Performance Dominates Among North American Vehicle of the Year Award Winners
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Driving pleasure was the name of the game in 2026, as two of the three vehicles of the year, according to the North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) awards were focused on performance. The Dodge Charger and Maverick Lobo prove that fun were on NACTOY jurors’ minds when they selected the year’s winners.
The car and truck of the year are joined by the less fun, but no less impressive Hyundai Palisade, which is the SUV of the year. The three winners were announced today, ahead of the Detroit Auto Show by a pool of 50 jurors who are automotive experts working in print, radio, and television journalism.
The winners were selected from a shortlist of nine finalists that were announced late last year. The Dodge Charger beat out the Honda Prelude and Nissan Sentra in the Car of the Year category, and was selected for its impressive performance, new technology, and its aspirational appearance.
"The Dodge Charger Sixpack is such a refreshingly fun and charming car,” said Jodi Lai, AutoTrader editor-in-chief and NACTOY juror. “It has so much personality and now feels more modern than ever without losing focus of its muscle car roots. Also, it just looks so sick.”
Meanwhile, the Maverick Lobo was selected over the Ram 1500 Hemi and the Ram 2500 in the truck category. It won for its underdog spirit and the unexpected fun it delivers to buyers in a segment that has historically focused on anything but driving pleasure.
“Maverick continues to be the little truck that could, filling a niche buyers didn’t know they wanted or needed,” said Tom Voelk, a NACTOY juror and reporter at Driven. “The sporty Lobo completes the range that includes basic workhorse, off-road adventurer and hybrid efficiency. If only we were all as flexible and resourceful as Maverick.”
Finally, the Palisade was selected ahead of the Lucid Gravity and the Nissan Leaf in the SUV category. It was the Palisade’s do-everything spirit that helped earn it the win in its category, though, unlike the other winners, the possibilities it provides drivers a focused on practicality.
“The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is a great family car, with 3 rows of seating, a posh interior and lots of safety equipment,” said Joann Muller, a transportation correspondent at Axios and NACTOY juror. “With a starting price under $40,000 and a new hybrid powertrain available, it’s the perfect blend of value, technology and efficiency.”
