In the last 12 months or so, Canadians have seen several changes around the automotive industry, and the 2026 Canadian International AutoShow reflected that shift.
It was about a year ago when the federal EV mandate was “paused”, while Quebec and British Columbia changed the rules around provincial rebates. Consumers responded by rushing out to buy battery electric vehicles. By late 2025, consumers were off the EV train in favour of hybrid electric vehicles when looking for an alternative to the traditional internal combustion engine.
This year’s show reflected the change in consumer appetite with various makes and models added to automaker lineups, more trim lines and more awareness of consumer affordability.
The day included the unveiling of two new Project Arrow vehicles – all-electric vehicles that were built by Canadian suppliers to showcase the country’s ability to provide the industry with what is needed to ensure Canadian production.
Car of the Year winners were also announced. The 2026 Canadian Car of the Year was the Honda Civic. The other finalists were Hyundai Elantra and Porsche 911 Carrera. The 2026 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year went to the Hyundai Palisade, beating out the Ford Maverick and Toyota RAV4. The 2026 Canadian Electric Car of the Year winner was the Porsche Taycan. The other finalists were Lucid Air and Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. The 2026 Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year went to Kia EV9, finishing ahead of the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Lucid Gravity.
“These four vehicles have risen to the top to claim our highest praise and be named the winners of this year’s Car of the Year awards,” said Evan Williams, president of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. “We encourage everyone visiting the AutoShow to come and see them up close for a chance to understand what makes them so great in their respective segments.”
See the photo gallery below and highlight reel.
