Dodge, Ford and Hyundai win NACTOY 2026 awards

The Dodge Charger, Ford Maverick Lobo and Hyundai Palisade have been named winners of the 2026 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards, announced at the Detroit Auto Show. The awards are judged by 50 professional automotive journalists from print, online, radio and television outlets across the United States and Canada, with votes tallied by Deloitte.

The Dodge Charger received 195 votes in the car category. Juror Henry Payne, auto columnist at The Detroit News, described it as “a tour de force and welcome return to the brand’s gas-fueled sweet spot after a detour down Electric Alley.”

The Ford Maverick Lobo won the truck category with 277 votes. Juror Mark Phelan, auto critic at the Detroit Free Press, said: “Ford’s Maverick Lobo opens the door to a new class of fun-to-drive compact pickups. It’s the first to make an affordable compact pickup the basis of a sporty pickup with street smarts and meaningful performance upgrades.”

The Hyundai Palisade claimed the utility vehicle award with 270 votes. Juror John Vincent, senior editor at U.S. News & World Report, said: “The redesigned 2026 Hyundai Palisade, and especially its hybrid model, again sets the standard in the class.”

The NACTOY awards were founded in 1994.

Source: NACTOY