The 2020 World Car Awards is entering its 16th year. It is now the world’s number one awards program for the seventh consecutive year according to Prime Research’s 2019 media report. In 16 magnificent years of handing out the most prestigious awards in the automotive circle, we’re particularly excited about next year’s event.
Why? It’s because our very own Editor-in-Chief Vincent Nguyen is included as one of the esteemed jurors at the 2020 World Car Awards. With an audience reach of 247 million and growing, we couldn’t be prouder of our hardworking boss.
Along with other professionals, experts, and automotive journalists from all over the world, the chief is responsible for choosing the respective winners in each category.
World Car Awards: Categories
The World Car Awards is divided into six categories namely:
- World Car of the Year
- World Luxury Car
- World Performance Car
- World Urban Car
- World Car Design of the Year
- World Green Car
The road to the 2020 World Car Awards began at 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show last September 10. During that time, the awards committee presented the eligible vehicle contenders for each category. After that, the action shifts to the Los Angeles International Auto Show in mid-November where each juror will get the chance to test drive each vehicle and cast their votes.
The finals countdown for World Car Awards begins in February 2020. After the ballots are tabulated and confirmed by KPMG, the top three finalists in each category are announced at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 3, 2020. The winners in each category will be declared no sooner than April 8 at New York International Auto Show.
Finally, the action ends in May at the London Motor & Tech Show where the winners are celebrated, and the official 2021 contenders are announced.
2019 World Car Awards: List of Winners
Here is a short list of the winners at the 2019 World Car Awards.
2019 World Car of the Year: Jaguar I-Pace
2019 World Urban Car: Suzuki Jimny
2019 World Luxury Car: Audi A7
2019 World Performance Car: McLaren 720S
2019 World Green Car: Jaguar I-Pace
2019 World Car Design of the Year: Jaguar I-Pace
As you can see, the Jaguar I-Pace was the runaway winner at the 2019 World Car Awards. It not only won World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year, but it also reaped the 2019 World Car of the Year award.
Contenders for 2020 World Car Awards
We listed the contenders for each category at the 2020 World Car Awards. But to make it more fun, we also listed our favorites in every respective category. With that being said, kindly be reminded our top picks have nothing to do with the final outcome of the actual awards.
2020 World Car of the Year
- Cadillac CT4
- DS DS 3 Crossback/Etense
- DS DS 7 Crossback/Etense
- Ford Escape/Kuga
- Ford Explorer
- Hyundai Palisade
- Hyundai Sonata
- Hyundai Venue
- Kia Seltos
- Kia Soul EV
- Kia Telluride
- Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
- Mazda CX-30
- Mazda3
- Mercedes AMG A35/45
- Mercedes AMG CLA35/45
- Mercedes-Benz CLA
- Mercedes-Benz GLB
- Mini Cooper SE
- Opel/Vauxhall Corsa
- Peugeot 2008
- Peugeot 208
- Renault Captur
- Renault Clio
- Renault Zoe R135
- Seat Tarraco
- Skoda Kamiq
- Skoda Scala
- SsangYong Korando
- Volkswagen Golf
- Volkswagen T-Cross
Our Top Picks: The Mercedes-Benz GLB left a lasting impression, but we’re inkling for the AMG GLB 35 with a 221-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 is also a favorite of ours, particularly the S variant with a 416-horsepower M139 engine.
2020 World Luxury Car
- BMW X5
- BMW X7
- BMW Z4
- Cadillac CT5
- Cadillac XT6
- Mercedes-Benz EQC
- Mercedes-Benz GLE
- Mercedes-Benz GLS
- Porsche 911
- Porsche Taycan
- Toyota GR Supra
Our Top Picks: The new Mercedes-Benz EQC is our favorite along with the Porsche Taycan, which are both the first EVs to be offered by Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, respectively. We’re still confused why the Toyota GR Supra is in this category along with the BMW Z4. But if we really have to choose between both cars, the Z4 is our choice since it offers a more luxurious driving feel than the Supra.
2020 World Performance Car
- Alpine A110S
- Audi RS 6 Avant
- Audi RS 7 Sportback
- Audi S8
- Audi SQ8
- BMW M8 Coupe
- BMW Z4
- Mercedes AMG A35/45
- Mercedes AMG CLA35/45
- Porsche 718 Spyder/Cayman GT4
- Porsche 911
- Porsche Taycan
- Toyota GR Supra
Our Top Picks: This is a tough one. All the vehicles in this category are brilliant in their own right and choosing only one is next to impossible. But for the money, we’re placing our bets on the magnificent Audi RS7 Sportback, BMW M8 Coupe, Porsche Taycan, and Toyota Supra.
2020 World Urban Car
- Kia Soul EV
- Mini Cooper SE Electric
- Opel/Vauxhall Corsa
- Peugeot 208
- Renault Clio
- Renault Zoe R135
- Volkswagen T-Cross
Our Top Picks: The Kia Soul EV and the Mini Cooper SE Electric are the only EVs in this category. In our opinion, both vehicles are serious contenders. But it’s hard to deny the presence of the Peugeot 208, a car which practically reinvented the super mini category.
