Citroën has officially received the AUTOBEST “Best Users’ Car of Europe 2026” trophy for the Citroën C3 Aircross, during a dedicated award hand-over ceremony held in Paris on 25 June.
The trophy was personally presented to Xavier Chardon, CEO of Citroën, by Dan Vardie, Chairman and Founder of AUTOBEST, underlining the significance of this recognition and the importance of the Citroën C3 Aircross’ achievement within this year’s AUTOBEST CONQUEST competition. Also present at the ceremony was the leadership of the AUTOBEST Jury, Petros Soutzis, President, Alessio Viola and Richard Aucock, Vice-Presidents.
The official hand-over ceremony took place during a special Citroën event organized in Paris, in a spectacular setting on the Noti Club on the Seine River, next to the Eiffel Tower. The event brought together Citroën PR managers and executives from around the world and benefited from extensive media and social media coverage, making the moment an especially high-profile celebration of the brand’s success.
Xavier Chardon, CEO of Citroën, said: “Citroën is particularly proud to receive today the ‘Best Users’ Car of Europe 2026’ award for the C3 Aircross. This distinction means a great deal to us as it directly reflects the voice of our customers. It shows that we have succeeded in designing a vehicle that is simple, comfortable, and intuitive, designed above all to make everyday life easier. This is exactly Citroën’s ambition: to offer cars that are in line with our customers’ expectations and true to our promise — Life feels better in a Citroën.”
“It is with great pleasure to handover the AUTOBEST Best user -friendly car of Europe 2026 award to Xavier Chardon, Citroen CEO. This is the first time in history when the people of Europe are voting equally with the AUTOBEST Juror representing 32 nations of our continent. Having C3 Aircross as a winner, we pioneer a ground breaking accolade dedicated to car users. It is about what we all appreciate. In the end, inside our car, what matters most is to have a great journey. And this is exactly what Citroen is promising and delivering!”, said Dan Vardie, Chairman and Founder of AUTOBEST.
The Citroën C3 Aircross had been named winner of the AUTOBEST “Best Users’ Car of Europe 2026” category last March, a distinction that recognizes the most user-friendly vehicle on the market. The distinction was awarded as part of the first edition of AUTOBEST CONQUEST 2026, a new and innovative, groundbreaking competition format designed to combine the expertise of the AUTOBEST jury with direct public engagement across Europe. Within this dynamic new framework, the Citroën C3 Aircross emerged as the winner in a category dedicated to the needs and expectations of real car users.
This distinction carries even greater significance as, for the first time, the public played a decisive role in the final outcome alongside the AUTOBEST jury, highlighting Citroën’s commitment to placing customers at the heart of its strategy and reinforcing the relevance of the C3 Aircross in meeting real user expectations across Europe.
The first edition of AUTOBEST CONQUEST 2026 officially concluded with the AUTOBEST CONQUEST Show, broadcast live on 28 March 2026. The new format introduced a completely fresh approach to independent automotive recognition and became the largest live independent motoring entertainment event of its kind, bringing together audiences, automotive brands, journalists and live public participation in an innovative and highly engaging format.
Following the exceptional response generated by the first edition, preparations for the next development phase of AUTOBEST CONQUEST are already underway. Together with selected strategic partners, AUTOBEST is now working on expanding the platform’s international footprint, introducing new communication initiatives and further strengthening audience engagement across multiple markets.
About AUTOBEST
The AUTOBEST jury represents 32+1 European countries (Russia remains suspended), making it the largest independent motoring jury both in Europe and globally in terms of represented nations. The AUTOBEST jury pays close attention to the automotive industry’s efforts. Investments, new automotive job opportunities, funds for green cars and technologies, and support for different regions of Europe are all carefully assessed by the jury. New in-car technologies and connectivity are also under continuous scrutiny.
Contact: Andreea Oglan
PR Coordinator, AUTOBEST
pr@autobest.org
