{"id":26071,"date":"2020-10-01T12:37:26","date_gmt":"2020-10-01T16:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=26071"},"modified":"2020-10-01T12:37:26","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T16:37:26","slug":"north-american-car-utility-and-truck-of-the-year-semifinalists-named","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2020\/10\/north-american-car-utility-and-truck-of-the-year-semifinalists-named","title":{"rendered":"North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year semifinalists named"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forget the presidential debate, let the wrangling over Vehicle of the Year commence.<\/p>\n

The 2021 North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) Awards announced its 27 semifinalists Wednesday. The list includes eight\u00a0sedans, 15 SUVs, and four\u00a0trucks, and tells the tale of the Detroit Three\u2019s move away from cars. One sedan is from Detroit, while five\u00a0Motown SUVs make the list. All four truck candidates are from Detroit.<\/p>\n

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The 2021 Escalade has the bold presence and exclusive technology to elevate the extraordinary and make every drive feel like an occasion.<\/div>\n
Cadillac, Cadillac<\/div>\n

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2021 Ford Mustang Mach E<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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2021 Chevy Trailblazer<\/div>\n
Chevrolet, Chevrolet<\/div>\n
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The 2020 Land Rover Defender comes in 90 (two-door) and 110 (four-door) trims. All vehicles are four-wheel-drive with the ability to wade into 35-plus inches of water.<\/div>\n
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The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is based on a unibody chassis – not the truck chassis of its brother Bronco – but it still likes to get dirty off-road.<\/div>\n
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All-new for 2021, the Chevy Suburban is the longer version of its twin, three-row Tahoe. Built on the Silverado truck chassis, the family Suburban has a more refined interior and ride than the pickup.<\/div>\n
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2021 Nissan Rogue<\/div>\n
Nissan, Nissan<\/div>\n
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The subcompact-plus 2020 Mazda CX-30 is the Japanese brand’s fourth entry in the SUV market – placed between the tiny CX-3 and bigger, compact CX-5.<\/div>\n
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2021 Genesis GV80<\/div>\n
Genesis, Genesis<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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2021 Kia Seltos<\/div>\n
Kia, Kia<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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2021 Hyundai Santa Fe<\/div>\n
Hyundai, Hyundai<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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2020 Kia Sorento<\/div>\n
Kia, Kia<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime<\/div>\n
Toyota, Toyota<\/div>\n
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2021 Toyota Venza<\/div>\n
Toyota, Toyota<\/div>\n
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2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 AWD in Glacier Silver<\/div>\n
Volvo, Volvo<\/div>\n
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Contenders range from icons like the Cadillac Escalade and Ford F-150 to upstarts like the Ford Mustang Mach E, Ford’s first electric vehicle. Not only are the nominees dominated by utility vehicles, but they represent the most diversity of\u00a0drivetrain offerings with everything from V-8 engines to gas-electric hybrids to full electric vehicles.<\/p>\n

Early favorites are the Genesis G80 for Car of the Year, Ford Bronco Sport for SUV and Ford F-150 for best truck.<\/p>\n

Significantly absent from the list is the Tesla Model Y, the American electric automaker\u2019s latest SUV and the hottest selling SUV EV in the market. However, Tesla did not make its car available for jury testing.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2021 Ford F-150 Limited in Smoked Quartz Tinted Clearcoat.<\/div>\n
Ford, Ford<\/div>\n
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Most powerful Super Duty yet launches with two new engine offerings including all-new advanced 7.3-liter gasoline V8 and upgraded third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke\u00ae diesel V8; all-new heavy-duty 10-speed TorqShift\u00ae automatic transmission<\/div>\n
Ford, Ford<\/div>\n
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The 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave has a 45-degree approach angle to better hurdle obstacles.<\/div>\n
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2021 Ram 1500 TRX<\/div>\n
FCA US LLC, Ram<\/div>\n
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A jury of 50 independent journalists whittled 46 new vehicles for the 2021 model year down to the semifinalist\u00a0candidates. Each car will be fully vetted in the months ahead and finalists announced\u00a0in December in Los Angeles. Winners will be announced in January\u00a0during an event hosted by the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe breadth of choices in the SUV category from style to powertrain is really impressive,\u201d said NACTOY Secretary Gary Vasilash, an industry veteran who is editor-in-chief of AutoBeat. \u201cYou have everything from a $20,000 Kia Seltos to a $120,000 Escalade.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Escalade\u2019s remake \u2013 which includes\u00a0features like a\u00a038-inch touchscreen \u2013 sits on top of the Chevy Silverado pickup truck platform that also supports 2021 Chevrolet contenders Tahoe and Suburban.<\/p>\n

The full slate of nominees come despite a coronavirus-scarred year that saw auto sales crater in March and April as states shut down dealerships and national unemployment soared. Sales have since rebounded, but many product introductions were pushed back until later this year.<\/p>\n

