Every September, a jury of North American automotive journalists publishes a list that quietly tells you where the new-car market is actually heading. On September 15, 2026, the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year organization released its Best of 2027 contenders: 25 vehicles cut from an eligible field of 56.
The list is worth reading closely, and not only because one of these will be crowned in Detroit in January. The composition of the field — what made it, what didn't, and which brands are missing entirely — says more about the industry right now than most quarterly sales reports.
The Full Best of 2027 List
Per NACTOY's announcement, the contenders, listed alphabetically by category, are:
North American Car of the Year (5)
- Audi A6
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
- Kia K4 Hatchback
- Lexus ES
- Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 Hybrid
North American Truck of the Year (4)
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- GMC Sierra 1500
- Ram 1500 TRX SRT
- Slate Truck
North American Utility Vehicle of the Year (16)
- Audi Q9
- BMW iX3
- Chevrolet Bolt
- Genesis GV60 Magma
- Jeep Cherokee
- Jeep Grand Wagoneer REEV
- Jeep Recon
- Kia EV3
- Kia Seltos
- Kia Telluride
- Mazda CX-5
- Nissan Rogue Hybrid e-Power
- Rivian R2
- Toyota Highlander
- Volkswagen Atlas
- Volvo EX60
Ford Is Completely Absent — For the First Time Since 2019
This is the headline that jumped out at jurors themselves. As Auto123 noted in its analysis, Ford failed to place a single vehicle in any of the three categories. This is the same company that won North American Truck of the Year six years running with the F-150, Maverick and Ranger.
It is not a quality judgment. NACTOY only considers vehicles that are new or substantially changed for the model year, so a brand with a stable lineup and no major redesigns simply has nothing to enter. Ford's core products are mid-cycle. But it is still a striking absence given how dominant the Blue Oval has been in this award's truck category.
Tesla is also missing, as is any minivan. NACTOY confirmed minivans were eligible for the utility category; none made the cut this year.
Kia Placed Four Vehicles. Jeep Placed Three.
Kia leads the field with the K4 Hatchback in the car category and the EV3, Seltos and Telluride among utilities. That is a remarkable spread — a compact hatchback, an affordable electric crossover, a redesigned subcompact SUV and a three-row family hauler, all judged substantial enough to advance.
Jeep follows with three utilities: the returning Cherokee nameplate, the Grand Wagoneer REEV and the new Recon. For a brand that has spent the last few years fighting perceptions about pricing and reliability, getting three vehicles onto this list is a meaningful signal that the product pipeline is moving again.
The Truck Category Is the Strangest It Has Ever Been
Look at the four truck contenders and you are looking at two completely different visions of what a pickup is for.
On one end sits the Ram 1500 TRX SRT, a supercharged high-performance truck with a reported 777 horsepower. On the other sits the Slate Truck, a deliberately minimalist, low-cost electric pickup built around the idea that most buyers do not need or want a screen-filled luxury interior.
As Motor Illustrated pointed out, having those two compete for the same trophy is close to absurd on paper. But it is an honest reflection of a market that has split at both ends: buyers are either paying more than ever for maximum capability, or looking for something basic and affordable that has largely disappeared from showrooms.
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 round out the category as the conventional, high-volume entries.
The Electrics Are More Interesting Than the Headline Suggests
The list contains a healthy number of EVs — the Ioniq 6 N, BMW iX3, Chevrolet Bolt, Genesis GV60 Magma, Kia EV3, Rivian R2, Volvo EX60 and Slate Truck — but the emphasis has shifted.
The dominant EV theme this year is not range or acceleration. It is price. The Bolt, EV3, R2 and Slate Truck all target the affordable end of the market. That is a notable change from a few years ago, when the electric contenders were mostly expensive flagship models trying to prove what was technically possible.
The Detroit News framed the backdrop bluntly: federal and state pressure on automakers to accelerate EV production has eased, government mandates were withdrawn, subsidies have receded, and manufacturers are retooling around what customers are actually buying. That shift shows up in this list as hybrids and affordable EVs rather than halo products.
