WHEELS CAR OF THE YEAR
COTY: Past winners
The annual Wheels Car of the Year is one of the world’s longest-running automotive awards, with a history that stretches back to 1963.
That makes our award the grand old age of 63 and in that time a broad spectrum of cars have earned the title, ranging from obvious choices to properly left-of-field. Holden Camira, anyone?
The common thread among all of them, however, is that they were good enough to be judged the best of their time by a panel of Australia’s most seasoned motoring journalists. Here’s the list.
10 Wheels Car of the Year winners you may have forgotten
Wheels Car of the Year traces an incredible history back over more than six decades. Some superstars stand out, while some winners are easily overlooked… as we approach another year of testing for the world’s longest-running car award, here are some of the lesser-light winners.
Robbo’s 2025-26 COTY Notebook – and why the Honda Civic had to win
Esteemed former Wheels editor and 2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year judge Peter Robinson is famous for his fearless opinions – here are his notes on each of this year’s COTY contenders…
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Top 8: IM5 Performance
Upmarket MG sub-brand IM is looking to make an immediate impact with the IM5, setting its sights firmly on Tesla’s Model 3.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Top 8: Kia EV3 Air Long Range
Kia’s EV3 arrives as a pivotal, long-range EV contender with sharp pricing and bold design, yet mixed dynamics and tough rivals prevent it from claiming the win at this year’s COTY judging.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Top 8: Mahindra XUV3XO AX7L
Mahindra’s budget-friendly XUV3XO surprises with comfort, capability and value, earning unexpected praise from the judges – despite some obvious gaps – as the brand expands in Australia.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Top 8: Skoda Kodiaq Sportline 4×4
Skoda takes on stablemate Volkswagen with the 5+2 Skoda Kodiaq – value packed and designed to appeal to budget-conscious family buyers.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Top 8: Volkswagen Tayron 150TSI Elegance
The Tiguan Allspace replacement impressed by offering a lot of SUV for the price tag.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Volvo EX30 Cross Country
Volvo’s EX30 Cross Country blends big power, cool Scandi design and AWD capability, but range concerns and ride compromises raise some questions.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Tesla Model Y
How does the modern pioneer of electrified cars compete with renewed competition, both electric and internal combustion powered?
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Subaru Forester
Subaru’s Forester hybrid keeps its trademark all-wheel-drive composure and everyday comfort, delivering balance in a segment crowded with flashier, less capable mid-size SUVs.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor
Swedish minimalism in an electric future – while Polestar aims to rewrite the rule book with its left-field Polestar 4, it wasn’t enough to progress in this year’s award.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Nissan Ariya
Nissan’s long-delayed Ariya EV promised range, space and style, but lacklustre performance, dated design and average refinement saw it quickly ruled out in COTY testing.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Mazda CX-60 G40E GT
Can an SUV really deliver the ‘Zoom Zoom’ by which Mazda defines itself?
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Isuzu MU-X
Isuzu’s MU-X SUV delivers rugged, old-school diesel durability and true go-anywhere ability, but its agricultural manners and dated refinement make it feel trapped in another era.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Hyundai Inster
Hyundai’s pint-sized Inster EV delivers charm, solid engineering and urban range, but faces fierce price competition from cheaper Chinese rivals in Australia’s fast-moving electric city-car market.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: GWM Haval H6 Ultra Hi4 AWD
GWM’s mid-sized hybrid blends huge power, sharp value and family practicality, but its firm ride and hefty weight temper an otherwise standout performance SUV.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban
Chery’s Tiggo 7 plug-in hybrid surprises with strong performance, long electric range and generous safety kit, though its firm ride reminds you it’s built to a price.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
BMW’s 2 Series Gran Coupe delivers comfort, polish and familiar driving pleasure, but its somewhat conventional approach failed to truly excite the judges.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year Contender: Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida
Alfa Romeo’s new Junior hybrid SUV trades the brand’s famous flair for economy and practicality – but left our judges unimpressed by its modest performance and lack of emotional spark.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year finalists, 3RD: Toyota GR Corolla
Toyota’s GR Corolla hogged both keys and tyres at COTY, blending rally-bred pace with daily-driver polish, proving Gazoo Racing’s magic lives on in 2025.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year finalists, 2ND: MG HS Hybrid+ Essence
MG’s new HS Hybrid delivers unexpected polish, combining refined handling, smooth hybrid performance and impressive value to stand out in Australia’s crowded mid-size SUV field.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year issue now on sale
From 20 contenders to a surprise top three and a deserving winner, the 62nd edition of the world’s longest running annual car award, Wheels’ Car of the Year, returns in our annual yearbook along with plenty of other highlights.
2025-26 Wheels Car of the Year WINNER: Honda Civic E:HEV L
It’s back to the future for this year’s winner, not just an excellent Honda, but an exceptional car all round.
Wheels Car of the Year: Every winner since 1963
The honour roll for Australia’s most prestigious and the world’s longest running annual motoring award (some of the cars in this year’s field, pictured).
