Hall of Fame
GCOTY 2026
GCOTY 2026 - Škoda Elroq
With electric vehicles firmly established in the market, GCOTY replaced the New Energy category with a new Budget class, addressing the growing need for affordable individual mobility. Competing at ZF headquarters for the third time, the Dacia Bigster faced the Škoda Elroq, the futuristic Hyundai Ioniq 9, the prestigious Cadillac Vistiq, and the exceptionally fast Lucid Air Sapphire. With two American contenders in the field—a GCOTY first—the well-executed and efficient Škoda Elroq emerged as the clear winner.
Budget: Dacia Bigster
Compact: Škoda Elroq
Premium: Hyundai Ioniq 9
Luxury: Cadillac Vistiq
Performance: Lucid Air Sapphire
GCOTY 2025
GCOTY 2025 - BMW 5 Series / i5
At KST Motorenversuch, the jury—now with a growing share of international members—tested the practical and affordable Citroën C3, the BMW 5 Series / i5 duo, the first American class winner in the form of the Cadillac Lyriq, the hybridised Porsche Carrera GTS, and the long-awaited Audi Q6 e-tron. With BMW taking the overall win, it marked a first: the first GCOTY winner offered not only as an EV, but also with hybrid, gasoline, and diesel powertrains.
Compact: Citroën C3
Premium: BMW 5 Series / i5
Luxury: Cadillac Lyriq
Performance: Porsche Carrera GTS
New Energy: Audi Q6 e-tron
GCOTY 2024
GCOTY 2024 - Volkswagen ID.7
Returning to ZF Friedrichshafen, the 2024 field comprised the MG4, the spacious and practical Volkswagen ID.7, the massive Kia EV9, the purist Porsche 911 Carrera T, and the polarising Hyundai Ioniq 6. Volkswagen secured its second win with the ID.7.
Compact: MG4
Premium: Volkswagen ID.7
Luxury: Kia EV9
Performance: Porsche 911 Carrera T
New Energy: Hyundai Ioniq 6
GCOTY 2023
GCOTY 2023 - Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Moving back to KST Motorenversuch, class winners Opel Astra (Compact), Genesis GV60 (Premium), Range Rover (Luxury), and Ferrari 296 (Performance) met their match in the New Energy class—and eventual overall winner—the cheerful and spacious Volkswagen ID. Buzz. The Ferrari appeared for display only, content with its class win.
Compact: Opel Astra
Premium: Genesis GV60
Luxury: Range Rover
Performance: Ferrari 296
New Energy: Volkswagen ID. Buzz
GCOTY 2022
GCOTY 2022 - Hyundai Ioniq 5
The GCOTY test drives moved to ZF Friedrichshafen’s headquarters on Lake Constance, and the field was decidedly sporty. The Compact winner Peugeot 308 was pitted against the Premium segment’s Kia EV6, Luxury winner Audi e-tron GT, the Performance class winner Porsche 911 GT3, and the New Energy leader Hyundai Ioniq 5. With its futuristic design and forward-looking technology, the Ioniq 5 emerged as the overall winner.
Compact: Peugeot 308
Premium: Kia EV6
Luxury: Audi e-tron GT
Performance: Porsche 911 GT3
New Energy: Hyundai Ioniq 5
GCOTY 2021
GCOTY 2021 - Honda E
For the first time, GCOTY jurors voted on five category winners, which were pitted against each other at the final test drives, again held at KST Motorenversuch. The Compact segment was captured by the VW Golf VIII, while the more expensive VW ID.3, its fully electric sister model, won the Premium segment. The Polestar 2 won Luxury, and the Alpina B3, based on the G20 BMW 3 Series, led the Performance category. The Honda E, a highly innovative urban EV, captured the New Energy segment and the overall win.
Compact: VW Golf
Premium: VW ID.3
Luxury: Polestar 2
Performance: Alpina B3
New Energy: Honda E
GCOTY 2020
GCOTY 2020 - Porsche Taycan
GCOTY partner KST Motorenversuch hosted the 2020 competitor drives at its headquarters in Bad Dürkheim; testing took place at an airfield and on the roads in the Pfälzer Wald. The field consisted of the Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa sister models, the elegant Mazda3, the BMW 3 Series (G20), and the ultra-fast Porsche Taycan. Porsche’s first electric model took the crown.
Runners-up:
Peugeot 208
Mazda3
Opel Corsa
BMW 3 Series
GCOTY 2019
GCOTY 2019 - Jaguar I-Pace
The inaugural GCOTY award testing took place at the Bilster Berg racetrack. The competitive field was comprised of Jaguar’s remarkable I-Pace electric SUV; the luxurious Volkswagen Touareg, fresh on the MLB architecture; the equally upscale Audi A6; the sporty and elegant Peugeot 508; and the hydrogen fuel cell-powered Hyundai Nexo. When the votes were tabulated, the Jaguar I-Pace emerged victorious.
Runners-up:
VW Touareg
Audi A6
Hyundai Nexo
Peugeot 508