Nissan Leaf wins global women’s car award

The Nissan Leaf has been named the supreme winner of the 2026 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) award, following a closely contested final voting round among category champions.

The electric vehicle (EV) prevailed after 86 women motoring journalists from 55 countries across five continents cast their votes to determine the overall winner from six category champions.

Executive President Marta García says there was significant parity in the voting, with several models receiving very similar levels of support.

“This reflects the exceptional quality and diversity of today’s automotive industry. In the end, however, the Nissan Leaf prevailed,” García says.

The Leaf competed against five other category winners for the supreme title: the Škoda Elroq (Compact SUV), Mercedes-Benz CLA (Large Car), Hyundai Ioniq 9 (Large SUV), Toyota 4Runner (4×4), and Lamborghini Temerario (Performance Car).

Practical approach wins over jury

The jury praised the Leaf’s coherent and realistic approach to electric mobility, highlighting its design for accessible everyday use rather than complex solutions.

“The Leaf convinced the jury with its practical approach, offering smooth, quiet driving and outstanding efficiency, particularly in urban and suburban environments,” García says.

US juror Tanya Gazdik says consumers can say goodbye to range anxiety with the new model.

“The vehicle feels significantly more premium than its price suggests, and notably, the new Leaf starts at a lower price point than the original 2011 model,” Gazdik says.

Serbian journalist Tina Vujanovic says the Leaf is perfectly suited to urban driving while offering generous interior space for longer journeys.

“The ride is smooth and comfortable, it features the latest technologies, and, importantly, it has an appealing design,” Vujanovic says.

Dubai-based Shereen Shabnam notes the Leaf’s competitive pricing within its segment, saying Nissan has successfully made electric mobility and advanced safety technologies more accessible to a broader audience.

French juror Marie Lizak says the Leaf delivers everything consumers expect from a modern EV.

“It provides comfort, practicality and sufficient range for both daily commuting and extended trips. It truly meets the standard of a well-rounded EV, while maintaining a very reasonable price,” Lizak says.

Focus on real-world needs

García says the voting focused on vehicles that stand out not only for their figures or technology, but for how effectively they respond to people’s real, everyday needs.

“The Nissan Leaf represents a mature and intelligent vision of electrification — one that makes electric mobility truly usable and accessible,” she says.

The strong competition in this year’s awards demonstrates how manufacturers worldwide are raising standards across all segments, according to WWCOTY.

Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year is the only car awards group comprised exclusively of women motoring journalists. It was created by New Zealand motoring journalist Sandy Myhre in 2009, with Myhre serving as Honorary President and García as Executive President.

The organisation aims to recognise the best cars of the year while giving visibility to women in the automotive world. García says the goal is to contribute to making women’s voices heard on all continents, as mobility for women means access to many personal and professional possibilities.

The award’s voting criteria are based on the same principles that guide any driver when choosing a car, with jurors not selecting a “woman’s car” because cars are not gender specific.