Green Car Journal released its 2027 Green Car Awards, recognizing ten vehicles the publication says represent the most meaningful environmental progress across the auto industry this year. The awards, now in their third decade, span categories from entry-level electric cars to ultra-luxury extended-range coupes, reflecting an industry still working out what affordability, range, and everyday practicality look like as electrification matures.
Kia EV3 Takes Top Honor as Green Car of the Year
The Kia EV3, an electric compact crossover priced from $29,890, was named the publication’s overall Green Car of the Year. The award recognizes the scarcity of full-function electric vehicles priced meaningfully under $30,000, a segment that has never approached the sub-$20,000 territory once occupied by gasoline-era economy cars like the Honda Fit or Ford Fiesta. The EV3 carries over design and technology cues from Kia’s larger EV9, including nearly 30 inches of combined digital display and a suite of driver-assistance features, into a smaller and more attainable package. Depending on trim, the EV3 offers between 221 and 321 miles of range, giving buyers flexibility between daily commuting and longer trips.
BMW iX3 Wins Premium Green Car Honors
BMW’s iX3 was recognized as Premium Green Car of the Year, marking the first series-production vehicle built on the automaker’s new Neue Klasse architecture. The iX3 introduces BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology along with cylindrical battery cells, positioning it as a technical foundation for the company’s next generation of electric vehicles rather than a one-off model. Its exterior design bridges BMW’s established visual identity with the cleaner lines associated with the Neue Klasse era, while the interior emphasizes a simplified digital interface and upgraded materials. Green Car Journal frames the iX3 less as a finished statement and more as an early signal of where BMW intends to take its electric lineup.
Fiat 500e Named Urban Green Car of the Year
The Fiat 500e, starting at $35,700, earned recognition as Urban Green Car of the Year for its fit within dense, congested city environments. A 117-horsepower motor paired with 162 lb-ft of torque gives the small hatchback confident acceleration for stop-and-go city driving, while three selectable drive modes adjust efficiency and regenerative braking to match conditions. The 500e offers 149 miles of range along with DC fast-charging capability for occasional longer trips. Inside, Fiat leans into the car’s Italian identity with color-forward styling, Turin-inspired trim details, and a 10.25-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration.
Fiat Topolino Claims Neighborhood Green Car Honors
Fiat’s Topolino, an ultra-small electric vehicle starting at $13,995, was named Neighborhood Green Car of the Year. Built for short local trips rather than full-scale automotive duty, the Topolino can reach speeds up to 25 mph when configured for neighborhood electric vehicle use, making it street-legal in areas where posted speed limits are 35 mph or lower. Its lithium-ion battery supports roughly 47 miles of range, suited to the kind of short, repeated local trips the vehicle is designed around. The cabin can be run open-air or fitted with doors for weather protection, and its heritage-inspired styling gives it more personality than is typical in the neighborhood EV category.
Karma Gyesera Grand Coupe Wins Luxury Green Car of the Year
Karma Automotive’s Gyesera Grand Coupe, an ultra-luxury extended-range EV built in Southern California, was recognized as Luxury Green Car of the Year. The Gyesera pairs an electric-first driving experience with an onboard engine-generator, giving owners the option of long-distance travel without the range anxiety sometimes associated with battery-electric-only luxury vehicles. Its exterior represents an evolution of Karma’s existing design language, while the four-place cabin emphasizes bespoke materials and craftsmanship suited to buyers seeking personalization. The Gyesera arrives in December 2026 with a base price of $139,950.
Kia Carnival Hybrid Named Green Minivan of the Year
Kia’s Carnival Hybrid, starting at $41,490, was named Green Minivan of the Year for pairing hybrid efficiency with the segment’s traditional strengths in space and flexibility. The minivan delivers 33 combined mpg and a 608-mile driving range, along with seating for up to eight and second-row seats that fold flat into the floor to open up cargo space. Multiple USB-C ports and driver-assistance features round out a package the publication credits with elevating expectations for what a minivan can offer families who need both efficiency and everyday practicality.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback EV Wins Green SUV of the Year
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback EV was named Green SUV of the Year, marking the automaker’s return to the battery-electric market alongside its existing mild-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid offerings. Built on shared platform and technology resources from the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, the crossover offers 282 miles of range, dual charge ports with NACS fast-charging compatibility, and a cabin built around two 14.3-inch displays. Its exterior carries Mitsubishi’s current design language, including a distinctive triangle-pattern wheel design, while a 5-year/60,000-mile vehicle warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile battery and powertrain warranty back the model.
RAM ProMaster City Takes Commercial Green Car of the Year
RAM’s redesigned ProMaster City was named Commercial Green Car of the Year, filling what the publication describes as an otherwise empty midsize commercial van segment in the United States. The van offers a 2,175-pound payload, 2,000-pound tow rating, and 167 cubic feet of cargo space, powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A low load floor and wide rear and side openings are meant to speed up loading for tradesmen and fleet operators, while the van’s relatively compact footprint eases navigation in tight job sites and dense commercial districts. Tradesman Cargo and Passenger Wagon variants are priced at $37,400 and $40,100, plus destination charge.
Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Named Family Green Car of the Year
Toyota’s Grand Highlander Hybrid, starting at $45,610, was recognized as Family Green Car of the Year for combining three-row space with hybrid efficiency. The SUV delivers a 619-mile driving range, with the standard 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain reaching up to 36 combined mpg and the available Hybrid MAX powertrain producing 362 horsepower for buyers who prioritize performance over maximum efficiency. Interior amenities include dual 12.3-inch displays, heated and ventilated seats, captain’s chairs, and multi-zone climate control, features the publication says support the long trips and daily driving demands families place on a full-size crossover.
An Awards Season Shaped by Market Uncertainty
Green Car Journal noted that determining this year’s finalists was complicated by broader instability in the auto industry, including delayed model introductions, shifting on-sale dates, canceled vehicle programs, and at least one automaker exiting the market entirely. Despite that uncertainty, the publication said this year’s ten winners collectively represent the range of consumer needs the electrified and hybrid vehicle market now serves, from entry-level and neighborhood transportation to premium, luxury, and commercial applications.