This past July I had the honor of being named to the North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year jury.
NACTOY, as it is known, has been the most respected and coveted automotive award for years, but I never knew the mechanics of how it really works. While other branded awards come under suspicion because there seems to be a quid pro quo that winning means a manufacturer must advertise with the publication, NACTOY takes in no outside money. In fact, the only funding comes from yearly dues paid by members, which consists of automotive analysts and journalists such as myself. Yes, it costs me money to be part of NACTOY, but I’m glad to say I’m part of an award that is above reproach.
Voting
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The annual “long list” of candidates includes every all-new or significantly updated vehicle offered during the year, and it is divided into cars and trucks/utilities. This year, the long list included 29 cars and 26 trucks/utilities. In mid-September, each member votes for 10-15 cars and another 10-15 trucks/utilities, and those results are analyzed to determine the “short list” of finalists. Every vehicle that receives a significant number of votes makes the list and there is no set number of qualifiers. This year’s short list included 10 cars and 12 trucks/utilities.
Next comes the “Hell drive,” which is held at the Hell Creek Ranch in Pinckney, Mich. (right next to Hell, Mich.) in mid-October. I, along with 35 other jurors, paid for the lodging and transportation necessary to attend the drive, which featured at least one version of every vehicle on the short list except the Porsche Macan, plus several competitive vehicles for comparison. Jurors conducted a total of 467 test drives during the three-day event.
Armed with the knowledge gained at the Hell drive, as well as from test drives from the media launch programs and individual vehicle loans, the NACTOY journalists will vote for the finalists in early December. Each member will be given 25 points to dole out to as many cars on the short list as they see fit, with no vehicle given more than 10 points. The trucks/utilities undergo the same type of voting. Three finalists in each category will be determined and a final round of voting will be held in early 2015, this time with 10 points to be given any way the voter sees fit. The final results will be tabulated by the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche, and the winners will be announced at a press conference to kick off the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 12. No juror will know the winners until that press conference.
I’ll be interested to learn the winners, just like you.
2015 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year short list
Cars:
Acura TLX
Audi A3
Chrysler 200
Ford Mustang
Honda Fit
Hyundai Genesis sedan
Hyundai Sonata
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Toyota Camry
Volkswagen Golf/GTI
Trucks/Utilities:
Audi Q3
Chevrolet Colorado
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford F-150
GMC Canyon
Lexus NX
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Lincoln MKC
Mercedes-Benz GLA
Nissan Murano
Porsche Macan
Subaru Outback
Toyota Highlander