Ukraine has announced the car of the year and the winners in all categories
7 April 07:52
The winner of the national “Car of the Year in Ukraine 2026” campaign has been announced. The Renault Duster won the top title based on the combined votes of the public and expert juries. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing data from “Ukravtoprom.”
The Renault Duster emerged as the outright winner of the 25th anniversary competition. Other models also made it to the super final of the main category, but it was the Duster that received the highest total score in the final vote.
Who was named Car of the Year in Ukraine
The Renault Duster claimed the top prize in 2026.
This result was not a major surprise for the Ukrainian market. The Renault Duster has long been one of the most prominent models in the new crossover segment in Ukraine, and by the end of 2025, it was among the most popular new passenger cars on the market.
Why the Renault Duster Won
The official contest results do not attribute the victory to a single reason, but the market context speaks for itself. The Duster combines the compact crossover format, a well-known brand, adaptability to Ukrainian roads, and relatively affordable pricing within its class.
Automotive reviewers also noted the wide selection of powertrains and the model’s practicality for Ukrainian buyers.
Who Won in Individual Categories
In addition to the main title, the organizers announced winners in a number of individual categories. Among them:
- Passenger Car — CUPRA Leon
- Business-segment passenger car — Audi A6
- City crossover — Citroën C4
- Compact crossover — CUPRA Formentor
- Midsize crossover — Audi Q5
- SUV — Volvo XC90
- Off-road vehicle — Mercedes-Benz G 580 EQ
- Electric sedan — Audi A6 e-tron
- Electric crossover — Škoda Enyaq
- Electric SUV — BMW iX
- Hybrid crossover — Peugeot 3008 Hybrid
- Hybrid SUV — Hyundai Palisade PHEV
- Premium car — Mercedes-Benz G 580 EQ
- Sports car — Porsche 911 Turbo S
- Family van — Volkswagen Caravelle
- Pickup — Peugeot Landtrek
- Commercial vehicle — Peugeot Boxer
- Best value for money — Kia Sportage
- Design — DS 4
- Breakthrough of the Year — Chery brand.
What this result means for the market
The Renault Duster’s victory shows that the Ukrainian car market continues to gravitate toward practical mass-market models, even despite high interest in electric vehicles, premium-class cars, and new brands.
Individual categories of the competition confirm this: they were won by more affordable crossovers, expensive electric SUVs, and sports models. In other words, the market structure remains very diverse, but the top title went to a versatile and mass-market car.
At the same time, the presence of a large number of electric and hybrid models among the winners of individual categories indicates that the Ukrainian new car market is becoming increasingly technologically advanced and diverse. However, in the main category, models with the broadest practical demand still take the lead.
