If you want to buy the best new car money can afford then you should be making a beeline for the new BMW iX3, according to major industry judges.
The German electric SUV has been named What Car? Car of the Year in the annual 'Motoring Oscars'.
Just as the tuxes and gowns are donned for the Golden Globes and Grammys, so too are they for car industry's annual award show, which sees gongs handed out for the best new motors to enter the market in the last 12 months.
On Thursday night, the iX3 took the coveted accolade for 2026, being named ahead of some fierce competition.
The second-generation iX3 was awarded the honour for being 'a truly great car that leapfrogs rivals with a step change in capability'.
Want to see which other cars scored big at the awards? Scroll down to see which new models were voted best in their respective categories.
BMW's latest win marks the fifth time a fully-electric car has been named Car of the Year by car buying platform and consumer champion, What Car?.
It's also the fourth time BMW has won the overall What Car? Car of the Year title since the awards were first held in 1978.
It follows in the tyre treads of the 5 Series (2017), 3 Series (2006) and 7 Series (1988).
The new iX3 has been developed from the ground up as an EV, with the result that it can cover 500 miles of range on a single charge thanks to its 108.7kWh battery.
While that's an impressive feat, it is set to fall short of the 503 miles achieved by the new Volvo EX60, which was unveiled on the eve of What Car?'s awards presentation.
but it can also ultra-rapid charge up to 400kW, allowing 215 miles of range to be added in just 10 minutes.
What Car? editor Steve Huntingford, said: 'The premium electric SUV market is one of the most hotly contested, yet in so many respects the BMW iX3 offers a step change in capability.
'It combines a huge range with ultra-rapid charging; its new software improves everything from the infotainment system to safety; and despite being one of the most enjoyable SUVs of any kind to drive, it's also very comfortable.
'In short, it's a truly great car.'
The iX3 starts at £58,755 for the entry-level variant and goes up to £62,755 (without extras) for the M Sport Pro version.
The iX3 50 xDrive M Sport also picked up the Premium Electric SUV award and BMW took home a total of 5 honours.
Just last week, Mercedes' own game-changing EV took the top honour as the 2026 European Car of the Year award.
A panel of 59 independent motoring journalists from 23 European nations voted it the top choice new motor of the year, beating electric rivals - the Skoda Elroq and Kia EV4 - to the title.
What should you know about the BMW iX3?
The iX3 is part of BMW's Neue Klasse project - the German marque's new generation of super intelligent, driving focused, next-gen electric cars.
Replacing the old iX3 which launched in 2020, the second-generation iX3 is a whole new vehicle with a new chassis, EV architecture, software and drivetrain.
The electric version of the X3 SUV is around 4.8m long and over 1.6m high and features minimalist styling.
Its four super-speed computers split the functions of the car between them, with the one that controls the driving systems called the 'heart of joy' - it manages the electric motors, brakes, steering and safety systems.
The sustainable cabin has a wraparound cockpit, minimalist seats up front, and rear bench seats that make up a 'sofa-like seat surface'. Family-friendly practicality hasn't given way to tech though as the iX3 has a 520-litre boot and a 58-litre frunk.
The iX3 50 xDrive has 469bhp and does 0 to 62mph in 4.9 seconds. You get 3.8 to 4.1 miles per kWh, so it's a very efficient EV.
Hits and misses: Has What Car? got it right with winners in the past?
by Rob Hull & Freda Lewis-Stempel
What Car?'s annual Car of the Year gongs have been handed out since 1978... but has the motoring magazine always got it right?
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and it means we can look back to the turn of the century to see if former winners lived up to What Car?'s billing:
2000: Skoda Fabia - HIT
When the Fabia supermini hit the market, it was reliable, cheap to run and built to last. The car essentially transformed Skoda's image, which has helped make it such a success today.
2001: Ford Mondeo - HIT
The first-generation Mondeo was the best-selling family car in Britain at the time but this follow-up blew everything out of the water at the car's height of popularity.
2002: Toyota Corolla - HIT
The Corolla was comfortable and practical, if not all that exciting. However, it is still to this day one of the most dependable family hatches sold this side of 2000.
2003: Seat Ibiza - HIT
Under the stewardship of the VW Group, the Ibiza hit the market as an excellent package that undercut rivals on price.
2004: VW Golf MK5 - HIT
Some will argue this is the best modern-era Golf of all, with the Mk6 version being something of a disappointment. Bought in droves, this is a surefire hit.
