2020 World Car Awards top three finalists

Ahead of this year’s World Car Awards winners being declared next month, the top three finalists in each of the five categories have been announced.

Some of the initial finalists that failed to reach this stage might be surprising. What’s more, a few successful models appear multiple times on the lists below – indeed, the pure-electric Porsche Taycan could still take three of the titles.

As well as illustrating how alternative-fuel vehicles have become mainstream, such a situation provides justification for abandoning the separate World Green Car of the Year prize that was run in previous years.

The 2020 top three finalists are:

World Car of the Year

• Kia Telluride
• Mazda 3
• Mazda CX-30

The Volkswagen Golf is perhaps the most notable absentee here.

Kia Telluride

World Luxury Car

• Mercedes-Benz EQC
• Porsche 911
• Porsche Taycan

Bad news for BMW, as both the X5 and X7 dropped out of the running (although whether or not the Porsche 911 fulfils the ‘luxury’ brief is debatable).

Mercedes-Benz EQC

World Performance Car

• Porsche 718 Spyder / Cayman GT4
• Porsche 911
• Porsche Taycan

A guaranteed victory for Porsche, after the BMW M8 and Toyota GR Supra were rejected by jurors.

Porsche Taycan

World Urban Car

• Kia Soul EV
• Mini Electric
• Volkswagen T-Cross

Two French superminis – the Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio – didn’t secure enough support to proceed any further.

Mini Electric

World Car Design of the Year

• Mazda 3
• Peugeot 208
• Porsche Taycan

Neither the Alpine 110S nor the Mazda CX-30 are going to be given this highly subjective accolade.

Peugeot 208

Related posts:
2020 European Car of the Year winner named
2020 World Car Awards finalists
2020 NACTOY winners