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In this special edition direct from the North American Car of the Year announcement at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Host Jack Nerad and frequent Guest Host Matty DeLorenzo take incisive looks at the vehicles that made it to the next round — and those that didn’t. Nerad is vice president of the North American Car of the Year jury. DeLorenzo has served on the jury for decades.
Each year, the 50-member jury of renowned industry experts evaluates all the new-to-the-market vehicles to determine which three special vehicles deserve the title North American Car of the Year, North American Truck of the Year, and North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. This year’s competition is especially grueling because it pits battery-electrics against hybrids and conventionally powered vehicles. From full-size heavy-duty pickups to subcompact cars, the field is crammed with fascinating shapes and leading-edge tech.
After weighing the positives and negatives of each vehicle in real-world driving, the NACTOY jurors cast their votes in a secret ballot audited by Deloitte. The three top vote-getters in each category are then named the Finalists for the prestigious awards.
In this special report, DeLorenzo and Nerad will offer their opinions on each of the nine Finalists and share their thoughts on which could — and perhaps should — win in each category. And they’ll also give their opinions on why some potential favorites in the field — cars like the 2024 Ford Mustang and the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray — didn’t make the cut.
The following is a complete list of the 2024 North American Car of the Year, Truck of the Year, and Utility of the Year Finalists followed by a list of the semi-finalists that have been eliminated from the competition. See if you agree with the jury’s results.
2024 North American Car of the Year Finalists
Honda Accord
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Toyota Prius/Prius Prime
2024 North American Truck of the Year Finalists
Chevrolet Colorado
Chevrolet Silverado EV
Ford Super Duty
2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year Finalists
Genesis Electrified GV70
Kia EV9
Volvo EX30
The Semi-Finalists Eliminated from the Competition
BMW 5 Series
BMW i5
Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
Ford Mustang
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Crown
Toyota GR Corolla
GMC Canyon
Chevrolet Blazer EV
Dodge Hornet
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Kona
Mazda CX90
Toyota Grand Highlander