BMW X2, Volvo XC40 on Women's World Car of the Year 2018 shortlist

The shortlist for the 2018 Women's World Car of the Year has been announced, and every name on that list - bar one - is an SUV.

Chosen from a total of 396 new cars eligible for the award, the six finalists for the ninth edition of the Women's World Car of the Year Awards include the new BMW X2, two Jaguars - E-Pace (Jaguar's smallest SUV) and I-Pace (Jaguar's first EV), the new Porsche Cayenne and the Volvo XC40. The only sedan to have made it to the SUV-heavy final six is the Peugeot 508.

The all-female jury, comprising 33 respected women motoring writers from 27 countries - including Autocar India’s Renuka Kirpalani - initiated the month-long process to pick the 2018 Women’s World Car of the Year, in September, employing a new voting system said to reflect varying market trends and vehicle availability.

Sandy Myhre, CEO of Women’s World Car of the Year Awards, said, "We vote for what we think is well-engineered, competent product that deserves the accolades. We are motoring writers and we are customers and through these awards we are a voice to millions of drivers and customers around the world, both women and men. So, it’s an absolute myth we vote for a woman’s car, if such a thing exists" she added.

Results declaring the top three and the winner will be announced on November 12, 2018. Previous overall winners include the Hyundai Ioniq in 2017, Jaguar F-Pace in 2016, Volvo’s XC90 in 2015 and the Mercedes-Benz S-class in 2014.