HomeThese are the 2025 nominees for America's best cars and trucks

These are the 2025 nominees for America’s best cars and trucks

Ahead of the 2025 North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards, we reveal the vehicles nominated on the long list.

November 13, 2024

The candidates for the 2025 NACTOY Awards
© Dodge
The 2025 North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) awards are getting closer, with the finalists due to be announced later this month.

The winners in Car, Truck, and Utility vehicle categories will then be revealed at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2025.

Before the candidates are narrowed down, we have profiled all the contenders in the running for one of the biggest automotive accolades.
Car Candidates – 2025 BMW 3 Series
© BMW
The BMW 3 Series is the archetypal compact premium sedan, setting the benchmark in this class for almost five decades.

Over 20 million examples have been sold since 1975, and BMW shows no sign of slowing down.

Updated for the 2025 model year, the 3 Series has received a subtle makeover, along with a streamlined engine range. This leaves the 330i as the sole standard model available, before moving up to the high-performance M340i and M3 versions.
2025 BMW M5
© BMW
The BMW M5 has undergone a radical transformation for its seventh generation, becoming a plug-in hybrid for the first time. It’s also only the third time a Touring version has been part of the M5 range, and the first time the wagon has been sold in North America.

Combining a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 with an electric motor results in a maximum output of 717 horsepower, along with 738 lb-ft of torque. This means a 0-62 mph time of 3.5 seconds, with the potential to reach 190 mph.

Adding a hybrid powertrain does not come without a penalty, however, as the M5 now tips the scales at a substantial 5,390 lb. Yet it does mean the BMW can reach up to 87 mph on battery power alone.
2025 Cadillac Celestiq
© Cadillac
The flagship Cadillac Celestiq EV is intended to propel the iconic marque back into the realm of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. It certainly comes with a suitable price tag: expected to be at least $340,000 for those accepted to buy one.

Based on the GM BEV3 platform, the all-wheel-drive Celestiq produces up to 600 horsepower from its dual-motor setup. This should allow for 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, plus a potential range of up to 300 miles.

Adaptive air suspension, active rear steering, and active aerodynamics are all included. Each Celestiq will be tailored to the individual customer’s desires, with 3D-printed parts and hand-wrapped leather inside.
2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EV
© Dodge
Flipping the Dodge Charger from being a flame-spitting muscle car, into a fully electric model is a bold move by Dodge. The eighth-generation car to wear the Charger badge will come in both two- and four-door forms, acting as a replacement for the outgoing Challenger as well.

Dodge has promised the electric Charger Daytona will deliver the same muscle car thrills as its Hemi-powered predecessors. A patented ‘Fratzonic’ exhaust system is intended to give the Charger Daytona the same aural excitement, too.

Power outputs of up to 670 horsepower will be on offer, along with the ability to cover up to 317 miles when fully charged.
2025 Fiat 500e
© Fiat
From one end of the Stellantis electric family to the other, the latest Fiat 500e is the first electric version of the tiny city car to be sold across North America. The previous version was offered solely in Oregon and California.

Launched in the United States earlier this year, the Fiat 500e is available in a host of special edition guises.

A 42 kWh battery is standard, combined with a 117 horsepower electric motor. This lets the 500e accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than nine seconds, and comes with an official EPA range of 149 miles.
2025 Honda Civic Hybrid
© Honda
Acting as a replacement for the previous, hybrid-powered Honda Insight, the 2025 model year Civic Hybrid now comes in both hatchback and sedan forms. Honda expects the hybrid version of the Civic will account for up to 40 percent of sales in North America.

The Civic Hybrid’s 2.0-litre engine, combined with an electric motor, generates a combined output of 212 horsepower, plus 232 lb-ft of torque. This makes it the most powerful Civic without a Type R badge attached.

With a mild facelift for the 2025 model year, the latest Civic Hybrid will hope to emulate the standard Honda Civic, which claimed the NACTOY award in 2022.
2025 Kia K4
© Kia
Although SUVs now seem to be the default option for compact car buyers, Kia has not abandoned consumers who want a more traditional option. The new K4 comes as a sedan to begin with, but Kia has promised a hatchback version will join the range later.

In sedan form it certainly looks bold, with a fastback design and plenty of strong angles. A 2.0-litre 147 horsepower engine is the starting point for the front-wheel-drive sedan, with a more powerful turbocharged engine expected later.

Attractive pricing and a generous level of standard equipment could make the K4 a winner with sedan fans.
2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 AMG Hybrid
© Mercedes-Benz
The NACTOY organization has been very specific with its “Best of 2025” list, noting that the AMG version of the E-Class is the model nominated.

The E53 certainly represents the peak of the sixth-generation E-Class performance, combining a turbocharged 3.0-liter gasoline engine with a plug-in hybrid electric motor. The result is a combined output of 612 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, with all-wheel drive included.

