DETROIT -- The Chrysler Pacifica, GMC Acadia and Bentley Bentayga are among 12 crossovers, SUVs and minivans eligible for the North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year’s first SUV award.
In total, 43 models made NACTOY’s list of eligible vehicles for its 2017 awards for best car, truck and SUV. The awards, selected by a jury of 60 American and Canadian automotive journalists, will be handed out Jan. 9 at the Detroit auto show.
This is the first year NACTOY will hand out three awards, following the addition of the SUV category. Crossovers, SUVs and minivans previously competed in the truck category.
Other eligible vehicles in the SUV category are the Audi Q7, Buick Envision, Cadillac XT5, Infiniti QX30, Kia Sportage, Mercedes-Benz GLS class, Jaguar F-Pace, Mazda CX-9 and Nissan Armada.
The Volvo XC90, a crossover, took home top truck honors this year, while the Honda Civic was named the 2016 North American Car of the Year.
In an email to jurors, NACTOY said minivans such as the Pacifica are included in the SUV category “because they compete primarily with SUVs like the Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer,” while cargo vans and commercial vans will vie under the truck category.
Four models are eligible for Truck of the Year: The Ford F-series Super Duty pickups, Ford F-150 Raptor, Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Titan half-ton pickup.
The Buick Cascada, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Cadillac CT6, Mini Clubman, Rolls-Royce Dawn and Toyota Prius Prime are among the 27 cars eligible for Car of the Year. (See complete list below.)
The winners will be chosen after three rounds of voting, the first of which begins in September. Each award will have three finalists, which will be disclosed on Dec. 6.
The NACTOY jury includes Automotive News engineering reporter Richard Truett.
Cars
Acura NSX
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Audi A4
Audi R8
Bentley Mulsanne
Buick Cascada
Buick LaCrosse
Cadillac CT6
Chevrolet Bolt
Chevrolet Cruze
Fiat 124
Genesis G90
Hyundai Elantra
Infiniti Q60
Jaguar XE
Kia Cadenza
Lincoln Continental
Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan
Mercedes-Benz S550 Maybach
Mercedes-Benz SL class
Mercedes-Benz SLC class
Mini Clubman
Mitsubishi Mirage/G4
Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman
Rolls-Royce Dawn
Toyota Prius Prime
Volvo S90
SUVs
Audi Q7
Bentley Bentayga
Buick Envision
Cadillac XT5
Chrysler Pacifica
GMC Acadia
Infiniti QX30
Kia Sportage
Mercedes-Benz GLS class
Jaguar F-Pace
Mazda CX-9
Nissan Armada
Trucks
Ford F-series Super Duty pickups
Ford F-150 Raptor
Honda Ridgeline
Nissan Titan half-ton
Jack Walsworth contributed to this report.
