The winners of the 2026 North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) awards have been officially announced, concluding a rigorous, year-long evaluation process.
These awards are unique in the automotive industry because they are not decided by a single publication. Instead, they are judged by a diverse jury of 50 professional automotive journalists from across the United States and Canada.
The organization, founded in 1994, serves as the longest-running new-vehicle award not associated with a specific outlet. The jurors work for a wide variety of media, including independent magazines, newspapers, websites, television and radio stations.
To select the winners, the jury evaluated vehicles based on innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, driver satisfaction, user experience, and value. The process is designed to identify the outstanding vehicles of the year, with votes tallied confidentially by the financial services firm Deloitte to ensure the integrity of the results.
Car of the year
The Dodge Charger secured the title of North American Car of the Year, earning 195 votes from the jury. The vehicle stood out for its ability to balance its traditional identity with modern demands, bridging the gap between gas-powered performance and electric capabilities.
Jurors noted the Charger’s versatility, highlighting its appeal as both a muscle car and a practical vehicle with all-season capabilities.
“The Dodge Charger is a tour de force and welcome return to the brand’s gas-fueled sweet spot after a detour down Electric Alley,” said juror Henry Payne of The Detroit News. “It’s also a lesson to the industry about the limitations of performance EVs. In addition to a great muscle car, the Charger is an all-around performer with hatchback utility, all-season all-wheel-drive capability, and terrific interior and exterior design.”
Truck of the year
In the truck category, the Ford Maverick Lobo took the top spot with a commanding 277 votes. While the Maverick was already a known quantity in the compact truck segment, the Lobo variant impressed jurors by offering a different kind of utility — one focused on street performance.
The voting results reflected an appreciation for a truck that prioritizes driving dynamics and “street smarts” alongside traditional truck functionality.
“Ford’s Maverick Lobo opens the door to a new class of fun-to-drive compact pickups,” said juror Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Presst. “It’s the first to make an affordable compact pickup the basis of a sporty pickup with street smarts and meaningful performance upgrades. It won’t be the last.”
SUV of the year
The Hyundai Palisade won the North American Utility Vehicle of the Year award with 270 votes. The victory underscored the vehicle’s position as a benchmark in the three-row SUV market.
The jurors responded positively to the Palisade’s redesign and the introduction of a hybrid model, which elevated the standard for what consumers can expect from a family hauler in this class.
“After raising the bar as to what three-row SUVs could be with its first generation, the redesigned 2026 Hyundai Palisade, and especially its hybrid model, again sets the standard in the class,” said juror John Vincent of U.S. News & World Report. “It’s simply the best SUV you can buy today.”
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