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Readers’ Choice Awards: Detroit Three sweep at auto show
Posted by Talbot Payne on January 11, 2025
Detroit — Detroit News readers have spoken and Detroit iron is Best in Show.
Motown models swept all eight categories of the 2025 Detroit News Readers’ Choice Awards as Motown’s auto-palooza returned to January dates for the first time since 2019. As the show floor opened at 9 a.m. Friday for Media Day, 100 News readers descended with ballots in hand to judge the 34 brands, exotic Gallery display, and car-stocked tracks inside.
Here’s what caught their eye.
Best of Show: The Chevy Corvette ZR1
The fastest ‘Vette ever made wowed, capturing 40% of the vote. Consistent with its 1,064 horsepower and 233-mph top speed, it quickly put distance on the rest of the field. Second place was the Ford Mustang GTD with 15% of the vote, and the Cadillac Lyriq, the luxury brand’s first electric vehicle, came third with 12%.
The Cadillac Optiq captured two categories in The Detroit News Readers’ Choice Awards. GM
Hottest Tech: Cadillac Optiq
The Lyriq’s sister Optiq and Vistiq SUVs got the jurors’ attention for hottest tech, showcasing beautiful, 33-inch hoodless displays that arch across the dash. Both vehicles also light up their fascias as you approach. Optiq captured 25% of the vote for first, and the third-place Vistiq got 15%. Dodge’s first EV, the Charger Daytona, split the Caddy pair in second place with 18% of the vote.
Most Electrifying: Cadillac Optiq
The sleek Optiq may be Caddy’s entry-level EV, but it is also arguably the prettiest in a family that includes Lyriq, Vistiq and Escalade IQ. It beat out the BMW i4 (22%) and Jeep Wagoneer S (18%) with 25% of jurors’ votes.
Bargain Buddy: Ford Maverick
Ford’s entry-level, $27k pickup may be $6,000 more expensive than when it debuted two year’s ago, but it remains one of the most affordable hybrids on the market while offering 42 mpg. It attracted 32% of jury votes ahead of the handsome, $23k Kia K4 (22%) and the new VW Taos (12%).
Mayor Mike Duggan got behind the wheel of the Cadillac Escalade IQ, one of the winners of The Detroit News Readers’ Choice Awards, on Thursday ahead of the opening of the Detroit Auto Show. David Guralnick, The Detroit News
If Money Were No Object: Cadillac Escalade IQ
What makes a $90k Caddy Escalade look affordable? A $129,900 electric Escalade. The Escalade IQ is a rolling mansion and got 28% of readers’ vote while the $235k Aston Martin Rapide and $310,00 McLaren 720 got 15% each.
Off-Road Warrior: Ford Bronco Raptor
Scaling the Ford Bronco Built Wild Track in the middle of Huntington Place, the Bronco SUV is hard to miss. Its big brother Bronco Raptor is even more capable in dirt and sand. In the Detroit off-road wars, the Raptor edged archrival Jeep Wrangler, 35% to 32%. The GMC Canyon AT4X pickup was a distant third with 12% of the vote.
Top Family Hauler: Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Detroit leads the industry in living rooms-on-wheels like the truck-based Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon and Ford Expedition. But they were no match for the luxurious Jeep Grand Wagoneer, which hauled away 35% of the vote.
Muscle Machine: Chevy Corvette ZR1
With 1,064 horsepower and 233 mph top speed to rival $3 million exotics like the Aston Martin Valkyrie, how could the $175,000 ZR1 lose? It ate up 50% of the vote, leaving the Ford Mustang and Porsche 911 in the dust with 15% each.
Top Concept: Cadillac Celestiq
Cadillac has two stunning concepts on the floor, the Celestiq and the Opulent Velocity. But the (estimated) $350,000 Celestiq is actually going into production. Jurors coveted it with 30% of the vote. The Audi GT in The Gallery exhibition space got 10% and the Ineos Grenadier got 8%.
Check out the Detroit Auto Show from Jan. 11-20 to see if you agree with the jury picks.
Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or @HenryEPayne.