Quick Takeaways
- NACTOY 2026 awards highlight Dodge Charger, Ford Maverick Lobo and Hyundai Palisade as the top-performing vehicles across car, truck and utility categories.
- The results reinforce how design, technology, safety and value are shaping buyer preferences in the North American automotive market.
On January 14, the NACTOY 2026 Awards were officially revealed at the Detroit Auto Show, closing a year-long evaluation by a panel of industry experts to determine the most outstanding vehicles across the North American market. The results reflect excellence in innovation, performance, technology, and real-world usability.
The process began in September, when the NACTOY organization announced its “Best of 2026” semifinalists at the CAR MBS event. These contenders were later narrowed down to nine finalists, which were unveiled in November at the LA Auto Show. From this final group, the jury selected the ultimate winners across three key vehicle segments.
NACTOY 2026 Awards Winners by Category
North American Car of the Year
North American Truck of the Year
North American Utility Vehicle of the Year
How the NACTOY 2026 Awards Were Decided
The NACTOY 2026 Awards were determined by a panel of 50 professional automotive journalists representing print, digital, radio, and television outlets across the United States and Canada. Each juror conducted extensive evaluations of the finalist vehicles using a broad set of criteria, ensuring a balanced and industry-relevant outcome.
NACTOY 2026 Awards Judging Criteria
The jury assessed each vehicle based on:
This comprehensive approach ensures that the NACTOY 2026 Awards recognize not just headline features, but how well each vehicle performs in everyday ownership and real-world conditions.
The strong showing by models such as the Dodge Charger, Ford Maverick Lobo, and Hyundai Palisade highlights the industry’s shift toward smarter technology, refined design, and better value, setting a clear benchmark for automakers competing in the North American market.
The process began in September, when the NACTOY organization announced its “Best of 2026” semifinalists at the CAR MBS event. These contenders were later narrowed down to nine finalists, which were unveiled in November at the LA Auto Show. From this final group, the jury selected the ultimate winners across three key vehicle segments.
NACTOY 2026 Awards Winners by Category
North American Car of the Year
- Dodge Charger claimed the top honor with a total of 195 points from the judges
- Honda Prelude secured second place with 152 points
- Nissan Sentra followed closely in third with 143 points
North American Truck of the Year
- Ford Maverick Lobo emerged as the winner with a commanding 277 points
- Ram 1500 Hemi finished second with 114 points
- Ram 2500 took third place with 99 points
North American Utility Vehicle of the Year
- Hyundai Palisade earned the top utility vehicle title with 270 points
- Nissan Leaf placed second with 135 points
- Lucid Gravity ranked third with 85 points
How the NACTOY 2026 Awards Were Decided
The NACTOY 2026 Awards were determined by a panel of 50 professional automotive journalists representing print, digital, radio, and television outlets across the United States and Canada. Each juror conducted extensive evaluations of the finalist vehicles using a broad set of criteria, ensuring a balanced and industry-relevant outcome.
NACTOY 2026 Awards Judging Criteria
The jury assessed each vehicle based on:
- Automotive innovation
- Exterior and interior design
- Safety and driver assistance systems
- Performance and drivability
- Technology integration
- Driver satisfaction and usability
- Overall user experience
- Value for money
This comprehensive approach ensures that the NACTOY 2026 Awards recognize not just headline features, but how well each vehicle performs in everyday ownership and real-world conditions.
The strong showing by models such as the Dodge Charger, Ford Maverick Lobo, and Hyundai Palisade highlights the industry’s shift toward smarter technology, refined design, and better value, setting a clear benchmark for automakers competing in the North American market.
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