On Nov. 20, the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) awards organization unveiled its prestigious list of 2026 finalists, naming three contenders in each category. The announcement marked the opening of the Los Angeles Auto Show, where many of the finalist vehicles and a wide array of other exciting new vehicles are on display.
2026 North American Car of the Year finalists include; American Dodge Charger, Honda Prelude and Nisan Sentra. North American Truck of the Year finalists include; Ford Maverick Lobo, Ram 1500 Hemi and Ram 2500.
2026 North American Utility of the Year finalists include; Hyundai Palisade, Lucid Gravity and Nissan Leaf.
Jeff Gilbert, president of NACTOY and automotive reporter at WWJ Radio, commented: “Once again, these finalists show the wide range of choices that consumers have in the marketplace. Our jury of distinguished auto reporters has come up with a great selection of fantastic vehicles that truly reflect the best of the best.”
The finalist vehicles were selected via ballots from NACTOY’s jury, which is comprised of respected automotive journalists who produce content for a variety of print, broadcast and digital media in the U.S. and Canada.
Jurors will continue evaluating the finalist vehicles over the coming weeks and cast their ballots for the winners before the end of the year. Award recipients will be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Detroit Auto Show.
