Toronto, Ontario -- The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada has unveiled the 12 Best Vehicles in Canada for 2026 at the Montreal Auto Show, narrowing the field ahead of next month’s Canadian Car of the Year Awards.
The 12 finalists, which represent four categories, were revealed at the Palais des Congrès, where the vehicles will remain on display through Jan. 25. They were chosen through a vote of members of the AJAC.
In the car category, the Honda Civic returns as the defending Canadian Car of the Year and is joined by the Hyundai Elantra and the latest Porsche 911 Carrera. Utility Vehicle of the Year spans three segments, with the compact Ford Maverick competing against the three-row Hyundai Palisade and the two-row Toyota RAV4.
The electric field mixes returning contenders with newer entries. The Lucid Air and Porsche Taycan face off in the Electric Car of the Year race alongside Toyota’s Prius Plug-In Hybrid, while Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year pits the Kia EV9 against two newer electric SUVs, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Lucid Gravity.
“We are very pleased, at the Montreal Auto Show, to present the 12 Best Vehicles in Canada as selected by AJAC Canadian Car of the Year jurors,” said Luis Pereira, executive director of the Montreal AutoShow. “These are the vehicles Canadians prefer, designed and tested for the realities of our roads, and that our passionate visitors can experience up close. This recognition highlights excellence and innovation within the automotive industry.”
The 2026 list blends new arrivals, refreshed models and long-running favourites. The Civic remains Canada’s best-selling car and is seeking to defend its title, while the Elantra and 911 Carrera represent two very different takes on the modern compact and performance car. In the utility category, the Maverick follows a year of sharply higher Canadian sales, and both the Palisade and RAV4 return after updates for the 2026 model year.
AJAC said 53 automotive journalists from across the country submitted more than 1,400 ballots over two rounds of voting after driving every eligible vehicle. Nearly 400 vehicles are eligible for consideration each year. Category winners will be announced Feb. 12 at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, with results audited by KPMG and kept confidential until the envelopes are opened.
