The North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) Awards jury has announced its list of 25 semi-finalists for the prestigious annual award. The list includes 10 cars, 10 utility vehicles, and five trucks, chosen from a pool of 52 eligible vehicles. The finalists will be revealed in November, with the winners announced in January 2024.
Electric vehicles (EVs) dominate the semi-finalist list, with eight EVs making the cut. Among them are the BMW i5, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Chevrolet Silverado EV, Chevrolet Blazer, Chevrolet Equinox EV, Genesis Electrified GV70, Kia EV9, and Volvo EX30. This highlights the growing popularity and importance of EVs in the automotive industry.
Let’s take a closer look at the candidates in each category:
Cars:
– BMW 5 Series
– BMW i5
– Chevy 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
Utility Vehicles:
– Chevrolet Blazer EV
– Chevrolet Equinox EV
– Dodge Hornet
– Genesis Electrified GV70
– Honda Pilot
– Hyundai Kona
– Kia EV9
– Mazda CX90
– Toyota Grand Highlander
– Volvo EX30
In addition to the EVs, several hybrid vehicles have also made it to the semi-finalist list. These include the Toyota Prius/Prius Prime, Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, Dodge Hornet, Mazda CX90, Toyota Grand Highlander, Toyota Crown, BMW 5-series, Honda Accord, and Hyundai Kona. This demonstrates the industry’s commitment to offering a range of eco-friendly options to consumers.
The finalists will be evaluated by a jury consisting of 50 members. NACTOY emphasizes that the jurors’ diverse preferences, viewpoints, and judgment criteria ensure a fair and impartial assessment of the vehicles. To further aid their decision-making process, the jurors will have the opportunity to test drive all the semi-finalists at a comparison drive event in Michigan later this year.
The NACTOY Awards are highly regarded in the automotive industry, as they recognize excellence in design, innovation, performance, safety, technology, and value. Winning one of these awards can significantly boost a vehicle’s reputation and sales.
The winners of the car, truck, and utility vehicle of the year awards will be announced on January 4, 2024, in Detroit. Until then, automotive enthusiasts and industry experts eagerly await the final results to see which vehicles will be crowned the best in their respective categories.
In conclusion, the NACTOY Awards semi-finalist list showcases the latest and most promising vehicles in the North American market. With a strong representation of EVs and hybrids, it is evident that automakers are prioritizing sustainability and offering eco-friendly options to meet the evolving needs of consumers. The final winners will be determined by a jury of industry experts, whose evaluations will provide valuable insights into the top-performing vehicles of 2024.