Along with strong performance, the AMG E53 Hybrid is stuffed with the latest safety technology, alongside the luxury expected from a Mercedes-Benz. The German marque has performed well in the NACTOY awards, winning the inaugural title back in 1994.
2025 Porsche Panamera
© Panamera
It seems hard to believe that the Porsche Panamera is now into its third generation, with the latest model released earlier this year. Porsche has dropped the shooting brake Sport Turismo from the lineup, leaving just the five-door liftback sedan.

Beneath the evolutionary styling is a movement further towards electrification. Porsche now offers four E-Hybrid versions, ranging from the standard 463 horsepower model, all the way to the incredible 771 horsepower Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

The latter can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, and is capable of reaching a top speed in excess of 200 mph. Similar performance was enough to see a Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid set a new lap record around the Nürburging circuit in Germany.
2025 Toyota Camry
© Toyota
Despite consistently being the best-selling car in the United States for two decades, the Toyota Camry has never claimed the NACTOY award.

It has twice been a finalist, in both 2007 and 2018, but perhaps 2025 will be the year Toyota’s top-selling sedan claims top honors.

The latest ninth-generation Camry is the most powerful version of the four-door model to date, and is offered only with hybrid powertrains. This does mean a V-6 engine is no longer available, but the Camry boasts improved efficiency to keep running costs down.
Truck Candidates – 2025 GMC Sierra EV
© GMC
Moving into the Truck category of the 2025 NACTOY awards, the GMC Sierra EV is the first on a longlist of candidates. Last year, the Chevrolet Silverado EV was a finalist in the truck class, so GMC will be hoping to go even better this year.

Sharing many parts with its Chevy cousin, the GMC Sierra EV boasts an output of 754 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque, plus a range of up to 440 miles. In Denali 1 launch trim, the Sierra EV has the same sideways “crab walk” feature as the GMC Hummer EV, plus air suspension and all-wheel drive.

Compared to the Chevrolet, the GMC Sierra EV offers a more luxurious cabin, with plenty of woodgrain trim and leather upholstery.
2024 Ford Ranger
© Ford
The Ford Ranger pickup truck has been sold in North America since 2019, beginning with the fourth-generation model. However, for the fifth version, the Ranger was actually designed with American buyers in mind.

Ford’s proven 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine is standard across the range, as is a SuperCrew layout. A blend of affordability and practicality has made the Ranger a top choice in the midsize truck market.

For those who want more performance, Ford offers the Raptor model, powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that produces 405 horsepower. That’s more power than Raptor buyers in Europe or Australia get…
2025 Ram 1500
© Ram
The fifth-generation Ram 1500 won the truck category of the NACTOY awards in 2019 when it was launched. With the popular pickup receiving an update for the 2025 model year, Stellantis will be hoping for more success.

Perhaps the biggest change for the 2025 model year is that the Ram 1500 is no longer available with the famed Hemi V-8 engine. In common with other Stellantis products, the eight-cylinder option has been replaced with the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter “Hurricane” inline-six.

The RHO off-road performance truck makes use of the Hurricane engine, generating 540 horsepower. Replacing the 1500 TRX, the new RHO is effective in the dirt, if not quite as much fun as the old Hemi-powered model.
2025 Rivian R1T
© Rivian
The all-electric Rivian R1T pickup has been a candidate in the NACTOY awards before, being listed as a finalist back in 2022. A plethora of updates have been applied for 2025, aiming to make the R1T stronger as the choice of EV pickups increases.

A new tri-motor model has been added to the range, offering a total of 850 horsepower and 1,103 lb-ft of torque. The top-specification quad-motor version has its output boosted to 1,025 horsepower and 1,198 lb-ft of torque, making for serious performance.

A heat pump is standard across the range, aiding efficiency, and there are new paint colors and interior finishes to choose from.
2024 Toyota Tacoma
© Toyota
Launched for the 2024 model year, the fourth-generation Toyota Tacoma is designed to be an effective contender in the midsize truck category. This was enough to make it a candidate for the 2025 NACTOY awards.

As part of the modernization process, a hybrid gasoline engine has become the most powerful option in the Tacoma range. With 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, the “i-Force Max” is an effective powertrain.

Other changes include upgraded infotainment systems, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay included. Toyota has also tried to help the Tacoma feel more luxurious inside, without denting its practicality.
Utility Candidates – 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV
© Chevrolet
General Motors is pinning its hopes on the Chevrolet Equinox EV being a winner in the North American sales charts. It will also be hoping for victory in the utility category at the 2025 NACTOY awards.

Front-wheel-drive versions of the Equinox EV are capable of covering up to 319 miles when fully charged, while quicker all-wheel-drive models can still reach 285 miles.

