Detroit – The North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year Awards opened the first full day of the Detroit Auto Show on Wednesday with the “Best of 2024” vehicles nominated for the 2024 award. Ten cars, five trucks and ten commercial vehicles advance to the semi-final round of the prestigious competition.
The list is full of surprises.
In the SUV category, America’s iconic Jeep Wrangler didn’t make the cut, likely because its 2024 model was more of an update than a remake. That and electric vehicles are all the rage, and the judges were wowed by pricey EVs like the $56,000 Chevrolet Blazer EV and the $68,000 Genesis GV70 Electrified. Clever, compact SUVs like the all-new Chevy Trax and Buick Envista have also been overlooked despite sticker prices under $30,000, at a time when Americans are struggling to afford inflated average new car prices of $50,000 can. The top 25 were selected from a field of 52 eligible 2024 models.
The affordable Subaru Crosstrek was also passed over (although its sister hatchback Impreza was nominated as a car), as was the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the luxury brand’s peppy plug-in hybrid that ushers in a new era of electrification for the Italian brand. Notable utility nominees include the first electric Chevrolet Equinox, the fast Dodge Hornet, the stylish Mazda CX-90 and the Kia EV9 – the first three-row electric SUV.
The NACTOY awards are among the most prestigious in the industry, as 50 independent journalists from the US and Canada deliver their verdict after a year of extensive testing. The top 25 will be selected as three finalists in each category at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 16th – and the winners will then be announced on January 4th in Detroit.
“The value of these awards lies in the expertise and diverse perspectives of our judges,” said NACTOY President Jeff Gilbert. “We all evaluate vehicles in different ways. We look forward to learning more about them and comparing them to the competition.”
There were also surprises in the truck category.
Perhaps the most anticipated truck of the year, the Tesla Cybertruck, didn’t make the list – likely because Tesla didn’t make the pickup available for media testing. Another surprise was the absence of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma, the much-hyped new edition of the best-selling midsize pickup. However, Tacoma will be available for media testing this year – and is expected to appear on the NACTOY list next fall as a 2025 model.
Without Tacoma, the truck wars will be decided by five worthy semifinalists: the Chevrolet Colorado, Chevrolet Silverado EV, Ford Ranger, Ford Super Duty and GMC Canyon. While electric vehicles are all the rage, the Silverado’s price could turn heads between $50,000 and $106,000. Expect Colorado and Ranger to fight to the death for top honors.
While car demand has declined in recent years amid Americans’ greed for SUVs (Ford doesn’t even make sedans anymore), the top car category has become crowded.
Nominees include everything from the legendary Ford Mustang to the first all-wheel-drive Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray to the venerable BMW 5 Series and the reborn Toyota Prius. Expect the Prius to be a favorite, as the original hybrid nerdmobile has been transformed into a swan – without sacrificing fuel economy.
The Mustang and Prius face stiff competition from the attractive Honda Accord, which is targeting 50% of hybrid sales, and the Hyundai Ioniq 6, one of the most beautiful sedan designs ever. Performance enthusiasts will be disappointed that the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and 911 Dakar didn’t make the cut – but the snarling, all-wheel-drive Toyota GR Corolla will fly the flag for those with a need for speed.
The auto industry is at a crossroads as government regulators force automakers to switch to all-electric vehicles from 2026 to 2035 — or face increasingly steeper penalties. Meanwhile, consumers appear reluctant to embrace electric vehicles that don’t bear the Tesla name, and that continues to be true for gas-powered trucks and SUVs rolling off assembly lines.
Over the past 30 years, NACTOY has honored automobile manufacturers that have achieved significant innovations in design, performance, technology, driver satisfaction and value. With the flood of new electric vehicles, the judges are determined to recognize the best of the new generation while balancing the needs of consumers.
Stay tuned for more NACTOY news as awards season heats up.
2024 NACTOY semifinalists
cars
BMW 5 Series
BMW i5
Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
Ford Mustang
Honda Accord
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Crown
Toyota GR Corolla
Toyota Prius/Prius Prime
trucks
Chevrolet Colorado
Chevrolet Silverado EV
Ford Ranger
Ford Super Duty
GMC Canyon
SUVs
Chevrolet Blazer EV
Chevrolet Equinox EV
Dodge Hornet
Genesis electrified GV70
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Kona
Kia EV9
Mazda CX90
Toyota Grand Highlander
Volvo EX30
Henry Payne is an auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at [email protected] or Twitter @HenryEPayne