The newly launched BMW iX3 has been named the 2026 World Car of the Year.

But that’s not all, as the electric SUV was also named the World Electric Vehicle winner.

This year’s World Car Awards winners were announced Wednesday, April 1.

The winners are:

• World Car of the Year – BMW iX3
• World Luxury Car – Lucy Gravity
• World Performance Car – Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
• World Electric Vehicle – BMW iX3
• World Urban Car – Firefly
• World Car Design of the Year – Mazda 6e/EZ-6

“We are delighted by this outstanding result for the BMW iX3, the first production model of the Neue Klasse. The iX3 marks the beginning of a new era for BMW in terms of design language, range and charging performance, driver assistance systems, and the user experience with the first-ever BMW Panoramic iDrive,” said Mike Reichelt, head of BMW’s Neue Klasse, in a news release.

The awards were presented at the start of the New York International Auto Show.

The winners are chosen by a panel of 96 global journalists.

“The World Car Awards are a global benchmark for excellence by recognizing the vehicles and technologies that are truly moving the industry forward. We’re proud to host these honors at the New York Auto Show, where each spring the global automotive community gathers, bringing together leaders in industry and media to exchange ideas and shape what’s next,” said auto show president Mark Schienberg in the release.

More information is available on the World Car Awards website.

---