27 Semifinalists Named For 2021 Car, Truck, And SUV Of The Year Awards

The North American Car, Utility, and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) semifinalists have been announced for the 2021 model year awards. The list consists of eight passenger cars, 14 SUVs, and four trucks that are either newly offered or substantially redesigned for 2021. They run the gamut in size, style, and price points, with a full assortment of gasoline, hybrid, and electric-powered models included.

The winners will be determined by the votes of 50 automotive experts from the U.S. and Canada who contribute to print, online, and broadcast media. To ensure that every one of them gets behind the wheel of all nominated vehicles, NACTOY will conduct a mass test drive (we’ll assume with the proper social distancing and precautions) October 5-8 with all semifinalists included. Finalists will be named in December, and the winners in January.

The models chosen for the 2020 car, utility, and truck awards were the Chevrolet Corvette, Kia Telluride, and Jeep Gladiator, respectively.

Here are the 2021 NACTOY semifinalists:

Car of the Year:

• Acura TLX
• Cadillac CT4/CT4-V
• Genesis G80
• Hyundai Elantra
• Kia K5
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Nissan Sentra
• Polestar 2

 Utility of the Year:

• Cadillac Escalade
• Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban
• Chevrolet Trailblazer
• Ford Bronco Sport
• Ford Mustang Mach-E
• Genesis GV80
• Hyundai Santa Fe
• Kia Seltos
• Kia Sorento
• Land Rover Defender
• Mazda CX-30
• Nissan Rogue
• Toyota RAV4 Prime
• Toyota Venza
• Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge

 Truck of the Year:

• Ford Super Duty
• Ford F-150
• Ram 1500 TRX
• Jeep Gladiator Mojave