Overview
- The winners earned the following vote totals: Dodge Charger 195, Ford Maverick Lobo 277, and Hyundai Palisade 270.
- The awards were announced Jan. 14 at Huntington Place, and the winning vehicles will remain on display during the Detroit Auto Show’s public days from Jan. 17–25.
- Jurors evaluated contenders on innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, driver satisfaction, user experience and value in an awards program founded in 1994.
- Juror commentary praised the Charger’s return to gas-powered performance, the Maverick Lobo’s sporty compact-truck positioning, and the Palisade’s family-friendly features with a new hybrid option.
- Some coverage raised concerns about the truck choice, noting the Maverick Lobo is largely a trim-level variant rather than a full redesign.