2027 Car of Year contenders put through paces
By Joe Rayfus
Motoring journalists completed two days of testing at Knightsbrook Hotel and Golf Resort in Trim as voting opened for the 2027 MMAI Irish Car of the Year and Irish Van of the Year awards.
Members of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI), they tested the 51 cars and 15 commercial vehicles. Over the last 12 months, each has tested all the eligible vehicles in depth on Irish roads, in everyday conditions.
The refresh days give the jury a chance to see every contender in one place, to remind themselves of the details of each, and drive rivals in each category back to back before voting.
Michael Sheridan, chair of the MMAI and this year’s awards, said: “With 67 vehicles in contention and new Chinese brands arriving, the Irish market more competitive than ever. That’s good news for consumers, and it makes the refresh days more important than ever for the jury.”
Voting takes place over the coming weeks. The winners will be revealed at a ceremony in Dublin on 12 November.
Last year, the Renault 5 was named Irish Car of the Year 2026, and the Volkswagen Transporter Irish Van of the Year.
To be eligible for the 2027 Irish Car of the Year, a model has to be all-new and have been launched and on sale in the Republic of Ireland between 1 November 2025 and 31 October 2026. Mid-life facelifts and model-year updates are not eligible. New performance versions are judged as separate entries.
The Irish Van of the Year covers commercial SUVs, car-derived vans, pick-ups, small vans and panel vans launched and on sale in Ireland during the same period. Facelifts, model-year updates and new trim editions of existing models are not eligible.
2027 Irish Car of the Year: categories and entrants
Small Car: Cupra Raval, Fiat Grande Panda, Leapmotor T03, MG4 Urban, Nissan Micra, Volkswagen ID. Polo
Small SUV / Crossover: BYD Atto 2, Citroën C3 Aircross, Kia EV2, Opel Frontera, Renault 4 E-Tech, Suzuki e Vitara
Compact Car: Hyundai Ioniq 3, Kia EV4, Kia K4, Leapmotor B05
Compact SUV / Crossover: BYD Sealion 5 DM-i, Leapmotor B10, Nissan Leaf, Toyota C-HR+, Volkswagen T-Roc
Medium SUV: Citroën C5 Aircross, Jeep Compass, Kia EV5, Leapmotor C10, Mazda CX-5, MG S6 EV, Skywell BE11, Toyota RAV4
Large Car and 7-Seater: BYD Seal 6 DM-i, Kia PV5 Passenger, Mazda 6e, Mercedes-Benz GLB, Volkswagen e-Caravelle, Volkswagen Passat
Premium Car: DS No.8, Lexus ES, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Volvo ES90
Premium SUV: Audi Q7, BMW iX3, Cadillac Lyriq, Mercedes-Benz GLC (electric), Porsche Cayenne Electric, Range Rover Electric, Volvo EX60
Performance Car: Audi RS 5, Cupra Raval VZ, Honda Prelude, Opel Mokka GSE, Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50
2027 Irish Van of the Year: categories and entrants
Van: Farizon SV, Farizon V7E, Hyundai Staria Electric, Kia PV5 Cargo, Maxus Deliver 7
Pick-up: Isuzu D-Max, Isuzu D-Max Electric, KGM Musso EV, KGM Q300, Toyota Hilux
Commercial SUV: Citroën C3 Aircross Commercial, Citroën C3 Commercial, Citroën C5 Aircross Commercial, Jeep Compass Commercial, Skywell BE11 Commercial