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With 16 awards spanning all corners of the new car market, here are all the 2026 Drive Car of the Year category winners in one place
We are often asked why, for Drive Car of the Year, we judge and assess cars in some market segments and not others. The fact is, we’re always looking at the cars you are buying to work out where we need to focus attention, and for the 2026 field, the categories cover some 86.7 per cent of all new cars sold in 2025.
That’s over 1 million new car transactions (1,076,553 to be exact) out of 1.24 million new car sales that we consider with our award criteria.
For the 2026 awards, named as always for the year they are announced, we adjusted price bands and entry criteria to suit current buyer behaviour. The key price breaks are $60,000, the average Australian new car price in 2025, and $90,000, the point at which Luxury Car Tax largely becomes relevant.
There were over 500 models considered, distilled into 55 finalists that have earned 18 trophies across 16 core categories, plus a pair of ‘hall-of-fame’ legends that have been honoured with lifetime achievement awards.
The 2026 Drive Car of the Year overall winner
" Tesla is incredibly proud to have Model Y named as the overall winner of the 2026 Drive Car of the Year. Over the past 15 years that Tesla has been in Australia, the automotive landscape has evolved dramatically with new entrants reshaping the market. We acknowledge the judges' rigorous testing, which underscores why Model Y is not only Australia's best-selling EV, but also the world's best-selling car. Achieving the top score under ANCAP’s 5-star rating, Model Y sets a new benchmark for safe, family-friendly vehicles. This award empowers Aussie buyers with the confidence to embrace EVs, knowing they're ready for a future of innovative, accessible, and reliable driving with low running costs. Thank you to Drive for this important recognition that benefits Tesla and Australian consumers alike. ”
Thom Drew – Tesla Australia & New Zealand Country Director.
2026 Drive Car of the Year category winners
To find out what goes on behind the scenes, and how the judges go about finding the best cars, settle in for a fun watch...
With over 20 years of experience in digital publishing, James Ward has worked within the automotive landscape since 2007 and brings experience from the publishing, manufacturer and lifestyle side of the industry together to spearhead Drive's multi-media content direction.
