Handicapping the 2025 North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year Finalists

The nine finalists for the 2025 North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year (NACTOY) Awards have been announced, and now comes the hardest part for judges like me: We must pick only one winner in each category.
There are a lot of awards for vehicles of the year, but the 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 & Propulsion systems for 30 years and a judge for the Wards 10 Best Interiors & 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.

Which Vehicles Will Win in the Three Categories?

Here is my breakdown of the finalists in each NACTOY segment and my predictions of which vehicle is the benchmark. The award recipients will be announced on Jan. 10, 2025, as part of the kickoff for the media days of the Detroit auto show. WardsAuto will republish this article at that time and reveal how these picks were reached. Last year I correctly predicted one out of the three winners.

Car of the Year

Projected 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 earlier this year.

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. With a starting price in the $30,000 range, it is bigger than the Civic Hybrid and fun to drive (another 2024 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems winner). It is even more fuel-efficient than the smaller Civic Hybrid, touting a 51 mpg (4.6L/100 km) combined) fuel economy rating.

Kia K4:

A roomy and affordable replacement for the Kia Forte, the K4 is a compelling new entry in the car segment with an entry-level price of about $23,000. It’s an outstanding 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.
Kudos to Kia for being a finalist with such stiff competition.

Truck of the Year

Projected Winner: Ford Ranger

It sounds crazy, but the average cost of a pickup truck now is about $60,000. The Ford Ranger (pictured, below) starts at $34,575 and the well-equipped Ford Ranger SuperCrew 4x4 XLT I’m currently testing 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 is 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’s, with massaging seats and a suede headliner, and the whine of the 540-hp twin-turbo inline-6 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 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). The exciting Ram 1500 REV all-electric pickup and the range-extended version have been postponed until the first half of 2025 so I’m guessing the newest kid on the block, the Ford Ranger, or the Toyota Tacoma will receive NACTOY truck honors this year.

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 includes a significant number of off-roading enthusiasts so it is possible they will elevate the Tacoma to the top of the heap.  

Utility of the Year

Projected Winner: Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai has blown up the dull 3-row utility segment with the futuristic Santa Fe (pictured, below) 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 2.5L AWD non-hybrid is less efficient at 22 mpg (10.7 L/100 km) but priced at $43,000. It is a bold and beautiful statement in a segment dying of boredom.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz

VW’s much-anticipated battery-electric retro minivan is another wakeup 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 parking lots. The cheerful colors and design put a smile on almost everyone’s face.

The only buzzkills are the van’s price, limited range and the possible elimination of BEV income tax credits. We drove several different versions ranging from $66,000 to $70,000 and battery ranges of only 234 miles (377 km).

Chevrolet Equinox BEV

An attractive, affordable BEV with up to 319 miles (513 km) of range is just what the doctor ordered for slowing BEV sales. The Equinox seems to be checking all the boxes that need to be checked with a starting price of $35,000. 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.