All three World Car of the Year 2017 finalists are SUVs
Audi Q5, Jaguar F-Pace and Volkswagen Tiguan make up the 2017 World Car of the Year shortlist, marking the first time only SUVs have contested the final.
For the first time in the award’s history, all three finalists for the 2017 World Car of the Year are SUVs. The Audi Q5, Jaguar F-Pace and Volkswagen Tiguan were named as the top contenders, with the winner set to be announced at the New York Auto Show in April 2017.
The announcement was made alongside the Geneva Motor Show, following a year that saw SUVs and crossovers continue to drive sales growth across global markets. This shortlist underlines the segment’s influence, echoing the European Car of the Year result, where the Peugeot 3008, also an SUV, claimed the title.
SUVs dominate the shortlist
This is the first time the World Car of the Year has seen its final trio made up exclusively of SUVs, highlighting a clear shift in both consumer demand and manufacturer strategy. The Audi Q5, Jaguar F-Pace and Volkswagen Tiguan each represent different approaches to the segment: the Q5 as a premium all-rounder, the F-Pace as Jaguar’s entry into SUVs, and the Tiguan as a volume-focused contender.
- Audi Q5: Second-generation model, positioned as a luxury crossover
- Jaguar F-Pace: Jaguar’s first SUV, blending brand styling with practicality
- Volkswagen Tiguan: Second generation, focused on practicality and broad appeal
The trend is not limited to the overall award. The Jaguar F-Pace is also a finalist for World Car Design of the Year, while the Toyota C-HR, another crossover, appears in the same category. In Europe, SUVs have fuelled double-digit sales growth in recent months, and other awards have seen similar patterns, such as the Peugeot 3008’s European Car of the Year win.
What this means for the market
With SUVs now reaching the top of global awards, manufacturers are likely to maintain or accelerate their focus on the segment. The presence of both premium and mainstream models among the finalists suggests broad consumer appeal, from luxury buyers to families seeking versatility. For more on how SUV design is evolving, see Ford’s SUV Design Team Finds Inspiration Beyond the Car World.
