, and has impressed so far with its sporty driving experience, roomy interior and stylish design. 

Next up is the Hyundai IONIQ 5 – a radical new electric model that’s based on an EV-specific architecture. Boasting a long range, ridiculously quick rapid charging capabilities and a hugely roomy interior, it’s a model that’s already won a number of awards. Kia’s mechanically-similar EV6 is also in contention, with this sharp-looking electric crossover being slightly sportier to drive, while still having all the same attributes of the Hyundai. 

Ford’s new electric Mustang Mach-E is also in the running, with this bold-looking EV delivering with its fun driving experience, upmarket interior and generous electric range of up to 379 miles.

Continuing with the electric car streak, the Skoda Enyaq iV also ranks, with this spacious, stylish and affordable SUV really delivering in all the key areas. Similarly, Renault’s new Megane E-Electric is also in contention, with this funky electric hatchback kicking off what the French firm calls a ‘Renaultolution’. 

The only non-electric finalist for 2022 is the new Peugeot 308, with this stylish hatchback moving further upmarket in its latest generation. It’s also good to drive and has a fantastic interior, while a plug-in hybrid is offered to those seeking something electrified. 

The overall winner of European Car of the Year will be announced on February 28. 

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