NACTOY Reveals 2027 Award Contenders

The Best of 2027 features 25 vehicles competing for North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year™

DETROIT and NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The field is set for the 2027 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year™ (NACTOY) awards, with 25 of 56 new or substantially changed vehicles advancing to the Best of 2027 following a vote by NACTOY's independent jurors.

This year's Best of 2027 includes five cars, four trucks and 16 utility vehicles. The contenders include established nameplates alongside all-new entries, with gasoline, hybrid and electric powertrains competing across the three categories.

"This is a diverse field of vehicles that reflects the changing nature of the auto industry," said Jeff Gilbert, president of NACTOY and auto reporter for WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit. "Our jurors started with 56 eligible vehicles and selected 25 to advance, representing a mix of conventional and new technologies. Now the competition becomes even more focused as we work toward selecting this year's finalists and winners."

Forty-six NACTOY jurors evaluated the initial field of 56 eligible vehicles before voting to determine which vehicles would advance to the Best of 2027.

The Best of 2027 vehicles, listed alphabetically by category, are:

North American Car of the Year™

• Audi A6
• Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
• Kia K4 Hatchback
• Lexus ES
• Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 Hybrid

North American Truck of the Year™

• Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• GMC Sierra 1500
• Ram 1500 TRX SRT
• Slate Truck

North American Utility Vehicle of the Year™

NACTOY's independent automotive journalists from the United States, Canada and Mexico evaluate vehicles throughout the year on a range of criteria, including innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, driver satisfaction, user experience and value.

The next major step in the awards process comes Oct. 20–22, when jurors gather in Michigan for NACTOY's annual Ride & Drive. The event gives jurors the opportunity to evaluate the Best of 2027 vehicles back-to-back under similar conditions before casting votes to determine the finalists.

Three finalists in each category will be announced Nov. 19 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The 2027 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year™ winners will be announced Jan. 14 at the Detroit Auto Show.

About NACTOY

Founded in 1994, the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year™ (NACTOY) Awards recognize excellence in innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, user experience, driver satisfaction and value. NACTOY's independent jury of professional automotive journalists from the United States, Canada and Mexico evaluates new and substantially changed vehicles throughout the year. Beginning with the 2027 awards, NACTOY will also recognize the North American Automotive Technology of the Year™.

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SOURCE North American Car & Truck of the Year