Volkswagen ID. The Buzz electric van was a finalist for North American Utility of the Year.
A battery comeback, a compact hybrid and a midsize pickup in its new life were all recognized as best-in-class vehicles Friday at the North American Car, Truck and Vehicle of the Year awards .
The awards were presented during a ceremony sponsored by the Automotive Press Association to kick off media day at the 2025 Detroit auto show. Winners were selected by a panel of 50 leading automotive journalists who voted extensively on each participant. , making the field with nine finalists.
The Honda Civic Hybrid was named North American Car of the Year at a ceremony in Detroit … [+]
The Honda Civic Hybrid was the best car, while the new-generation Ford Ranger mid-size pickup truck won the truck category and the comeback with a modern twist, the electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz was voted North American Service of the Year.
The range of winners represents a sensibility to style, affordability and functionality, according to Mike Hanley, senior road test editor at the auto research and shopping site Cars.com.
Honda Civic Hybrid rear view.
As for the hybrid Civic, “I think it’s a really good fit for the times,” Hanley said. “In terms of affordability, it’s around $30,000 and new car affordability is a concern right now. So it hits the mark. It also scores in efficiency, being a hybrid, around 50 miles per gallon according to EPA estimates.
Hanley adds that the Civic managed to retain one of its most distinguishing attributes, being excellent driving dynamics.
The latest version of the Ford Ranger midsize pickup truck won North American Truck of the Year honors … [+]
The Ford Ranger midsize truck has undergone more changes over the year than an award show emcee’s outfit.
Rear view of the Ford Ranger midsize pickup truck.
In voting for the Ranger, juror Drew Winter, a contributing editor at WardsAuto, wrote, “It’s a midsize truck that looks like a full-size F-150, gets 20 mpg combined fuel economy and can tow 7,500 pounds . It has a solid and refined chassis, a pleasant interior and is a good choice for budget-conscious buyers.”
“It also offers a lot of truck options in a smaller package that is less expensive than some of the full-size trucks because the price for full-size trucks has gone up a lot,” Hanley added. “So it gives you that affordability angle and still being able to do some truck stuff.”
Volkswagen Electric ID. Buzz was voted North American Service of the Year by a panel of judges … [+]
A surprise, not unexpected, may be the choice for the best utility. The electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz has undeniably attractive looks, but a relatively stingy driving range for an EV.
Volkswagen ID front view. Joy.
No problem for lawyer Ken Gross, a freelance journalist who wrote: “If you’re going to drive a minivan, why not drive the one that everyone’s hand-me-downs and just wants to hug? Seriously, ID. The Buzz has a good 230+ mile range, room for trim inside, lots of useful features, and is fun to drive.”
But it may not have been the choice for Hanley, given the price and the range’s shortcomings.
“If you have an electric vehicle that you charge on the second level of the house, it can work, but, yes, the price is relatively high. It starts around $60,000 and goes up from there,” Hanley noted. “We’ll see if they come out with a few less satisfied vehicles because it’s pretty well equipped at that price point. But I think its retro appeal is a big factor, really nice driving dynamics too, as well as its utility.”
The winners represent the judgment of experienced car writers who routinely drive just about everything on the market and are attuned to everything from ride and handling to ergonomics, styling and technology. They even seem to hear and feel things that the everyday consumer might not pick up on, at least not right away.
But do the three vehicles taking home the trophies necessarily represent what consumers actually want?
GMC Hummer EV on the floor of the 2025 Auto Show in Detroit.
A quick trip around the hundreds of vehicles on the Detroit Auto Show floor shows a heavy bias toward pickups and SUVs, a sprinkling of hybrids and a few EVs.
Car shows are primarily geared toward showing off the latest models to consumers, especially those currently, or soon to be, in the market for a new ride. The goal is to match what is displayed with what consumers are looking for.
Chevrolet Corvette on display at the 2025 Detroit Auto Show.
So does the VW ID. Buzz, Honda Civic Hybrid and Ford Ranger mid-size pickup truck in tune with market demand? Hanley believes the jurors came up with the correct verdicts.
“On the EV front, things are cooling down a bit because the inventory on Cars.com is up significantly, about 30% year-over-year, and used vehicle prices are also falling. So for people who are interested in an EV maybe like the Buzz, the Buzz is too expensive for them. Now there are other options, but still, the market is driven by SUVs and trucks. This is where the greatest popularity in these vehicles is now. So I think those are good indicators.”
