Detroit — The envelope, please . . .
Winners of the 2025 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year are the Honda Civic Hybrid, Ford Ranger and Volkswagen ID.Buzz. The prestigious NACTOY awards kicked off the Detroit Auto Show Media Day on Friday morning as the event returned to its traditional January slot as the first auto show of the year.
In a competitive field of nominees, the popular Honda won its fourth NACTOY trophy but the Ranger and ID.Buzz scored upsets as the Toyota Tacoma and Chevy Equinox EV were early favorites in the truck and SUV categories. Detroit brands scored four nominations, with the Ford winning for the fifth straight year in the truck category.
“With such a tremendous crop of vehicles to review, our jurors worked overtime to decide the ‘best of the best,’” said NACTOY President Jeff Gilbert, NACTOY president and WWJ Radio auto reporter, who handed out trophies to the recipients.. “This year’s winners are on the cutting edge when it comes to technology, styling and value.”
Car of the Year
In a comfortable win, the $29,845 Civic Hybrid Honda Civic Hybrid (205 votes) beat out the $23,145 Kia K4 (165 votes), and $29,535 Toyota Camry (130) for top car. The Civic has been offered as a hybrid trim in the past, but this is the first time it’s expected to be the model’s best-seller.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” said Josh Beckner, Midwest Honda Zone Manager, who accepted the award. “The hybrid is a key part of our electrification strategy as we go all-electric.”
The Civic Hybrid starts at about the same price as the bigger Camry, which is only offered with hybrid drivetrains. Though perennially the best-selling sedan in the U.S., Camry has never brought home a NACTOY trophy. The Kia is a Civic competitor in the compact segment — and the brand’s replacement for the Forte compact sedan. The K4 significantly undercuts the Civic Hybrid’s price, but jurors knocked its polarizing styling and for not offering a hybrid option like its competitors.
Truck of the Year
The truck battle between the $34,575 Ford Ranger, $42,270 Ram 1500 and $32,995 Toyota Tacoma was a nail-biter. The two mid-size segment competitors have been significantly upgraded for ‘25 with state-of-the-art electronic systems and high-flying off-road variants like the Tacoma TRD Pro and Ranger Raptor. But the Ram boasted a new inline-6 cylinder drivetrain and its range-topping, $71k RHO super truck is aimed squarely the iconic F-150 Raptor.
In the end, the Ranger won the day with 183 votes to the Ram’s 161 and the Taco’s 156. An early favorite, the best-selling-in-segment Toyota was knocked by jurors for its high price and initial quality problems.
“The Ford Ranger starts at $34,575 and the well-equipped SuperCrew 4×4 XLT has a base price of $39,646,” said juror Drew Winter, contributing editor for WardsAuto. “It’s a midsize truck that looks like a full-size F-150, has combined fuel economy of 20 mpg and can tow 7,500 pounds. It has a solid and refined chassis, a nice interior and is a good choice for budget-conscious buyers.”
Utility of the Year
The $61,545 Volkswagen ID.Buzz may have been the most expensive vehicle in the field, but it was also the most distinctive — remaking the iconic VW Minibus as an EV.
In another tight race, it edged the stylish, three-row $35,615 Hyundai Santa Fe by 187 votes to 185. The $34,995 Chevrolet Equinox EV was a distant third with 128 votes.
“If you have to drive a minivan, why not drive the one everybody waves to and just wants to hug?” said juror Ken Gross. “Seriously, the ID. Buzz has a decent 230-plus mile range, beaucoup space inside, lots of useful features and it’s fun to drive.”
2025 Detroit Auto Show kicks off
2025 Detroit Auto Show kicks off
Compact SUVs are the biggest segment in the market and the $35k Chevy Equinox EV was the favorite with its affordable EV price. But the three-row ID.Buzz wowed jurors with its auto sliding doors and clever, removable seats.
“What an amazing way to start the year,” said Petar Danilovic, VW senior vice president for product marketing and strategy. “How many chances do we have to bring back an icon to the the USA? This is a special vote for true car lovers.”
NACTOY finalists reflected the jurors’ practical streak as the nominees offer affordable transportation in a market saturated by high-priced EVs, SUV and an average transaction price approaching $50,000. Though pricey EVs made up nearly half the 25 semifinalists that jurors considered at their October national test, only two made the final round. Manufacturers must meet onerous government EV mandates, but the market cooled in 2024 to just 8% EV sales.
NACTOY finalists average price $36,057. The most expensive finalist was the Volkswagen EV. The cheapest was the Kia at $23,145.
In its 32nd year, NACTOY honors vehicles that excel across several criteria, including innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, user experience, driver satisfaction and value. Judged by an independent jury of 50 journalists (including the author of this article) from the U.S. and Canada, NACTOY is one of the industry’s most prestigious trophies.
Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at [email protected] or @HenryEPayne.
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Publish date : 2025-01-10 00:32:00
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