NACTOY to consider 43 models for 2017 awards

July 06, 2016 01:00 AM

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