Honda Civic Hybrid, Ford Ranger and VW ID. Buzz Named North American Car, Truck and Utility of Year

There are a lot of awards for vehicles of the year, but the 2025 North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year (NACTOY) awards are unique because there are 50 judges from 50 different media outlets throughout the U.S. and Canada. Some are from enthusiast media, some focus on consumer audiences and others like me write for an automotive industry audience.

Each juror brings their own interpretation of innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, user experience and value.

I’ve been a judge for the Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion systems for 30 years and a judge for the Wards 10 Best Interiors and UX awards, for many years as well. When scoring those I give lots of points for advanced technology and user experiences that move the industry forward.

When I put my mass-audience NACTOY hat on, I still acknowledge the importance of innovation and great engineering but focus more on value and decent fuel economy because these are the factors that mean the most to mainstream vehicle buyers.

Last year I accurately predicted only one of the winners. This year I predicted two – the car and the truck, but I can easily explain why I was wrong in the hyper-competitive utility category.

All the finalists are superb vehicles, but here’s my take on how each winner edged out a win:

WardsAuto Accurately Predicted Car Category Winner: Honda Civic Hybrid

Starting at about $30,000, the Honda Civic hybrid is an excellent value, looks great and is fun to drive with dual electric motors adding punch to the internal combustion engine. It gets 49 mpg (4.8L/100 km) combined, making it a great car that is enjoyable and frugal. It won a Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems award in 2024. My view is the sporty design and fun-to-drive factor edged out the Camry and the K4.

Toyota Camry

It seemed like midsize family sedans were on the way to extinction until the latest Toyota Camry appeared on the scene looking buff inside and out, with a powerful new hybrid powertrain. Like the Honda Civic, the starting price is in the $30,000 range. It also is bigger than the Civic Hybrid and fun to drive (another 2024 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems winner). And it is even more fuel-efficient than the smaller Civic Hybrid, touting a 51 mpg (4.6L/100 km) combined) fuel economy rating. The new Camry is the perfect family car; its powertrain just doesn’t sing as sweetly as the Civic’s.

Kia K4

A roomy and affordable replacement for the Kia Forte, the K4, is a compelling new entry in the car segment with an amazing starting price of about $23,000. It’s an excellent value, but Honda and Toyota have made big improvements this year. The K4 does feature a sleek, modern design inside and out and more expensive versions offer a big 12.3-in. (31-cm) dashboard display that mimics those seen in premium vehicles. The base engine has been criticized for lack of power and unimpressive fuel economy of 33 mpg (7.1L/100 km) while Honda Civic hybrid and Camry hybrid have upped their games with their powerplants.

WardsAuto Accurately Projected Truck Category Winner: Ford Ranger

It sounds crazy, but the average cost of a pickup truck now is around $60,000. The Ford Ranger (pictured, below) starts at $34,575 and a well-equipped Ford Ranger SuperCrew 4x4 XLT has a base price of $39,646. With expensive options like a 325-hp 2.7L EcoBoost engine, off-road package, advanced tow package totaling almost $7,000 and destination charge of almost $1,600, the total price is $47,555. That’s a lot of money for an average person, but it also is a lot of truck for the money. It’s a midsize truck that looks like a fullsize F-150. It can tow 7,500 lbs. (3,400 kg) and combined fuel economy is 20 mpg (11.7 L/100 km). It has a solid and refined chassis, a nice interior and a good choice for budget-conscious buyers.

Ram 1500

The Ram 1500 Tungsten Edition is my favorite fullsize pickup in the world. The interior is as lavish as a Bentley with massaging seats and a suede headliner and the whine of the 540-hp twin-turbo inline six is so intoxicating at speed it makes me fantasize about blowing past Porsches on the Autobahn while pulling a 12,000-lb (5,443 kg) trailer full of fresh manure. While everyone likes to focus on the $90,000 loaded-up trucks, the base Ram Tradesman trim starts at $42,000 and has a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg (11.2 L/100 km). Unfortunately, the exciting Ram 1500 REV all-electric pickup and the range-extended version have been postponed until the first half of 2025. As good as all versions of the Ram are, the Ford Ranger is a breath of fresh air in a smaller and more affordable package.

Toyota Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma midsize truck was fully redesigned in 2024 and starts at about $33,000 but some versions can hit twice that price. There are numerous trims and body styles and a refined suspension that has improved stability and control over the outgoing version. Critics agree the new Tacoma is vastly improved. The NACTOY jury pool does include a significant number of off-roading enthusiasts who fully appreciate the Tacoma’s impressive abilities, but the diverse backgrounds of the 50 NACTOY judges clearly recognized the undeniable mainstream appeal of the Ford Ranger.

WardAuto’s Missed Prediction for Utility of the Year: Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai has blown up the dull 3-row utility segment with the futuristic Santa Fe that looks like nothing else on the road. It is a bit shocking yet practical at the same time. Prices start at about $36,000 and go up to $50,400 for the fully loaded Hybrid Calligraphy AWD version. Fuel economy for the hybrid is 34 mpg combined (6.9 L/100 km). The XRT 2.5T AWD non-hybrid is less efficient at 22 mpg (10.7 L/100 km) but priced at $43,000. I stated the Santa Fe is a bold and beautiful statement in a segment dying of boredom, but the same is true for Volkswagen’s charming ID. Buzz electric minivan.

NACTOY Utility of the Year Winner: Volkswagen ID. Buzz

VW’s much anticipated battery-electric retro minivan (pictured, below) is another wake-up call in the snoozing utility segment. Glowing with bright retro exterior colors and offering lots of interior space for sports-minded families, the ID. Buzz will never be lost in a parking lot. The cheerful colors and design put a smile on almost everyone’s face. The reason I did not pick it as the utility winner was the van’s price, limited range and the possible elimination of the $7,500 BEV income tax credit. I drove several different versions ranging from $66,000 to $70,000 and battery ranges of only 234 miles (377 km). On the other hand, VW swung for the fences on this vehicle and hit a home run in design and practicality. My former hockey-parent self fell in love with the ID. Buzz and so did the majority of NACTOY judges.

Chevrolet Equinox BEV

An attractive, affordable battery-electric vehicle with up to 319 miles (513 km) of range are just what the doctor ordered for slowing BEV sales. The Equinox checks all the boxes that need to be checked with a starting price of $35,000. It’s an excellent vehicle that made it into the finalist utility category, but General Motors’ decision to drop Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from the cockpit could prove to be a real turnoff for many prospective buyers and that hurt Equinox’s chances of winning in the ultra-competitive utility segment.