NACTOY finalists: EVs dominate nominees, Detroit makers shut out except for trucks Henry Payne The Detroit News
Posted by Talbot Payne on November 17, 2023
Los Angeles, California — And then there were nine.
The Los Angeles Auto Show opened Thursday with The North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year awards announcing their finalists for the 2024 prize. The finalists track industry trends as five of the finalists are all-electric and two are gas-electric hybrids. Governments led by California are ratcheting up fines on automakers beginning in 2026 to produce only EVs by 2035.
Detroit brands dominated the truck category but were shut out of the car and SUV nominees with only one EV, the Chevy Silverado EV Work Truck, making the list.
The NACTOY awards are one of the industry’s most prestigious, with an independent jury of 50 journalists from North America judging the results. “We come from diverse media backgrounds, and we come together to establish a consensus. That is the strength of this award,” said NACTOY President Jeff Gilbert of WWJ radio (950 AM) in Detroit.
Electric SUVs headlined the utility finalists: the $68,000 Genesis Electrified GV70, $56k Kia EV9 and $35k Volvo EX 30. As an affordable, luxury EV priced under $40,000, the Volvo will be the favorite.
Notable vehicles that did not make the cut were the affordable, gas-powered SUVs like the Dodge Hornet and three-row Mazda CX-90 and Hyundai Kona. Gas-powered vehicles make up over 90% of consumer sales, but jurors were keen to showcase the wave of EVs coming to showrooms as automakers phase out petrol-powered options.
At a starting price north of $70,000, the Chevy Silverado V Work Truck is nearly twice the price of a comparable gas WT, and it is only available to fleet customers unlike other finalists. But its driving dynamics and tech impressed jurors. The more affordable, turbo-4 cylinder Chevy Colorado mid-size truck may be the favorite here, with the Ford F-250 Super Duty also in the running.
One of the year’s most anticipated trucks, the Tesla Cybertruck, did not make the cut since the Texas-based company has not made the pickup available for media testing. Two midsize trucks that might have given the Colorado a run for its money — the 2024 Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger were not available for juror testing and will be contestants for the 2025 award.
“Ford is a perpetual favorite for truck of the year given their trucks’ market popularity,” said Gilbert. “It’s a shame we had to park the Ranger and Tacoma for this year since they are strong pickups.”
A couple of hybrids, the Honda Accord and Toyota Prius, lead the car category. Both have won NACTOY honors in the past. But the beautiful, upstart Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV may steal their thunder. Car demand has diminished in recent years as Americans have embraced SUVs, but sedans and sports cars remain the industry style leaders.
In a surprise, the seventh-generation Ford Mustang did not make the final cut despite being the last muscle car left standing in the U.S. as the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger were sacrificed to satisfy emissions regulations. The Chevy Corvette E-Ray, the first electrified, all-wheel-drive ‘Vette, also was passed over for higher-volume sedans.
Expect the Prius to be a favorite in class as the original, ugly-duckling hybrid has been transformed into a swan — without sacrificing fuel economy.
Over the last 30 years, NACTOY has honored automakers who have made substantial innovations in design, performance, technology, driver satisfaction and value. Winners will be announced in January in Detroit.
NACTOY finalists
Car of the YearHonda AccordToyota Prius/Prius PrimeHyundai Ioniq 6
Truck of the YearElectric Chevy SilveradoChevy ColoradoFord Super Duty
Utility of the YearGenesis Electrified GV70Kia EV9Volvo EX 30
Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.