Ford’s six-year winning run in the truck category of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) Awards is set to end after the brand was left off the shortlist for the 2027 award. The new Slate Truck joins three established pickups competing for the North American Truck of the Year title.
Four Trucks Advance for 2027
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.
The selection marks the first time since 2019, when the Ram 1500 won the truck category, that Ford will not have a truck among the finalists.
Ford’s Six-Year Winning Streak
Ford’s recent run began in 2021, when the F-150 won the truck category. The Maverick followed in 2022, while the now-discontinued F-150 Lightning continued the streak in 2023.
The Super Duty won in 2024, followed by the Ranger in 2025. Ford’s latest victory came from the Maverick Lobo, the compact truck’s street-focused trim, which defeated the Ram 1500 and Ram 2500.
NACTOY considers only new or substantially changed vehicles. The F-150 was updated for the 2027 model year, but the press release does not establish whether it was eligible and voted out. Regardless, Ford will not be able to extend its truck-category winning streak.
2027 NACTOY Truck, Car and Utility Finalists
The four pickups competing for the 2027 North American Truck of the Year award represent four of the 25 models advancing to the next round from an initial pool of 56.
The models competing for the North American Car of the Year award are the Audi A6, Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, Kia K4 Hatchback, Lexus ES, and Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 Hybrid.
The North American Utility Vehicle of the Year contenders are 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.
NACTOY Awards Move Toward Final Selection
NACTOY jurors will gather in Michigan for the organization’s annual Ride & Drive from October 20 to 22, where they will evaluate the advancing vehicles back-to-back.
Three finalists in each category will be announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19. The category winners will then be announced at the Detroit Auto Show on January 14, 2027.
How NACTOY Judges the Vehicles
The NACTOY jury consists of independent automotive journalists from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their participation means the awards are not judged solely through an American lens.
The jurors evaluate vehicles with a focus on the North American car market, distinguishing NACTOY from the World Car Awards, which use an international jury and recently announced eligible vehicles for their own 2027 edition.
