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2025 North American Car/Truck/Utility of the Year Winners!2025 North American Car/Truck/Utility of the Year Winners!
The 50-member Car of the Year jury has named this year’s car, truck, and SUV winners.
3 Min Read
The 2025 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year Award.NACTOY
At a Glance
- The Honda Civic Hybrid is the 2025 North American Car of the Year.
- The Ford Ranger is the 2025 North American Truck of the Year.
- The Volkswagen ID.Buzz is the 2025 North American Utility of the Year.
The jury of 50 automotive journalists from the US, Canada, and Mexico (full disclosure: I’m one of them) have returned their verdict, choosing from among the three finalists in each of the three categories for North American of Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year for 2025.
This year’s winners are the Honda Civic Hybrid as Car of the Year, Ford Ranger as Truck of the Year, and Volkswagen ID.Buzz as Utility of the Year.
2025 Honda Civic Hybrid. HONDA
Honda Civic Hybrid
The latest edition of Honda’s popular compact car, which is available as both a hatchback and a four-door sedan, won accolades for its two-motor hybrid-electric drive system that produces a 50-mpg EPA city fuel economy rating. Honda’s two-motor hybrid system earned a spot from our Informa corporate cousins at Ward’s Automotive, who named the system to the Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems list for 2025.
Honda notes that it has been a quarter-century since the company debuted its first hybrid-electric model, the Insight, in the US.
“The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid is a much needed affordable high-mileage family car. In addition to sharp styling, a nicely crafted interior and a comfortable ride, the Civic Hybrid delivers exceptional fuel economy,” said juror Matt DeLorenzo, Editor-in-Chief of Tightwad Garage.
2025 Ford Ranger. FORD MOTOR CO.
Ford Ranger
Highlights of Ford’s latest edition of its mid-sized pickup include a new 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, improved suspension, and improved off-road capability. The new Ranger boasts more available towing technology such as Pro Trailer Backup Assist.
The hot rod 2024 Ranger Raptor’s 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 produces 405 horsepower, 430 pound-feet of torque, while the chassis is bolstered by technology such as long travel suspension, including a Watts link rear suspension and 2.5-inch Fox Live Valve shocks.
“The Ford Ranger starts at $34,575 and the well-equipped SuperCrew 4×4 XLT has a base price of $39,646,” said Drew Winter, Contributing Editor at WardsAuto. “It has a solid and refined chassis, a nice interior and is a good choice for budget-conscious buyers.”
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz. VOLKSWAGEN
Volkswagen ID.Buzz
The much-anticipated electrified return of Volkswagen’s iconic hippie bus aims at the intersection of driving range, practicality, and affordability. The rear-wheel-drive ID. Buzz Pro model has 282 horsepower and an EPA estimated range of 234 miles, while the 4Motion all-wheel-drive vehicle has 335 hp and an EPA estimated range of 231 miles. Pricing for the ID. Buzz starts at $59,995 MSRP, with a $1,550 destination charge for all models.
“No vehicle in the last ten years has captured the imagination, while also bringing the past into the future, better than the Volkswagen ID. Buzz,” noted John Davis, legendary, MotorWeek TV host. “It is an inspired Volkswagen design for the ages… again.”
About the Author
Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.
A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.
Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.
Dan, testing the 2025 Aston Martin Vanquish. ANDY MORGAN/ASTON MARTIN
He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.
He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.
He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.
He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.
Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.
He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
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