The 2022 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year award winners were announced yesterday and two car makers definitely had a lot to celebrate. Honda was one of them, as their Civic model managed to win the title of North American Car o the Year for a third time. Ford was the second manufacturer that probably popped a champagne yesterday, as two of its cars gained accolades, winning the remaining two categories: North American Truck of the Year (Ford Maverick) and North American Utility Vehicle of the Year (Ford Bronco).
This the second time Ford claimed a double win, after last year the F-150 and the Mustang Mach-E won in the same categories. Nevertheless, this marked a strong performance for the blue oval company, considering the 36 vehicles that they had to beat in the process. The fact that the Honda Civic won its third such title is also nothing to scoff at.
The 2022 Honda Civic sedan and hatchback kept the new Volkswagen GTI and Golf R at bay, as well as the all-electric Lucid Air luxury sedan, the finalists in this year’s automobile category. According to some of the members of the jury, the Civic combines a low purchasing price with high fuel efficiency, utility and comfort alongside fun behind the wheel in a unique way. It’s “the kind of affordable car that every automaker should aspire to,” according to jury member, Lawrence Ulrich.
In the Truck of the Year category, the final battle had some new names fighting it out. Alongside the winning Maverick you could find the Rivian R1T and the Hyundai Santa Cruz. According to the judges, the Maverick won because of its compelling package. The Ford reportedly delivered an urban-friendly, highly functional combination with an impressive value overall, an increasingly rare trait in modern vehicles.
Last, but not least, the Ford Bronco was crown Utility Vehicle of the Year. In order to reach the highest podium step, the Bronco had to fend off the Genesis GV70 and Hyundai Ioniq 5. According to the jurors, it was the peculiar mix of the ruggedness of the Jeep Wrangler and the tech of the new Defender that the Bronco offers that made it stand out.
The North American Car of the Year awards has been founded in 1994 by Christopher Jensen and gest together 50 professional automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. The awards celebrate excellence in innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, driver satisfaction and value.