Hybrids also feature more prominently than usual, with the Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 Hybrid, Nissan Rogue Hybrid e-Power and Jeep Grand Wagoneer REEV — an extended-range electric setup that uses an engine as a generator.
A Fair Criticism: Some of These Cars Barely Exist Yet
Auto123 raised a point worth repeating, because it affects how much weight you should give the final result. Several contenders may not reach North American roads in volume before voting concludes at the end of 2026. The electrified Highlander and the Grand Wagoneer REEV were specifically flagged.
It is difficult to judge a vehicle you have not driven. NACTOY's answer is the Ride & Drive event, held October 20–22 in Michigan, where jurors evaluate the contenders back-to-back under the same conditions. That comparative drive is where a lot of the real winnowing happens.
A New Award Debuts This Year
Beginning with the 2027 cycle, NACTOY adds a fourth honor: the North American Automotive Technology of the Year. Given how much of a new vehicle's value now sits in software, driver assistance and charging technology rather than sheet metal, a separate technology category is overdue.
Key Dates to Watch
- October 20–22, 2026: NACTOY Ride & Drive in Michigan — jurors evaluate contenders back-to-back
- November 19, 2026: Three finalists per category announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show
- January 14, 2027: Winners announced at the Detroit Auto Show
How Much Should a Buyer Care About This Award?
More than most awards, and here is the honest reasoning.
NACTOY is judged by 46 working automotive journalists from the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and the organization does not accept payment from automakers for consideration. Jurors drive the vehicles throughout the year and again head-to-head before voting. Criteria include innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, user experience, driver satisfaction and value.
What it is not is a reliability or ownership-cost ranking. A vehicle can win because it drives beautifully and feels advanced, and still have an expensive first few years of maintenance. If you are cross-shopping, use this list to find what is genuinely new and worth test-driving — then check long-term reliability data and service costs separately before you sign anything.
What This Means If You Are Shopping This Year
The redesigns are where the value question sits. The Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Atlas, Jeep Cherokee and Toyota Highlander are all mainstream vehicles millions of people actually buy. A redesign usually brings better technology and safety equipment — and it also means outgoing-model-year examples of the previous generation get discounted. If you do not need the newest interior, that previous generation is often the better buy.
Affordable EVs are finally arriving. If price kept you out of an electric vehicle before, the Bolt, EV3, R2 and Slate Truck are the ones to watch. Check charging speed, real-world range in cold weather and warranty terms rather than headline range figures.
Parts and service availability matters on brand-new nameplates. A completely new vehicle from a newer manufacturer means a thinner service network and a smaller aftermarket in the first couple of years. Established nameplates have deeper parts supply, more independent shops that know them, and better availability of everything from floor mats to wheel bearings. That is not an argument against buying new — just something to factor in if you keep vehicles a long time and prefer independent service.
Quick Facts
- Announced: September 15, 2026
- Field: 25 contenders selected from 56 eligible vehicles
- Breakdown: 5 cars, 4 trucks, 16 utility vehicles
- Jury: 46 independent automotive journalists from the U.S., Canada and Mexico
- Most contenders: Kia with four; Jeep with three
- Notable absences: Ford (first time since 2019), Tesla, all minivans
- New for 2027: North American Automotive Technology of the Year award
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2027 NACTOY winners announced?
January 14, 2027, at the Detroit Auto Show. Three finalists in each category are announced first, on November 19, 2026, at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Why isn't Ford on the 2027 list?
NACTOY only considers vehicles that are new or substantially changed for the model year. Ford had no qualifying entries advance this cycle — its first complete absence since 2019.
Can automakers pay to be considered?
No. NACTOY is run by an independent jury of working automotive journalists and does not accept payment from manufacturers for consideration.
How many vehicles were eligible?
56 new or substantially changed vehicles were eligible; jurors voted 25 of them through to the Best of 2027.
Does winning mean a vehicle is reliable?
Not necessarily. The award evaluates innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, user experience, driver satisfaction and value — not long-term reliability or ownership costs. Check those separately.