This makes it competitive in the EV world, especially when the Equinox’s $34,995 starting price is considered.
2025 Honda Prologue EV
© Honda
The Honda Prologue is the first large-scale entry into the battery electric market by the Japanese marque, and is the product of a joint venture with General Motors.

Beneath bodywork designed in Los Angeles is the GM BEV3 platform, used on an array of vehicles including the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Cadillac Lyriq.

GM provides an 85 kWh battery pack for the Honda Prologue, with customers able to choose between single- or dual-motor setups. The biggest question will be whether the Prologue does enough to distinguish itself from its GM origins.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
© Hyundai
The all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV was a finalist in the 2022 edition of the NACTOY awards. Now the high-performance N version has made the longlist for 2025.

A pair of electric motors produce 601 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque as standard, with “N Grin Mode” allowing this to be boosted to 641 horsepower and 568 lb-ft for short periods. The 0-60 mph sprint can take less than 3.5 seconds.

Adding some fun is a system designed to replicate the noise and feeling of gear shifts, plus even a special drift mode.
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe
© Hyundai
The Hyundai Santa Fe has been one of the most popular SUVs in the Korean marque’s range ever since the first-generation model arrived in the early 2000s.

For this all-new fifth-generation version, Hyundai has given the Santa Fe a dramatic exterior design, which has actually made the boxy SUV more aerodynamic than its predecessor.

With three rows of seats, keen pricing, and plenty of technology, it is easy to see why the Santa Fe has become a NACTOY candidate for 2025.
2025 Jeep Wagoneer S
© Jeep
Don’t be fooled by the name, as the Jeep Wagoneer S has no relation to the recently reinvented Wagoneer nameplate, seen on luxurious SUVS.

The Jeep Wagoneer S will be the first Stellantis electric model to use the new “STLA Large” platform. A dual-motor setup, supported by a 100.5 kWh battery, will see the Wagoneer S endowed with 600 horsepower and 617 lb-ft of torque. A 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds will make it the quickest Jeep ever made.

A combined 45-inches of digital display screens, including a separate 12.25-inch display for the passenger, make for a tech-laden cabin.
2025 Lincoln Nautilus
© Lincoln
Imported from China, the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus has managed to combine premium luxury with impressive technology, plus a refined driving experience.

Its interior is impressive, with a gigantic 48-inch curved infotainment screen spanning the dashboard. This includes a pair of 24-inch displays, with an additional configurable 11.1-inch touchscreen.

Customers can pick from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower, or a hybrid model with 310 horsepower.
2025 Porsche Macan EV
© Porsche
If Porsche purists were shocked by another SUV when the first-generation Macan was launched, this car is likely to startle them even more. For its second act, the Macan has become entirely electric

Sharing a platform with the new Audi Q6 E-Tron, the new Macan EV is sold in both rear- and all-wheel-drive formats. In top-specification Turbo trim, the Macan EV generates 630 horsepower, allowing this electric SUV to accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 3.3 seconds.

Just as impressive is the Macan EV’s 800-volt architecture. This allows the 95 kWh battery to charge from 10 to 80 percent in only 21 minutes.
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser
© Toyota
Boxy, retro-look SUVs are seemingly on-trend right now, with the latest Toyota Land Cruiser rivaling the Ford Bronco for throwback styling.

Compared to the previous North American-specification Land Cruiser, the new version has been downsized. It now offers only two rows of seating instead of three, and there is the option of a hybrid engine.

Still featuring a traditional body-on-frame chassis, the new Land Cruiser is said to be stronger and more capable off-road. All-wheel drive is standard across the range, with a center locking-differential, low-range gearing, and hill-descent control.
2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz
© VW
When it comes to excitement, there are few vehicles on the NACTOY longlist that have garnered as much attention as the Volkswagen ID.Buzz. Initially launched in Europe at the start of 2022, the retro-styled electric minivan has only just arrived in North America.

This coincides with the release of a long-wheelbase version, bringing three rows of seating, and making the ID.Buzz far more practical as a result. A performance GTX model has also been added to the range, serving up 335 horsepower.

Given the countless concepts and pre-production teasers, the wait for the Volkswagen ID.Buzz has seemingly been worth it. Expect it to be a strong contender to win the NACTOY utility category.
2025 Volvo EX90
© Volvo
Volvo made bold plans for electrification, even if the Swedish marque has walked back its aim of being EV-only by 2030. Regardless, the EX90 is Volvo’s range-topping SUV, positioned above the existing XC90.

With modern styling, a stunning minimalist interior, and plenty of technology, the Volvo EX90 certainly delivers on the luxury front. Some may prefer more physical buttons instead of just using the 14.5-inch touchscreen, but at least it is slick to operate.

A 111 kWh battery pack can deliver a range of up to 310 miles, with the range-topping model bringing 510 horsepower and 671 lb-ft of torque to the party.