AJAC Crowns 12 Best Vehicles in Canada for 2026
Kicking off the 81th edition of the Montreal International Auto Show on Thursday morning, the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) announced its 12 best vehicles for 2026. The list includes brand new contenders, redesigned models and some Canadian favourites.
This is the result of two rounds of voting and more than 1,400 ballots submitted by 53 jurors from Vancouver to Halifax. The vehicles were tested on the same roads and in the same conditions faced by Canadian drivers every day.
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Without further ado, here are the three finalists in each of the four categories:
Canadian Car of the Year
- Honda Civic (last year’s winner)
- Hyundai Elantra
- Porsche 911 Carrera
Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year
Canadian Electric Car of the Year
Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year
“Fifty-three of Canada's most experienced professional automotive journalists have driven and voted on these vehicles and found them to be the best in the country in their respective categories,” said AJAC president Evan Williams. “I'm proud of our jurors, who each year work hard to determine which vehicles are the Best in Canada, giving you choices you can rely on when it comes to your own next new-vehicle purchase."
The category winners will be announced on February 12 during a special ceremony at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto.
The North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards for 2026 were handed out earlier this week in Detroit to the Dodge Charger, Ford Maverick Lobo and Hyundai Palisade, respectively.
