Winners: Hybrid, EV, IC Engines
The outcomes have been made public for the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) for 2024. Last year, the recipients were the Acura Integra, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Kia EV6. This year was a bit odd, as the Volvo EX30’s non-admittance due to being unavailable on the market at that time resulted in all three SUV finalists coming from the Hyundai Motor Group.
The new car challengers that reached the final round were the Honda Accord, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Toyota Prius/Prius Prime. As for the pickup trucks, Chevrolet Colorado, Chevy Silverado EV, and Ford Super Duty all got through to the finish. Ultimately, the Genesis Electrified GV70, Kia EV9, and Hyundai Kona/Kona EV made it in as contenders for SUV of the Year. Without more ado, here are the champions, which comprise of a gasoline-powered, hybrid, and electric vehicle.
The 2023 Toyota Prius (with the Prius Prime variant) has been announced for the 2024 North American Car of the Year award. This prediction seemed plausible already with the vehicle earlier receiving the CarBuzz Save The Planet Award in 2023. Notably, Toyota deserves honor for selling perhaps the most fuel-efficient hybrid cars on the market today. But what makes the all-new Prius stand out is its impressive performance; greasing up to 196 horsepower (while the Prime variation has a whooping 220 hp power rating). Operating a Prius car is far from being an act of sacrifice or penny-pinching; indeed, it is now a brilliant ride.
Only twelve months after the Ford F-150 Lightning was honoured with Truck of the Year, the 2024 Ford Super Duty is now crowned champion. Already a formidable truck in its heavy-duty class, the recent upgrades to power and towing specifications made it particularly difficult to top. Under the hood lies an incredible 6.7 litre Power Stroke diesel V8 producing up to 500hp and 1,200 lb-ft of torque; enabling the hauling capacity of a mammoth 40,000 pounds. Coupled with on board cameras and scale systems, this mighty workhorse makes any kind of transportation as easy going as it can be – ideal for whatever job you need it to do!
Ultimately, it seems the award-winning 2024 Kia EV9 is certainly dominating the game, having just come to market. This impressive electric SUV continues on from the previous popular EV6, but in a larger three-row style. Benefiting from its E-GMP platform, the EV9 features an 800-volt charging system with a potential range of 304 miles, and the GT-Line edition offers 379HP. It seems that Kia has aspirations for the EV9 to have the same degree of success as it did for the Telluride in 2020.
