The Crown Is Up for Grabs
In the past six years, Ford has won the truck category in the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) Awards, an achievement that not only earned it bragging rights but also can help buyers choose their next pickup. However, for the 2027 edition, the Blue Oval brand is absent from the shortlist, with the new Slate Truck making an entry.
NACTOY named four models competing for the North American Truck of the Year award: the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Ram 1500 TRX SRT, and Slate Truck. This means that, for the first time since 2019, when the Ram 1500 won the truck category, Ford won’t be part of the truck finalists.
Slate
Hot Pickup Streak
Ford’s winning streak started in 2021, when the F-150 won. The Maverick took the crown the next year, while the now-discontinued F-150 Lightning extended the streak in 2023. The Super Duty won in 2024, followed by the Ranger in 2025. The latest win came from the Maverick Lobo, the compact truck’s street-focused trim, which beat the Ram 1500 and Ram 2500.
It is worth noting, however, that NACTOY only considers new or substantially changed vehicles. The F-150 did get updated for the 2027 model year, though the press release does not establish whether it was eligible and voted out. Still, that doesn’t negate the fact that Ford won’t be able to keep the streak alive.
The pickups competing for the 2027 North American Truck of the Year award account for four of the 25 models – from an initial pool of 56 – advancing to the next round. The models competing for the North American Car of the Year award include the Audi A6, Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, Kia K4 Hatchback, Lexus ES, and Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 Hybrid.
Meanwhile, the models competing for North American Utility Vehicle of the Year include the Audi Q9, BMW iX3, Chevrolet Bolt, Genesis GV60 Magma, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Wagoneer REEV, Jeep Recon, Kia EV3, Kia Seltos, Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue Hybrid e-Power, Rivian R2, Toyota Highlander, Volkswagen Atlas, and Volvo EX60.
Slate Auto
Built for North American Tastes
Jurors will gather for NACTOY’s annual Ride & Drive from October 20 to 22 in Michigan to evaluate the advancing vehicles back-to-back. The awarding body will announce three finalists in each category at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19 before the category winners are announced at the Detroit Auto Show on January 14, 2027.
The jurors are independent automotive journalists from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, helping prevent the awards from being judged solely through an American lens. Their assessments focus on the North American car market, unlike the World Car Awards, which have an international jury and recently announced eligible vehicles for their own 2027 edition.
