​​Car and Driver Names Three Volkswagen Models to Their 2026 Editors’ Choice List​ 

The awards keep on coming for Volkswagen. MotorTrend named the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R their 2026 Car of the Year, while Car and Driver added both of them to this year’s 10Best Cars list. 

The accolades continue to roll in for both the 2026 Golf GTI and Golf R, as they were named to Car and Driver’s 2026 Editors’ Choice list. They are also joined by the 2026 Tiguan, making it three Volkswagen models on this esteemed list of the magazine’s best automobiles.  

This list is based on Car and Driver’s extensive and exhaustive testing of every vehicle they work with. Based on instrumented testing, the magazine’s editors convene to pore over data and impressions to create a list of 131 of their highest-rated and well-loved vehicles for this roster—that is, 131 vehicles out of 450—across 47 segments.  

The criteria they use are based on the editors’ assessment of each 2026 model-year vehicle’s “intended mission” and the value it brings to consumers and enthusiasts. Each vehicle receives a ranking of up to 10 stars. To make the list, they have to earn at least nine of them.  

Considering how well the Volkswagen Golf has done with the editors of Car and Driver over the past 50-plus years, it is no surprise that the 2026 Golf GTI and Golf R have made this list. Over eight-and-a-half generations, the groundbreaking hatchback evolved into a pair of sports compact/hot hatch heroes. The benchmark they set over the past 50 years has earned them an international following amongst enthusiasts of all stripes.  

The 2026 Golf GTI and Golf R continue this tradition as the “go-to” sports compacts/hot hatches, delivering excitement and precision in two different packages.  

While they share the basic EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, their tunes and drivelines deliver distinctive driving experiences for their drivers. The 2026 Golf GTI features a 241-horsepower, front-drive drivetrain that delivers a pure driving experience that engages the driver no matter where they go. The 2026 Golf R does so with a more powerful 328-horsepower unit, coupled with a 4Motion all-wheel-drive system that delivers superb grip for maximum traction.  

The best acknowledgement of how the 2026 Tiguan has been elevated is Car and Driver’s inclusion of it on this list. This year, VW doubled down on the power offerings from the same EA888 turbocharged engine. Most models get the 201-horsepower version, delivering efficiency while adding fun along the way. For enthusiastic families looking for more excitement, the 2026 Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo raises the power band to 268 horsepower for a sporting drive with you and the family or your friends.  

All three of these vehicles are the result of the great work Volkswagen has done in producing and offering great experiences. That is why you are invited to answer our call for “Drivers Wanted.”  

You can check out all three of these Editors’ Choice winners at Sisbarro Volkswagen. Contact us to find out which winning combination is right for you. 

Tags: Awards, Car and Driver, Editors' Choice List, Golf GTI, Tiguan
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