2026 Car, Truck, and SUV Of The Year Semifinalists Announced
The semifinalists for the 2026 North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) were revealed this week—and the list says a lot about today’s car market. Out of 30 eligible vehicles, only six are cars, five are trucks, while SUVs and crossovers dominate the entry list with 19 contenders.
To qualify, each model must be either brand new or significantly updated for the 2026 model year. A jury of 50 automotive journalists from across the U.S. and Canada—including our own Editorial Director, Greg Migliore—will test all the semifinalists back-to-back at an event later this fall.
From there, the field will be winnowed to three finalists in each category at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, before the winners are announced in January at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show.
2026 Car Of The Year Semifinalists |
|---|
Audi A5 |
Dodge Charger |
Honda Prelude |
Kia K4 Hatchback |
Mercedes-Benz CLA |
Nissan Sentra |
2026 Truck Of The Year Semifinalists |
|---|
Ford F-150 Lobo |
Ford Maverick Lobo |
Ram 1500 Hemi |
Ram 2500 |
Rivian R1T Quad Motor |
2026 Utility Vehicle Of The Year Semifinalists |
|---|
Acura ADX |
Audi Q5 |
Cadillac Escalade IQ |
Cadillac OPTIQ |
Cadillac VISTIQ |
Ford Expedition |
Genesis GV70 |
Honda Passport |
Hyundai Ioniq 9 |
Hyundai Palisade |
Jeep Cherokee |
Lucid Gravity |
Nissan Leaf |
Polestar 4 |
Subaru Forester Hybrid |
Toyota 4Runner |
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid |
Volkswagen Tiguan |
Volvo EX30 |
Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
More by Michael Accardi
Comments
Join the conversation