The long camera lenses may have been replaced by smartphones these days, but the excitement levels never fade at a major international motor show, and Brussels was the first of 2026.
With the once-glorious Geneva Show disappearing from the calendar, the spotlight really falls on the Belgium-based event these days and it also plays host to the announcement of the highly coveted European Car of the Year winner.
Last year, more than 300,000 people flocked to the show and organisers were expecting even more visitors this year with in excess of 60 car brands showing their latest vehicles. A new attraction this year was a motorcycle arena and there were 20-plus brands joining that party.
As well as the serious unveilings, of which there were many, it’s always exciting to visit the weird and wonderful displays of concept cars. And while they may never see the light of the open road, it’s always interesting to see just what goes on in the minds of the talented designers.
One of the big hitters at the show this year was Kia. They came out swinging with unveilings of sporty GT variants of the EV3, EV4 and EV5, but the big news was the global unveiling of the EV2 – the smallest of the Korean carmaker’s electric line-up. It’s a compact four or five-seater that is offered with two battery options – a 42.2kWh unit that achieves 197 miles or 61.0kWh battery with a range extending to 278 miles.
With a price-tag that’s yet to be announced, but will be well below £30k, the EV2 is a beautifully styled little car that Kia believes will bring electric mobility to the masses. Soohang Chang, President and CEO of Kia Europe, said: “The Kia EV2 represents a significant step in making electric mobility accessible to a broader audience. It blends bold design with cutting-edge advancements in charging, connectivity and safety.”
Other big hitters at the show included fellow Korean stablemate Hyundai who proved their commitment to hydrogen power is not dead with the launch of the new Nexo, alongside the large Staria EV which caters for seven or nine occupants and boasts a 248-mile range between charges. There were also appearances from the dazzling Ioniq 6N and N-line that we can’t wait to drive in the UK.
Pick-ups were out in force too. Toyota showed its latest legendary Hilux – now in its ninth generation - which will be sold with either a 2.8 diesel engine of with fully electrified technology. Elsewhere the latest Ford Ranger PHEV also gained plenty of attention.
The Chinese brands were at every turn with Nio showcasing its Firefly model, a compact electric hatchback and there were appearances from Leapmotor, Omoda, Jaecoo, Xpeng, BYD and many, many more.
Mazda drew a large crowd before the wraps came off its bold-looking CX-6e – a fully electrified car that has been developed in conjunction with Chinese manufacturer Changan. With a very strong road presence, the CX-6e can complete the 0-62mph dash in just 7.9 seconds so should deliver on the Mazda promise of performance.
Stellantis brought models from its vast range of brands, including the Peugeot 408 saloon and dynamically-styled 208 GTI, while Jeep had the new Compass, Alfa Romeo showed its freshened-up Tonale and Fiat brightened up the event with its fun and funky 500 Hybrid.
Elsewhere, Mercedes-Benz had a vast section of the arena to itself which was perfect for dimming the overhead lighting in order that the vehicles’ signature lights, alongside illuminated grille features, could be fully appreciated by onlookers. This was the case with the GLB which looked drop dead gorgeous both inside and out.
And despite there not really being anything new to see at the Mitsubishi stand, it was a visit to refamiliarise ourselves with the line-up, which is making a very welcome comeback to UK showrooms.
One of the highlights of any show is the raft of concept cars, which included the Hyundai Insteroid Concept, DS Talor Made No 4 which is a nod to signing Taylor Barnard to its Formula E race team. There was the Dacia Hipster, Corsa Vision and, our favourite, the Citroen ELO. For several hours, it was difficult to get near this funky flexible six-seater that transforms into a sleeping area for two adults or an office away from home. And just in case you wondered, ELO is formed from the second letters in the words ‘rest’, ‘play’ and ‘work’ and has nothing to do with the Electric light Orchestra.
Possibly the biggest crowd of the exclusive media day gathered to hear which model would scoop the European Car of the Year title. Judges were voting from a shortlist featuring the Citroen C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Renault 4 and Skoda Elroq. Their scores were read out (similarly to the Eurovision Song Contest) and the clear winner was the Mercedes-Benz CLA.
Once again, a major motor show lived up to all the hype and big build up. Brussels really delivered and we gained some great insight into models that are heading our way as well as being given a glimpse inside the minds of designers dreaming up cars of the future.