The pros at CarExpert have announced the winners of their annual car awards. Read on to find out about the best SUVs, EVs, utes, runarounds and more that are currently available in the Australian market.
We’ve broken the winners into these categories:
- Best work vehicles
- Best SUVs
- Best electric SUVs
- Best electric vehicles (EVs)
- Best affordable cars
- Best luxury cars
Best work vehicles
Whether you’re a tradie, a courier or one of countless other professions in Australia that require a work vehicle, we’re starting here with the rundown of the 2026 awards.
Best ute
Arguably the most important category in Australia, utes are the most popular vehicles in Australia. The winner of this category, the Ford Ranger, is normally at the top of the sales rankings each month and it’s no surprise it takes top place.
The Kia Tasman and the Volkswagen Amarok were also finalists for best ute.
Best electric ute
With the rising price of petrol and diesel, and the increased popularity of solar panels, it’s no wonder that we’re seeing more development going into electric utes.
The best pick this year was the GWM Cannon Alpha, which boasts a hybrid engine, a 3500kg towing capacity and real-time diagnostics available through the GWM app.
The other finalists were the KGM Musso and the BYD Shark 6.
Best van
Another win for Ford, with its iconic Transit van taking out top spot for best van. This was followed by the Hyundai Staria and the VW Transporter.
Best design
The best design category was open to all vehicles but it was the Chery Ute that wowed the judges the most.
Other finalists were the Honda Prelude coupe and the BMW IX3, one of Germany’s most popular cars.
Best SUVs
The SUV is the most popular choice for the Australian family, and there are seven categories to cover all the different markets available (and that’s before we get to the five electric SUV awards).
Best affordable small SUV
The first Chinese car on the list, the Chery Tiggo 4 is the best in the affordable small SUV category. With driveaway prices from $21,990, it’s a bargain that many Aussies are snapping.
The Renault Duster and Hyundai Kona also made it on the podium.
Best luxury small SUV
It’s another German car (expect to see a few of these), with the BMW X1 taking top spot.
Two other European car makers featured in this section, with the Volvo XC40 and Cupra Formentor coming in second and third.
Best affordable mid-size SUV
In the affordable mid-size category it’s Honda’s CR-V that comes out top. An ever reliable brand, the CR-V is available from $44,990.
Other finalists included the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.
Best luxury mid-size SUV
It’s BMW again, with the X3 named the best luxury mid-size SUV.
Volvo again the bridesmaid with the XC60 and a first appearance for a Korean car with the Genesis GV70 in third.
Best affordable large SUV
Hyundai’s Santa Fe tops the list of affordable large SUVs, with a driveaway price starting at $59,990.
Silver and bronze went to the Skoda Kodiaq and Kia Sorento.
Best luxury large SUV
A clean sweep for BMW in the luxury SUV category, with the X5 the best in the large class.
Porsche Cayenne and Lexus RX complete the top three.
Best off-road SUV
If you want your SUV to go off-road, it’s a first entry for a British car with the Land Rover Defender top of the pile.
Honourable mentions go to the Toyota Landcruiser Prado and Ford Everest.
Best electric SUVs
There’s a section just for SUVs and one just for EVs but where do the EV SUVs go? We’ve given them their own section here.
Best EV small SUV
Continuing their dominance of the SUV market, BMW notches another win with the iX1. With an expected range of 400km, it’s one of the longer ranges on the market.
The other finalists were the MG S5 and the Kia EV3.
Best EV mid-size SUV
No BMW to be seen in this category, with the Zeekr 7X taking top spot this time. Zeekr claims a 615km range for the 7X.
Tesla Model Y and Skoda Elroq weren’t too far behind.
Best EV large SUV
A new Chinese entrant to the Aussie market, Deepal wins the large SUV league with its E07 model. The E07 has a driving range of 510kms and an 80% charge time of 15 minutes.
Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 also rated well.
Best affordable PHEV SUV
A run of three awards for Chinese electric vehicles, with the BYD Sealion 6. With a driveaway price of $46,000, it compares favourably with standard SUV prices.
Other cars in the final of this category were the MG HS and the GWM Haval H6.
Best luxury PHEV SUV
Volvo has featured on this list a few times, but this is the first category they’ve won. The XC90 was noted for its family-friendly features like its incredible safety features and seven-seat practicality.
The XC90 is also $40k-$50k cheaper than the runners up, the Porsche Cayenne and the BMW X5.
Best electric vehicles (EVs)
EV sales are rising quicker than ever thanks to a mix of better affordability, greater choice and environmental awareness.
Best affordable EV
Chinese carmakers are beginning to dominate the electric car market in Australia so it’s no surprise to see BYD claim top spot with the Atto 1.
GAC Aion V and MG4 complete the top three.
Best luxury EV
Despite Tesla topping the sales charts for May 2026, their Model Y didn’t make the top three for this category.
Instead, the 1-2-3 went to Volvo EX90, Porsche Macan and BMW i5.
Best affordable cars
No matter what your budget, finding a bargain is a great feeling, especially when you find something reliable.
Best city car
For a zippy city runaround, you can’t go wrong with the trusty VW Polo. The latest model of this classic is the best yet and with a driveaway price of $35,000 you know you’re in safe hands.
The two runners up are even cheaper, so going for a Mazda 2 ($30k) or the Kia Picanto ($22k) are smart choices, too.
Best affordable small car
Kia and Mazda feature in this category too, with the Kia K4 pipping the Mazda 3 to the title.
In third place was the Hyundai i30, a favourite on Australian roads, and the cheapest in this category with a $33k driveaway price.
Best affordable mid-size car
The first appearance of a Czech car sees the Skoda Octavia come out on top. One of the most successfully rebranded car models in the world, Skoda now stands for style and reliability.
The Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry were the two unlucky finalists.
Best affordable sports car
If you’re looking for a sports car for under $50k, you’re in luck. Four cars made the final for the first time in these awards, with the Mazda MX-5 crowned champ.
Subaru BRZ, Hyundai i30 and Toyota GR86 were the other three cars in contention.
Best people mover
A popular category for growing families, the best people mover went to Zeekr for their 009 model.
The other nominated people movers were the Ford Tourneo and Kia Carnival.
Best luxury cars
If you have a slightly bigger budget, the world of luxury cars opens up to you. From $42k to $313k, this category has a huge range of choices.
Best luxury small car
At almost $50k, the Honda Civic has been revamped and reworked into one of the most impressive cars on the market. If you want something that oozes class but isn’t a ridiculous size, this Japanese car is a good choice.
Other options in this category include the VW Golf and BMW 1 series.
Best luxury mid-size car
If you think luxury, you probably think European and that’s likely Germany. It’s no surprise to see BMW top another category with its 3 series.
Also in the top three are the Lexus ES and Audi A5.
Best luxury sports car
By far the most expensive category on the list, this is where the dream cars appear. In first place, costing more than $200k, we’ve got the Chevrolet Corvette. It’s the first American car to win an award, but what a category it is!
In second came the affordable BMW M2 ($132k) and the classic Porsche 911 ($313k).
Financing your next car purchase
If you’re in the market for your next car and fancy something on this list, there’s no better time than the present. Get in touch with our team and we’ll find you the best deal on car finance to fund your next set of wheels.
