North American Car Of the Year Awards Finalists Leak Out - Are These Really The Best?

It's that time of year again: time to decide the North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACOTY). This time around, our own Executive Editor Marty Padgett is one of the jurors, and we're bringing you the insider's perspective on the process, as well as looking to hear what you have to say on which car and truck should be picked as the year's best.

Starting with a long nominee list of 27 cars and 17 trucks, the NACOTY panel carefully selected just 15 cars and 10 trucks that will be up for the final award.

The 2010 North American Car of the Year Short List:

    * BMW 335d
    * Buick LaCrosse
    * Cadillac CTS
    * Chevrolet Camaro
    * Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid
    * Ford Taurus
    * Honda Insight
    * Kia Soul
    * Mazda3/MazdaSpeed3
    * Mercedes-Benz E-Class
    * Porsche Panamera
    * Subaru Legacy
    * Suzuki Kizashi
    * Toyota Prius
    * Volkswagen Golf/GTI

The 2010 North American Truck of the Year Short List:

    * Acura ZDX
    * Audi Q5
    * Cadillac SRX
    * Chevrolet Equinox
    * Ford Transit Connect
    * Honda Crosstour
    * Land Rover LR4
    * Lincoln MKT
    * Subaru Outback
    * Volvo XC60



2009 Frankfurt Auto Show Photo Gallery

AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries

If you want to see your photos running on our homepage photo ticker, be sure to upload your photos on the go by sending them to Mobile@AutoSpies.com

Share on Facebook

There are photos and then there are AutoSpies.com photos!

AutoSpies.com is ranked number one on Google search for auto shows

Read Article

OBSERVER1984 - 10/1/2009 3:12:30 PM

0 Boost

I vote for Taurus by cars and XC60 by trucks.

david999 - 10/1/2009 5:17:11 PM

-5 Boost

I think you are correct.

RaulT - 10/1/2009 3:42:04 PM

-4 Boost

Golf/GTI will take the honors

100tnega - 10/1/2009 3:44:42 PM

+4 Boost

Who should win: Camaro for undermining all the soulless analysts and bean-counters who now run the domestic automotive market. Audi Q5 for putting the sport back sport-ute.

Who shouldn't win: Merc E-Class for slapping on an old GS front and calling it new. Acura ZDX for turning the lights on.

Agent001 - 10/1/2009 3:54:04 PM

+1 Boost

Bet the fix is in on Lacrosse and Equinox.

My choices would be:

Prius/Ford Transit Connect

001

Shredmo - 10/1/2009 4:03:50 PM

-2 Boost

There are a bunch of good choices here, so I'll have to put in the ones I think are the best value; not what will likely win.
Subaru Legacy: Great MPG, safe, AWD, innovative CVT
Chevrolet Equinox: Great fit & finish, great MPG, "Large" compact SUV.

investor27 - 10/1/2009 4:05:32 PM

-2 Boost

My choices would be:

Prius and Audi Q5

Designer1 - 10/1/2009 4:27:18 PM

-4 Boost

Mark my word. Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKZ, and Buick LaCross will be nothing but another failure.

lexusrox123 - 10/1/2009 5:33:50 PM

+1 Boost

agreed

MSP6 - 10/2/2009 12:36:44 PM

+1 Boost

KIAH!HA!HA!

klipprand - 10/1/2009 4:50:42 PM

-1 Boost

Porche Panamera
Audi Q5

iLexus - 10/1/2009 6:08:27 PM

-2 Boost

Agreed... The car is ground breaking for someone like Buick & everone is talking about asking me waht is that. They deserve it. Let's give them the award & inspire them to do better.

veyron1001 - 10/1/2009 7:12:44 PM

0 Boost

So you are saying Buicks best effort is an Opel Insignia with a Buick logo on it? I do not know what you smoke but that is a shit job.

Joe_Limon - 10/1/2009 5:51:00 PM

+8 Boost

lol, who would compile a list titled North American truck of the year and not include any trucks?

bfghemicuda - 10/1/2009 6:21:03 PM

+5 Boost

You have got to be kidding me. There is not at truck on the list of trucks. These little milk crates on a scateboard are not trucks. What a joke.

veyron1001 - 10/1/2009 7:18:28 PM

+1 Boost

The crash test ratings for trucks are a joke.

tango - 10/1/2009 9:34:15 PM

+1 Boost

For the first time in my life I am happy I am not on the panel for NACOTY. John McElroy and the others have their work cut out for them. These entrants are NOT playing tag football here. This is the real deal baby, and somebody is gonna get seriously hurt. If I had to call it, I would say Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Equinox. Because they are THAT good. To the detractors, the LaCrosse's chassis, the Epsilon, belongs to GENERAL MOTORS. Full-frigging-stop. The execution as introduced by Pontiac (G6), Saturn (Aura), Chevrolet (Malibu), Cadillac (BLS), SAAB (9-5), Opel/Vauxhall (Vectra/Insignia), or Buick (LaCrosse) are as different as the seasons. So calling it an "Opel Insignia with a Buick logo on it" is just the sheer, unadulterated ignorance, so typical of the banterer in question.

inspirion7 - 10/2/2009 11:18:45 AM

+2 Boost

Tango, I concur.

Buick La Crosse or Ford Fusion Hybrid

Chevrolet Equinox, or Volvo XC60

In regard to trucks not making it to the list, there weren't new models available for the 2009 (ton or half ton models)

Next year 2010 will be very, very interesting. The Buick Regal ( Opel Insignia 2009 European Car of the Year, yeah it is that good) will be new to the market stateside, along with its runner-up for the same title, the Ford Fiesta.

Also the new Infiniti M series, Cadillac CTS Coupe, Audi A8, SAAB 9-5, Hyundai Equus, Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt/ Cruise to name just a few...

darzav - 10/2/2009 12:08:40 AM

-3 Boost

The BMW 335d. Thats my pick. Appart from that, the Merc and Porsche.