The North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) jury has unveiled the 30 contenders for its 2026 awards, kicking off what promises to be a competitive season in automotive innovation. The semifinalist list, revealed Sept. 17 at Michigan Central in Detroit, includes six cars, five trucks and nineteen utility vehicles.
The winners — one each in the Car, Truck, and Utility categories — will be chosen after jurors test-drive the semifinalists this fall. Three finalists in each category will be announced following a back-to-back driving event in late October at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Final awards are scheduled for Jan. 14, 2026, as part of the Detroit Auto Show.
Car of the Year candidates (6):
Truck of the Year candidates (5):
Utility Vehicle of the Year candidates (19):
A few trends stand out. Cadillac has placed three new electric vehicles — the Optiq, Escalade IQ and Vistiq — among the utility nominees, highlighting General Motors’ luxury brand’s aggressive push into the EV crossover space. Rivian, one of the few startup automakers to make the list, returns with its Quad Motor R1T pickup. Traditional mainstays such as Honda, Toyota, and Ford bring updated versions of some of their best-selling models, while newcomers like the Polestar 4 and Volvo EX30 represent a wave of smaller electric utilities vying for attention.
Alongside the nominees, NACTOY announced a $100,000 gift to the SAE Foundation. The funds will support scholarships for college students pursuing careers in automotive journalism as well as design and engineering, broadening the organization’s mission beyond awards to education and industry development.
The NACTOY awards are judged by a jury of about 50 independent automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. Evaluation criteria include innovation, design, safety, driver satisfaction, user experience and overall value. The awards are considered among the most prestigious in the industry, and automakers often leverage the recognition in marketing campaigns. Consumers also look to the awards as indicators of quality and forward-thinking design.
Jurors will spend the fall driving all nominees back-to-back to narrow the field. When the finalists are named at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the competition will tighten, with manufacturers lobbying hard for attention as the Detroit Auto Show approaches.
The 2026 list reflects a wide spectrum of the modern market, from electrified luxury crossovers to traditional family haulers and high-tech pickups. Whether it is the return of the Honda Prelude, the bold new Dodge Charger, or the heavyweight Cadillac EV lineup, the race for 2026 honors will give a glimpse into where the industry is headed and which brands are leading the charge.
The winners will be announced in January, but the excitement begins now, as automakers line up their latest creations for one of the most rigorous and respected competitions in North America.