AJAC’s 5 new categories are designed to provide consumers with expert advice and guidance in their vehicle purchase decision

TORONTO, Nov. 4, 2026 /CNW/ — The Semi-Finalists for this year’s Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY), presented by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), have been revealed. The list represents 28 of the best vehicles on sale in Canada competing across five Awards categories: 

• Canadian Car of the Year
• Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year
• Canadian Luxury Car of the Year
• Canadian Luxury Utility Vehicle of the Year
• Canadian Truck of the Year

To assist Canadians shopping for a new car, SUV or truck, the Canadian Car of the Year Awards categories must always be closely aligned with how consumers buy new vehicles. In response to a changing market – in which electric powertrains are competing more closely on price with established gasoline, hybrid and plug-in-hybrid vehicles, and consumers are cross-shopping across powertrain types – CCOTY has revised its categories for 2027. 

Two new ‘Luxury’ categories and Canadian Truck of the Year, alongside the returning Car and Utility Vehicle categories, ensure that all vehicles compete against their peers for Awards in categories that reflect what Canadian consumers are buying – whether it’s a family SUV, a luxury sedan, or a truck. 

Voting is underway by the jury, which comprises almost 50 expert AJAC journalists- industry experts from across the country. In a two-stage process, journalists first name their top five vehicles in each category. The jury then completes detailed ballots for the finalists in each category. 

Stage one of the voting is now complete and after collation of the votes cast, there are two categories with ties for 5^th place.  The Semi-Finalists have been named as follows: 

The five semi-finalists for 2027 Canadian Car of the Year are: 

• Honda Civic
• Hyundai IONIQ 6 N
• Kia EV4
• Kia K4
• Nissan Sentra

The five semi-finalists for 2027 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year are: 

• Hyundai Palisade
• Jeep Cherokee
• Kia EV3
• Kia EV5
• Toyota RAV4

The seven semi-finalists for 2027 Canadian Luxury Car of the Year are: 

• Acura Integra Type S
• Genesis G80
• Genesis G90 
• Lexus ES
• Lucid Air
• Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric
• Porsche 911 Carrera/Targa

The six semi-finalists for 2027 Canadian Luxury Utility Vehicle of the Year are: 

• BMW iX3
• Genesis GV60 Magma
• Infiniti QX65
• Lexus NX
• Porsche Cayenne Electric
• Volvo EX60

The five semi-finalists for 2027 Canadian Truck of the Year are: 

• Ford F-150
• Ford Maverick
• RAM 1500
• Toyota Tacoma
• Toyota Tundra

Every 2027 model year vehicle – almost 400 in all – is eligible for the CCOTY Awards, including those newly designed, recently refreshed, and carried over from the previous model year. 

AJAC’s expert jurors are based right across Canada, from Vancouver to Halifax. CCOTY is Canada’s ONLY vehicle awards scheme in which the jurors drive every vehicle they vote on. Vehicles are tested on the same roads and in the same conditions faced by Canadian drivers from coast to coast every day. 

“Announcing our list of semi-finalists is the first big step toward the 2027 Canadian Car of The Year Awards. Whether they take home the top trophy or not, the Canadian Car of the Year voting process makes sure that every one of these semi-finalist vehicles is a standout in their class and an excellent choice for your next new car, truck, or SUV purchase,” said AJAC President, Evan Williams. 

The finalists – the Top 10 Vehicles in Canada for 2027 – will be announced at MIAS Montréal – the Montreal Auto Show – on January 14, 2027. The five winners will then be revealed on February 11 at the Canadian International AutoShow (CIAS) in Toronto. Results from AJAC journalist member ballots are audited by international accounting firm KPMG and remain under wraps until the moment the envelopes are opened. 

About the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) 
The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) is an association of professional journalists, writers, photographers, videographers and corporate members whose focus is the automobile and the Canadian automotive industry. Collectively, our primary objectives are to promote, encourage, support, and facilitate professionalism in Canadian automotive journalism and to ensure factual and ethical reporting about the automobile and automotive issues to Canadian consumers. This is achieved through the work of our members and AJAC’s vehicle testing and evaluation events: the Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY), TestFest and the AJAC Innovation Awards. 

About KPMG 
KPMG LLP, an Audit, Tax and Advisory firm (kpmg.ca) is a limited liability partnership, established under the laws of Ontario, and the Canadian member firm of KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”). KPMG has more than 7,000 professionals/employees in over 40 locations across Canada serving private- and public-sector clients. KPMG is consistently recognized as an employer of choice and one of the best places to work in the country. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International, a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. 

SOURCE Automobile Journalists Association of Canada