Work Truck Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Finalists Announced for North American Car and Truck of the Year

The Chrysler 300/300C, 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, and the Ford Mustang are finalists for the North American Car of the Year. The Ford Escape Hybrid, the Ford Freestyle and the Land Rover LR3 were chosen as finalists for the North American Truck of the Year.

by Staff
December 16, 2004
2 min to read


Forty-eight automotive journalists from the United States and Canada have selected the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, the Chrysler 300/300C and the Ford Mustang as finalists for the North American Car of the Year. The Ford Escape Hybrid, the Ford Freestyle and the Land Rover LR3 were chosen as finalists for the North American Truck of the Year. The finalists were announced on Monday. The winners of the most prestigious automotive awards in North America will be announced on January 9th at the North American International Auto Show, which is not otherwise involved in the awards. Each year since 1992 the jury of journalists representing newspapers, magazines and television honors a new car and a new truck that are benchmarks in their segments for performance in areas including innovation, value for the dollar, safety, ride and handling. This year the journalists voted on 17 cars and 12 trucks. The jurors voted on these vehicles: North American Car of the Year Acura RL Audi A6 BMW 6-Series Buick LaCrosse Cadillac STS Chevrolet Corvette Chrysler 300/300C Dodge Magnum Ford Five Hundred Ford Mustang Honda Accord Hybrid Honda Odyssey Pontiac G6 Porsche 911 Scion tC Subaru Legacy Volvo S40/V50 North American Truck of the Year Chevrolet Equinox Dodge Dakota Ford Escape Hybrid Ford Freestyle Ford F-Series Super Duty Hyundai Tucson Infiniti QX56 Jeep Grand Cherokee Land Rover LR3 Nissan Frontier Nissan Pathfinder Toyota Tacoma Last year´s North American Car of the Year was the Toyota Prius, while the North American Truck of the Year was the Ford F-150. The awards are funded by dues paid by jurors and are administered by a seven-person organizing committee. They are Tony Swan (Car and Driver); John McElroy (Autoline Detroit); John Davis (MotorWeek); Don Chaikin (Popular Mechanics); Alex Law (Freelance); Mitch McCullough (New Car Test Drive) and Christopher Jensen (The Plain Dealer).

More Small Fleet

SponsoredMarch 9, 2026

Boosting Last-Mile Fleet Uptime, Safety, and Value with AI Vehicle Inspections

AI-powered inspections are transforming last-mile fleets by replacing manual checks with highly accurate automated scans that detect defects in seconds. By giving fleet operations visibility into the daily condition of their vehicles, you can identify trends over the vehicle’s lifecycle that enable improved procurement decisions, route management, driver training and accountability.

Read More →
SponsoredMarch 1, 2026

How One Fleet Cut Motor Pool Costs by $45K With Smarter Key Control and Automation

Still managing your motor pool with spreadsheets and manual approvals? Loyola University replaced outdated processes with automated fleet management, eliminating overtime and saving up to $50,000 annually. See how they did it.

Read More →
SponsoredMarch 1, 2026

Artificial Intelligence in Field Service: North America

48% of field service leaders are investing in AI to manage customer communication and self-service. Get the latest on how fleets are using AI and thinking about the future.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SafetyFebruary 4, 2026

Five Ways Seat Belts Help Prevent Injuries

There are five ways seat belts protect occupants from injuries, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

Read More →
SponsoredJanuary 14, 2026

It’s here: The 2026 Fleet Technology Trends Report

What does AI mean for fleets? Get the answer — and learn other top tech trends.

Read More →
Wreaths Across America graphic highlighting the role of small fleets in delivering wreaths to honor veterans, featuring wreath icons and the American flag.
Small Fleetby Lauren FletcherDecember 8, 2025

Small Fleets, Big Impact: How Independent Drivers Power Wreaths Across America

Check out how small fleets and independent drivers power Wreaths Across America each December and why their impact matters more than ever.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A stressed person covers their face, illustrating that 65% of small fleet managers handle all operations alone, according to a Vehicle Management Systems (VMS) survey.
Small Fleetby StaffNovember 12, 2025

VMS Survey Finds 65% of Small Fleet Managers Run Operations Alone

A new VMS survey shows small fleet managers are stretched thin, with most handling operations solo and eager to adopt digital tools for relief.

Read More →
Safe Driving on Halloween over spooky fall road
Safetyby StaffOctober 20, 2025

Tips for Driving Safely on Halloween Night

This video features a reminder from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, urging drivers to prioritize safety this Halloween.

Read More →
VMS Co-CEO David Prusinski highlights the company’s AI-powered virtual fleet manager designed to improve uptime and reduce operating costs for fleets.
Green Fleetby Lauren FletcherOctober 6, 2025

AI, Access, and Uptime: VMS’s Next Chapter with David Prusinski

VMS’s new Co-CEO, David Prusinski, shares how an AI-first approach will give small fleets and repair shops the tools to compete like big players.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of tire tracks and winter scenes.
Small FleetMay 24, 2025

Fleet Managers Share Winter Prep Tips: It's Never Too Early!

Three fleets share best practices to prep vehicles for winter and prevent downtime when the cold sets in.

Read More →