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Detroit News Readers’ Choice Awards: The best of the 2023 Detroit auto show
Posted by Talbot Payne on September 22, 2023
Detroit — The Detroit News Readers’ Choice Awards results for the 2023 North American International Auto Show are in and hometown brands are the big winners. Across eight categories, Cadillac took home two trophies, including the CT4 sedan for Best in Show. Dodge’s electric future looks bright as the Dodge Charger SRT Banshee EV concept got two wins, for Muscle Machine and Top Concept.
There are lots of auto awards, but none quite like Readers’ Choice. The annual trophies are the only prizes decided by the people who are the focus of the Detroit auto show: consumers.
Ballots in hand, 100 News readers descended on the Detroit Show floor Sept. 13 tasked with passing judgment on 35 brands inside Huntington Place. The show was neatly organized in one, main exhibition hall, but the choices were dizzying, from electric pickups trucks to hot hatches to jacked dirt-kickers.
Here’s the list of winners:
Best of Show
In an age of electric hype and SUV domination, the Cadillac CT4 sedan pulled a shocking upset by winning Readers’ Choice top prize. The CT4 is the entry-level vehicle from GM’s luxury brand. One of the sportiest cars in segment, CT4 is powered by rear or all-wheel-drive and offers three engine options — including the ferocious, 472-horse, turbo-6 cylinder monster found in the BMW M2-fighting CT4-V Blackwing. The CT4 even beat out its sister CT5 sedan, which headlined the Caddy display with exterior and interior updates.
Off-Road Warrior
The off-road wars are in full swing. Witness the dueling rollercoaster rides on the show floor featuring the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. The Bronc got the nod from jurors this year with its bold styling and user-friendly cabin. Though the Jeep line has been updated for the 2024 model year with bigger screens and trims, the Bronco’s 37-inch tire, 418-horse, Raptor had tongues wagging.
Most Electrifying
The gas-powered CT4 got Best in Show, but jurors were also impressed by Cadillac’s first electric offering, the Lyriq. With a front end that lights up like the Fox Theatre marquee and a 33-inch dash screen, the mid-size crossover previews the brand’s transition to all-electric-power by 2030.
Top Concept
Jurors liked the futuristic Lyriq — but also want to get to the electric future fast in the Dodge Charger SRT Banshee EV, Dodge’s first EV. The Banshee was inspired by the original 1969 Charger Daytona, the first NASCAR to hit 200 mph. To keep the EV on the ground at such speeds, the concept even features a front, aerodynamic, so-called R-Wing — also inspired by the NASCAR.
Bargain Buggy
The average price of a new car these days pushes $50,000 as manufactures introduce expensive EVs and mega-trucks. But there are affordable new entries as well, like the $21,495 Chevrolet Trax SUV that comes standard with wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, roomy interior, and a stylish Activ trim that is still under $25k.
Top Family Hauler
It took awhile, but Jeep has finally entered the mega-ute wars with the Grand Wagoneer. Based on the Ram truck chassis, Grand Wagoneer goes head-to-head with the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator with lux and style, including three — count ‘em, three — screens across the front dash. Interior room is palatial, horsepower plentiful, and the Grand gets a big, $100k sticker to match. Jurors awarded Jeep’s efforts with their top SUV award.
If Money Were No Object
If you have over $100k in the bank, however, jurors recommend that you put the BMW 760 on your shopping list. The all-wheel-drive 760 is the 7-series sedan’s top model and can push $150,000 if you outfit it with red interior, automatic open-and-close doors, 536-horspower twin-turbo V-8, seat massage, and rear-seat entertainment suite complete with a drop-down, 31-inch rear movie screen. Put up your feet on the ottoman in back and tell James to drive to the club.
Muscle Machine
Dodge may be ditching its iconic, Challenger and Charger V-8s, but jurors don’t think that’s the end of muscle cars. The battery-powered Charger SRT Banshee EV promises neck-snapping, all-wheel-drive acceleration — and a loud soundtrack to go with it. Dodge promises the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust — which looks like a pipe organ hanging out back — will amplify the twin electric motors’ silent whir into a 126-decibel, V8-like howl worthy of the SRT badge.
The Detroit auto show runs through Sunday, Sept. 24 so you can check out all the jurors’ picks.
Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.