The Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric van was a finalist for North American Utility of the Year.
Ed Garsten
A battery throwback, a compact hybrid and a mid-size pickup in its new life were all recognized as top vehicles in their class Friday with the awarding of the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicles of the Year.
The awards were handed out during a ceremony sponsored by the Automotive Press Association to kick off the opening of the media day at the 2025 Detroit Auto Show. Winners were chosen by a panel of 50 top automotive journalists who have driven each entrant extensively, winnowing down the field to nine finalists.
The Honda Civic Hybrid was named North American Car of the Year during a ceremony at the Detroit … [+] Auto Show on January 9th.
Ed Garsten
The Honda Civic Hybrid was the top car, while the new generation Ford Ranger midsize pickup truck won the truck category and the throwback with a modern twist, electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz was voted North American Utility of the Year.
The range of winners represents sensitivity to style, affordability and functionality, according to Mike Hanley, senior road test editor at vehicle research and shopping site Cars.com.
Rear view of the Honda Civic Hybrid.
Ed Garsten
As for the hybrid Civic, “I think it’s a really good fit for the times,” said Hanley. “In terms of affordability, it’s right around $30,000 and new car affordability is a concern right now. So it hits the mark. There also hits the mark on efficiency, being a hybrid, around 50 miles per gallon according to EPA ratings.”
Hanley adds the Civic managed to retain one of its most distinctive attributes, being excellent driving dynamics
The latest version of the Ford Ranger midsize pickup truck won honors as North American Truck of the … [+] Year.
Ed Garsten
The Ford Ranger midsize pickup truck has gone through more changes over the year than an awards show emcee’s wardrobe.
Rear view of the Ford Ranger midsize pickup truck.
Ed Garsten
In voting for the Ranger, juror Drew Winter, a contributing editor at WardsAuto wrote, “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 lbs. It has a solid and refined chassis, a nice interior and is a good choice for budget-conscious buyers.”
“It also offers is a lot of truck capability in a smaller package that’s less expensive than some of the full size ones, because the pricing on full size trucks has gotten very high,” added Hanley. “So this gives you that affordability angle, and still able to do some truck things.”
The electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz was voted North American Utility of the Year by a jury of … [+] automotive journalists.
Ed Garsten
A surprise, not-a-surprise, might be the choice for top utility. The electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz has undeniably attractive looks but a relatively stingy driving range for an EV.
Front view of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz.
Ed Garsten
No problem for juror Ken Gross, a freelance journalist who wrote, “If you have to drive a minivan, why not drive the one everybody waves to and just wants to hug? Seriously, the ID. Buzz has a decent 230+-mile range, beaucoup space inside, lots of useful features and it’s fun to drive.”
But it might not have been the choice for Hanley given its price and range shortcomings.
“If you have an electric vehicle that you have home level two charging, it could work, but, yeah, the price is a is relatively high. It starts around $60,000 and goes up from there,” Hanley observed. “We’ll see if they come out with some lesser contented vehicles, because that one is pretty well equipped at that price level. But I think the retro appeal of it is a big factor, the really nice driving dynamics as well, and also the utility of it.”
The winners represent the judgement of seasoned auto writers who routinely drive almost everything in the market and are tuned in to everything from ride and handling to ergonomics, styling and technology. They seem even to hear and feel things the everyday consumer might not pick up, at least not right away.
But do the three vehicles taking home the trophies necessarily represent what consumers actually want?
GMC Hummer EV on the floor of the 2025 Detroit Auto Show.
Ed Garsten
A quick trip around the hundreds of vehicles on the Detroit Auto Show floor shows a heavy bias toward pickup truck and SUVs, a sprinkling of hybrids and several EVs.
Auto shows are primarily geared toward showing off the latest models to consumers, especially those currently, or will soon be in the market for a new ride. The goal is to match what’s on display with what consumers are seeking.
Chevrolet Corvette on display at the 2025 Detroit Auto Show.
Ed Garsten
So are the VW ID. Buzz, Honda Civic Hybrid and Ford Ranger midsize pickup in tune with market demand? Hanley believes the jurors came up with the correct verdicts.
“On the EV front, things are cooling a little bit, because inventory on Cars.com has gone up significantly, around 30% year over year, and also used EV prices are dropping. So for people that are interested in in an EV maybe like the Buzz, the Buzz is too expensive for them. There’s other options now out there, but still, the market is being driven by SUVs and trucks. That’s just where the most popularity in these vehicles is now. So I think these are good indicators.”
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Publish date : 2025-01-10 04:52:00
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