Finalists for North American Car, Utility and Truck of Year Announced

Finalists for 2018 North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) award were announced Wednesday at the Los Angeles auto show.

Now in their 24^th year, the awards are unique because the winners are selected by a jury of automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada instead of being given by a single publication, website, radio or television station.

The new Honda Accord and Toyota Camry made the cut in the Car of the Year category, along with Kia’s dramatic new Stinger sports sedan.

Honda’s Odyssey minivan is a finalist in the Utility of the Year category along with two sexy European CUVs, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Volvo XC60.

Detroit brands dominated the Truck of the Year category, with the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs taking two spots and the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 pickup taking the last.

The finalists were chosen from among dozens of new vehicles . The process started in June 2017 by determining vehicle eligibility and includes three rounds of voting.

Jurors evaluated the finalists based on segment leadership, innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

Votes from nearly 60 jurors were tallied confidentially by Deloitte LLP and remained sealed until they were announced Wednesday by the organization’s officers, including Vice President Matt DeLorenzo and Secretary-Treasurer Lauren Fix.

Winners of the NACTOY award will be announced at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit on Jan. 15, 2018.

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