Four new AJAC winners give Canadian dealers fresh ammunition and excitement to bring into the showroom as the spring selling season approaches. Announced during the opening ceremony of the Canadian International AutoShow, the 2026 Canadian Car of the Year Awards honoured the Honda Civic, Hyundai Palisade, Kia EV9 and Porsche Taycan.
Presented annually by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), the awards are determined through detailed ballots completed by journalist members who test vehicles in real-world Canadian conditions. More than 1,400 ballots were submitted this year, with results independently audited by KPMG before being revealed at the show.
The awards were unveiled during the AutoShow’s opening ceremony.
“We’re always proud to host the unveiling of AJAC’s annual Canadian Car of the Year Award winners and want to congratulate Honda, Porsche, Kia and Hyundai for this wonderful and well-deserved achievement,” said Jason Campbell, general manager, Canadian International AutoShow.
The winners are:
- Canadian Car of the Year: Honda Civic
- Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year: Hyundai Palisade
- Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year: Kia EV9
- Canadian Electric Car of the Year: Porsche Taycan
All four vehicles are displayed on the 800 level in the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Honda Civic repeats
Honda Canada tied the Civic’s back-to-back win directly to its dealer network and Canadian production base.
“We at Honda Canada are beaming with pride and are humbled at once again seeing the Civic take the title of Canadian Car of the Year. Winning in back-to-back years is an incredible achievement that takes a team of talented and dedicated people to achieve,” said Emile Korkor, assistant vice-president at Honda Canada. “I want to thank our Canadian customers from coast to coast to coast, our local Honda dealers, our skilled associates that proudly build the Civic right here in Canada, and the AJAC jurors that voted for it once again this year.”
The comment was provided in a Honda Canada statement issued following the awards announcement.
Palisade earns top utility honour
Hyundai’s Palisade claimed Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year. In an interview with Canadian auto dealer immediately after the announcement, Steve Flamand, Hyundai Canada’s president and CEO, credited both the product teams and retailers.
In a separate Hyundai Auto Canada statement released after the awards, Flamand said: “Being recognized as AJAC’s Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year is an honour we’re incredibly proud of, especially in a segment as competitive as this one. The all-new 2026 Palisade represents Hyundai at its best: bold design, advanced technology, and a commitment to delivering exceptional value to Canadian families. Earning this recognition for a fourth time since 2022 underscores the importance of applying customer and journalistic feedback we’ve gained over the years, while continuing the strong momentum and leadership of our SUV portfolio in Canada.”
Kia EV9 wins electric utility category
Kia’s EV9 was named Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year.
Porsche Taycan takes electric car honours
Porsche Cars Canada issued a brief statement after the announcement.
“The Porsche Taycan has been named 2026 Canadian Electric Car of the Year. Announced yesterday at the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) Canadian Car of the Year press conference, the Taycan earned the top award in its category, praised for its combination of performance, innovation and everyday usability,” the company said in a post on its LinkedIn channel.