2005: Land Rover Discovery 3 - MISS
A capable off-roader with loads of luxury, but the third-generation Discovery has more reliability issues than you've had hot dinners. Owners regularly vote it one of the least dependable motors on the road.
2006: BMW 3 Series - HIT
This 3 Series is the one that helped change the game in the small executive segment as the premium-branded Beemer outsold more affordable rivals from non-prestige marques.
2007: Vauxhall Corsa - HIT
While this version of the Corsa never quite made it to the top of the sales charts, at the time it was the most spacious and comfortable supermini on the market.
2008: Jaguar XF - MISS
While it might have impressed at launch, the XF was no match for its German rivals - and there was a gulf in sales between it and more accomplished models like the BMW 5 Series.
2009: Ford Fiesta - HIT
This is the Fiesta that started a 12-year run at the top of the sales charts that ended in 2021. Brilliant to drive, affordable and practical; it could do it all.
2010: Peugeot 3008 - MISS
With compact SUVs growing in popularity, the arrival of the Peugeot 3008 took the segment to a new level of refinement and interior style. But less than impressive engines and rapid depreciation makes this choice a miss.
2011: Audi A1 - MISS
There's not much wrong with the Audi A1, but it hasn't become the sales success Audi would have hoped. Outsold by the Mini and with prices deemed too steep for a supermini, it has never been the volume seller it hoped for.
2012: Volkswagen Up! - HIT
The Up! arrived and offered levels of interior quality, refinement, space and maturity not seen before in the city car class. It was sadly discontinued towards the end of 2023.
2013: Audi A3 Sportback - HIT
Wonderfully refined, a lovely interior and heaps of refinement kept this generation of the A3 at the top of the premium hatchback segment.
2014: Nissan Qashqai - HIT
The second-gen Qashqai was not only a best-seller in the UK, where it's built, but also went on to be Europe's most popular crossover with three million sold across the Continent and five million sold globally.
2015: Skoda Fabia - HIT
That's right, the Fabia has won this award twice since 2000. This generation of Fabia was replaced in 2022, but even by today's standards feels like an exceptionally well-rounded supermini.
2016: Audi A4 - HIT
When this new A4 arrived, it took the junior executive segment to new levels. However, sales never really reflected this. It was out-sold by the Mercedes C-Class that year.
2017: BMW 5 Series - HIT
One of the most accomplished premium executive saloons to hit the market, it might be expensive but for those who could afford it, it failed to disappoint.
2018: Volvo XC40 - HIT
Probably still the best compact SUV on the market today and very recently won What Car's coveted Used Car of the Year prize.
2019: Kia e-Niro - HIT
With a real-world range of more than 250 miles and a price tag that made it more accessible to a broader audience of drivers, the e-Niro was fully deserving of the 2019 award.
2020: Ford Puma - HIT
The Puma was the most-bought small SUV in 2021. Sharp handling, pokey engines and mild-hybrid tech makes this a certified hit.
2021: Dacia Sandero (REVOKED) - MISS
What Car? handed its 2021 gong to the Dacia Sandero in January that year. By April, it had stripped the car of the accolade over a poor crash safety rating. Euro NCAP had given the car a two-star rating, which What Car? said: 'Two stars falls short of What Car? expectations for an award-winning model, due to the need for Car of the Year winners to push boundaries for consumers.'
2022: Kia EV6 - MISS
The EV6 might have impressed with its daring looks but it hasn't ever broken into the annual top 10 best-selling electric cars list for the UK.
2023: VW ID.Buzz - MISS
The ID.Buzz came with plenty of fanfare but that's hasn't resulted in high sales. A near-£60k price tag puts it out of reach of most drivers, especially at the time it was crowned when Britain was in the depths of a cost-of-living crisis.
2024: Lexus LBX - MISS
Just a bit of a snooze fest really. It might have taken the trophy in a year where its £29,995 starting price reflected the need for affordable cars but it didn't make car buyers jump for joy or excitement. As a compact crossover with a 'premium casual look' it did give buyers max fuel economy and good quality for the price but we don't believe it's captured the attention of the younger, style-conscious buyers it was after.
2025: Renault 5 e-Tech - HIT
It's impossible to argue that the Renault 5 E-Tech as been anything other than a massive hit. That's not just with everyone who's driven it but with car buyers too.
Renault's retro-inspired EV's brilliant design, unique interior and nostalgic nods has saw it amass more private registrations last year than any other EV.
That's helped too by the price point. The R5 starts at £21,495 with the government's Electric Car Grant included - that has attracted so many people to electric driving.
