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Headline: 2025 North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year Finalists Announced
The automotive industry is gearing up for an exciting year as the finalists for the 2025 North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards have been announced. The prestigious awards, chosen through public voting, highlight the most innovative, design-forward, and value-packed vehicles of the year.
Car Finalists
The three shortlisted cars include the new Toyota Camry hybrid and other top vehicles, though the full list is not detailed in the search results. Toyota's hybrid Camry is highlighted as a key contender, demonstrating the growing popularity of hybrid vehicles in the market.
Truck Finalists
The Ford Ranger is a prominent finalist and was ultimately named the 2025 North American Truck of the Year. The Ranger features EcoBoost engines ranging from 2.3L to 3.0L and is a global product made across factories in the USA, Thailand, and South Africa.
Utility Vehicle Finalists
The finalists include hybrid and electric SUVs, with Toyota's newest Tacoma hybrid noted as a top utility contender. Specific finalists in this category beyond this are not listed explicitly in the search results.
The finalists were selected from an initial pool of about 10 cars and SUVs and 5 pickups new for 2025. Evaluation criteria included innovation, design, performance, driver satisfaction, and value. The winners were announced on January 10, 2025, at the Detroit Auto Show.
New Models on the Horizon
In addition to the award finalists, several new models are set to make their debut in 2025. KIA has revealed the 2025 EV6, an updated electric crossover with a modern refresh, an enhanced lineup of features, and a renewed focus on performance and tech.
Hyundai has unveiled the IONIQ 9, an upscale, adventure-ready electric SUV with a spacious interior, modern aerodynamic design, reassuring range, and the IONIQ family's signature digital pixel lighting. The IONIQ 9 offers advanced climate control and driving innovations with enhanced suspension, dynamic torque control, and self-leveling dampers for a smooth ride.
The IONIQ 9 also boasts technology with a panoramic curved display, Hyundai AI Assistant, and over-the-air updates. The EV6 offers entertainment options with the new Kia Connect Store, unlocking streaming options, gaming, and in-car Wi-Fi for up to five devices. The EV6 also features tech advancements like the next-gen Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC), offering faster processing, over-the-air updates, and a customizable interface that can display your favorite NBA team's colors and logos.
The EV6 offers more battery options and more power across the board. The base model's 63.0-kWh battery delivers 167 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, while an 84.0-kWh battery boosts the EV6's range to an estimated 319 miles in rear-wheel-drive configurations. Dual-motor AWD trims pump out 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque.
Sustainable Innovations
Both the IONIQ 9 and the INITIUM concept, another Hyundai model, emphasize sustainability. The IONIQ 9 features materials such as recycled leather, PET fabrics, bio-paint, and recycled tire waste. The INITIUM includes advanced features like a built-in FCEV route planner and a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function for powering household appliances. Hyundai has also unveiled its INITIUM hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) concept, marking its commitment to pioneering a sustainable hydrogen society.
The IONIQ 9 offers performance with available RWD and AWD models, a range of up to 620 km (WLTP), quick charging from 10-80% in 24 minutes with 350 kW fast charging, and towing capacity up to 5,000 lbs (North America). The 2026 Kia Sportage, another upcoming model, features an expansive lineup, including trims ranging from the urban-savvy LX to the trail-blazing X-Line and X-Pro Prestige. The 2026 Kia Sportage's X-Line and X-Pro Prestige trims feature off-road-ready tech, including standard Active AWD with Terrain Mode and beefy BFGoodrich all-terrain tires.
The 2026 Kia Sportage has been updated with cutting-edge technology, fresh styling, and a powertrain trio-ICE, Turbo Hybrid (HEV), and Turbo Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV). The 2026 Kia Sportage's hybrid models now offer increased power for confident highway cruising or spirited backroad drives. The 2026 Kia Sportage's cabin is tailored for comfort and connectivity, with features like a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The EV9 GT, another KIA model, offers advanced driver-assistance systems, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with cyclist and pedestrian detection, a Blind-Spot View Monitor, and Remote Smart Parking Assist. The EV9 GT retains its 5,000-pound towing capacity and 800-volt charging architecture, enabling a 10-80% charge in under 25 minutes. The EV9 GT also features a massive 12.3-inch display, electronically controlled suspension, larger front brakes, Virtual Gear Shift (VGS), electronic Limited Slip Differential (e-LSD), 21-inch wheels, high-performance tires, neon-green brake calipers, Alcantara-trimmed sport seats with bright green accents and GT logos, GT-exclusive ambient lighting, and improved driver aids.
In summary, the 2025 North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year finalists include Toyota Camry (Car), Ford Ranger (Truck), and Toyota Tacoma (Utility), with strong competition across EVs, hybrids, and gasoline vehicles. The upcoming models such as the IONIQ 9, INITIUM, 2026 Kia Sportage, and EV9 GT are set to redefine the automotive landscape with their advanced technology, sustainability, and performance.
- The automotive industry's focus on innovation is evident in the finalists for the 2025 North American Car of the Year, which include the new Toyota Camry hybrid, demonstrating the growing popularity of hybrid vehicles in the market.
- The 2025 North American Truck of the Year, Ford Ranger, boasts technology like EcoBoost engines and is made across factories in multiple countries, showcasing technology and global manufacturing collaboration in the industry.
- In the Utility Vehicle category, the Toyota Tacoma hybrid is a top contender, with electric-vehicles and hybrid SUVs also making the finalists list, highlighting the industry's focus on sustainable transportation options.
- New models such as the KIA EV6 and Hyundai IONIQ 9 are set to make their debut in 2025, incorporating advanced technology, enhanced performance, and a focus on sustainability in their design, reflecting the industry's ongoing evolution and commitment to sustainable innovation.
