Here are the seven finalists for European Car of the Year 2024

Highlights: The seven finalists for European Car of the Year 2024 are: BMW 5 SERIES, BYD SEAL, KIA EV9, Peugeot 3008 and Jeep Avenger. Each member of the jury has a maximum of 25 points to be distributed among all those seven cars. But only one can be chosen as the winner and the maximum points for a vehicle is 10. All evaluations have to be reasoned and are made public on the same day that the outcome is known. The date for this is February 26, just two weeks after carrying out the last joint tests.

The die is cast, or almost. After a first filter with 28 candidate models, the European Car of the Year award enters its final stretch after the election of the seven...

2023 The Jeep Avenger, Car of the Year in Europe

The die is cast, or almost. After an initial filter with 28 candidate models, the European Car of the Year award enters its final stretch after the selection of the seven finalist cars. Now, each of the 59 journalists from 22 countries (the two Russian representatives are still suspended) who make up this award, founded in 1964, will have almost three months ahead of them to decide on one of them.

According to the statutes of the award, each member of the jury has a maximum of 25 points to be distributed among all those seven cars. But only one can be chosen as the winner and the maximum points for a vehicle is 10. It can also be given zero, but all evaluations have to be reasoned and are made public on the same day that the outcome is known. The date for this is February 26, just two weeks after carrying out the last joint tests, on the circuit and open roads, of the finalist vehicles.

Last year, the winner was the Jeep Avenger. As then, in this 2024 edition there is room for all technologies. Even the much-maligned diesel. Below is a brief description of all of them, in strict alphabetical order.

BMW 5 SERIES

Engines: Petrol, diesel, PHEV and electric. Powers: From 197 to 600 hp. Change: Automatic (1M and 8M). Traction: Rear and 4x4. CO2: From 0 gr/km. Price: From €60,000.

There is a choice of several powertrains, including a 100% electric one for the first time. Of the many novelties of this eighth generation, apart from its design, the following stand out: the interior of vegan materials; the infotainment system, which allows you to watch streaming videos and play video games from your mobile phone when your car is stationary; and the possibility of incorporating a Level 3 autonomous driving system.

BYD SEAL

Engine: Electric. Power: 313 and 530 hp. Change: Single-speed automatic. Traction: Rear and 4x4. Autonomy: Up to 570 km. CO2: 0 gr/km. Price: From €46,990.

It shamelessly aims to unseat the increasingly competitive Tesla Model 3. Hence, it is offered with up to 530 hp of power, all-wheel drive and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. With a length of 4.80 meters, the design is another of its arguments, with a very aerodynamic body (the Cx is only 0.22). Of particular note is the overall build quality or the equipment available as standard on the two versions on sale, which share the same battery (82 kWh) to offer 520 or 570 km of range until empty. The boot is small in relation to the size: 453 litres.

KIA EV9

Engines: Two electric. Power: 385 hp. Change: 1-speed automatic. Traction: 4x4. CO2: 0 g/km. Range: 505 km. Price: From €85,100.

Huge, boxy, majestic and with content typical of a premium car. There are two interior configurations, one for six seats and one for seven, the first of which is more luxurious and with three rows of two seats each. It is equipped with an electric motor on each axle, which provides it with all-wheel drive. It has 800-volt battery technology, allowing it to be recharged to cover more than 200 kilometers in just 15 minutes.

PEUGEOT 3008

Engines: Petrol and mild hybrid. Powers: From 136 to 320 hp. Change: Automatic (1 gear or eight gears). Traction: Front or 4x4. CO2: From 0 gr/km. Price: From 38.660€.

A radical change in the style of this successful SUV, which debuts a coupé-style rear end and grows significantly in its proportions: it measures 4.54 meters long (10 cm more) and the wheelbase grows six, maintaining the same luggage capacity (520 liters), to the possibility of incorporating a Level 3 autonomous driving system. Another milestone is the next-generation i-cockpit, now with a single 21-inch curved display. The mechanical offer starts with a 136 hp and 100% electric light hybrid with 210 hp and 525 km of range. In 2024, another battery-powered model will arrive with 320 hp and all-wheel drive and a 3008 that promises... Up to 700 km between charges.

RENAULT SCÉNIC E-TECH

Engine: Electric. Power: 170 and 218 hp Transmission: Single-speed automatic. Traction: Front. Range: up to 620 km. CO2: 0 gr/km. Price: From about €40,000.

Nothing remains but the name of this model, now converted into a 100% electric crossover of 4.47 meters long, much more livable than the Mégane with which it shares a platform. In addition, it offers a generous boot of 545 litres. It will be available with two batteries (60 and 87 kWh capacity), with which it promises respective ranges of 425 and 625 km, respectively. Highlights include the excellent cockpit, two large L-shaped digital displays, Android software and numerous genuine Google apps.

TOYOTA CH-R

Engines: Gasoline, hybrid and PHEV. Powers: From 140 to 223 hp. Change: Automatic continuous variator. Traction: Front or 4x4. CO2: From 26 gr/km. Price: From 31.750€.

The first C-HR (of 2017) came, saw and won. Now, the second generation maintains proportions (it is only three centimeters shorter), but updates the design, debuts a much more technological interior, can carry all-wheel drive and, in addition to being a hybrid, will be offered as a plug-in hybrid. This variant will arrive next year and homologates 66 km in 100% electric mode. Better equipped, especially in terms of safety assistants, the spaciousness and boot space (388 litres maximum) are in the middle of the segment.

VOLVO EX30

Engines: One or two electrics. Power: 272 and 428 hp Transmission: Single-speed automatic. Traction: Rear or 4x4. CO2: 0 g/km. Range: Up to 480 kilometres. Price: From €36,770.

The brand 'throws' prices with this 4.23-metre electric SUV, its smallest battery-powered model. A continuist in design, it makes massive use of sustainable materials and highlights its minimalist interior, excessive in some aspects. It is the Volvo with the lowest carbon footprint when considering the entire life cycle and the 4x4 version accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds. In 2024 it will add a Cross Country version with a raised body to tackle small country getaways.