Škoda Returns to the Top: Elroq is the Czech Republic’s “Car of the Year 2026”

After finishing second in the European “Car of the Year” vote, the Škoda Elroq has now been crowned “Car of the Year 2026” in the Czech Republic itself. After eight years, the domestic car brand returns to the top of the award.

After eight years, the Czech automaker Škoda is back at the top: in the “Car of the Year 2026” vote in the Czech Republic, the fully electric Škoda Elroq received the highest score from the expert jury.

The Škoda Elroq prevailed against strong competition. In second and third place were the Mercedes-Benz CLA and the BMW iX3, followed by the Audi A6 and the Dacia Bigster. This was announced yesterday by the Czech Association of Car Importers (Svaz dovozců automobilů), which organises the award. Last year, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class won the title.

Foto: Škoda Auto

Škoda last won the title in 2018 with the Karoq, on which this year’s winner, the Elroq, is based. Overall, the brand has claimed ten victories in the history of the award.

Since its launch in 2025, the Elroq has quickly become the best-selling electric car in the Czech Republic and the second best-selling electric car in Europe. As Škoda’s second fully electric model after the larger Enyaq, the Elroq offers a range of up to 560 kilometres and a boot with 470 litres of capacity. Prices start at around 800,000 Czech koruna. In the European “Car of the Year” vote, it finished second.

The award ceremony took place in the Ballroom of the Grand Hotel International in Prague. The prize was accepted by Jiří Maláček, head of Škoda Czech Republic, from the hands of the jury chairman, Tom Hyan.

Czech Republic’s “Car of the Year 2026”

1. Škoda Elroq – 111 points

2. Mercedes-Benz CLA – 106 points

3. BMW iX3 – 98 points

4. Audi A6 – 86 points

5. Dacia Bigster – 74 points