The Bronco Sport is an indication of the increased bandwidth of the SUV market. The so-called \u201cbaby Bronco\u201d will have many of the rugged style attributes of the forthcoming Bronco (due in the middle of next year) which Ford has targeted at the Jeep Wrangler. Unlike the truck-chassis Bronco, however, the Bronco Sport will be on the same unibody platform as the Ford Escape. All three vehicles will be available to customers in the compact SUV segment \u2013 an unprecedented offering from the brand.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
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According to IHS Markit, SUVs made up 47.4% of US sales in 2019 with sedans dropping to just 22%. Taken together with pickup trucks \u2013 the most profitable vehicles in the Detroit Three lineup \u2013 SUVs and trucks now make up nearly 80% of US sales.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, 2021 NACTOY sedan nominees are some of the most stylish models ever conceived as automakers use their inherently sleeker shape and handling dynamics to sell to non-SUV customers. The Acura TLX marks a return to that brand\u2019s sporty vibe. The gorgeous Kia K5 and Genesis G80 are statement cars from Korean automakers determined to go head-to-head with Japanese and European mainstays.<\/p>\n

Vasilash is particularly fond of the $20,000\u00a0Nissan Sentra which offers upscale looks and a wealth of safety features like adaptive cruise-control and blind-spot assist not found on luxury cars costing thousands of dollars more.<\/p>\n

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All-new for 2020, the Nissan Sentra compact combines great looks with a more nimble, lowered chassis for just $25k in SR trim.<\/p>\n

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The 2020 Cadillac CT4-V is a new performance variant of the CT4 – which itself replaces the ATS sedan and debuts in the subcompact segment.<\/p>\n

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2021 Acura TLX<\/div>\n
JAMES HALFACRE, Acura<\/div>\n
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2021 Hyundai Elantra<\/div>\n
DREW PHILLIPS, Hyundai<\/div>\n
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2021 Genesis G80<\/div>\n
Jack Schroeder, Genesis<\/div>\n
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2021 K5 EX 1.6T FWD<\/div>\n
Kia<\/div>\n
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2021 Mercedes E-class<\/div>\n
Mercedes, Mercedes<\/div>\n
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The 2021 Polestar 2 is the second car from Volvo’s new EV brand. Where the Polestar 1 was an expensive, $100k-plus halo car – the 2 is aimed at the volume Tesla Model 3.<\/div>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s a car that regular people car afford to buy,\u201d said Vasilash. \u201cIt\u2019s significant\u00a0because it is aimed at a customer that wants a vehicle with more style and dynamics than their neighbor\u2019s SUV.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 2021 contenders also include a wealth of battery-powered vehicles as automakers try to replicate Tesla\u2019s success in the market as well as meet California\u2019s draconian sales goals. California\u2019s governor has announced the state will prohibit the sale of new, gas-powered cars by 2035.<\/p>\n

Models include the Polestar 2, the first sedan from Volvo\u2019s electric car brand, as well as the Toyota RAV4 Prime, a gas-hybrid plugin variant of America\u2019s\u2019 best-selling SUV.<\/p>\n

2021 NACTOY Semifinalists<\/h3>\n

Car of the Year\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acura TLX<\/p>\n

Cadillac CT4\/CT4-V<\/p>\n

Genesis G80<\/p>\n

Hyundai Elantra<\/p>\n

Kia K5<\/p>\n

Mercedes-Benz E Class Sedan, All-Terrain, Coupe, Cabriolet<\/p>\n

Nissan Sentra<\/p>\n

Polestar 2<\/p>\n

Utility of the Year\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cadillac Escalade<\/p>\n

Chevrolet Tahoe\/Suburban<\/p>\n

Chevrolet Trailblazer<\/p>\n

Ford Bronco Sport<\/p>\n

Ford Mustang Mach E<\/p>\n

Genesis GV80<\/p>\n

Hyundai Santa Fe<\/p>\n

Kia Seltos<\/p>\n

Kia Sorento<\/p>\n

Land Rover Defender<\/p>\n

Mazda CX-30<\/p>\n

Nissan Rogue<\/p>\n

Toyota RAV4 Prime<\/p>\n

Toyota Venza<\/p>\n

Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge<\/p>\n

Truck of the Year\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ford Super Duty<\/p>\n

Ford F-150<\/p>\n

Ram 1500 TRX<\/p>\n

Jeep Gladiator Mojave<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Forget the presidential debate, let the wrangling over Vehicle of the Year commence. The 2021 North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) Awards announced its 27 semifinalists Wednesday. The list includes eight\u00a0sedans, 15 SUVs, and four\u00a0trucks, and tells the tale of the Detroit Three\u2019s move away from cars. One sedan is from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26071"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26071"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26072,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26071\/revisions\/26072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}