The Honda Civic hybrid, Ford Ranger and Volkswagen ID. Buzz are the winners of the 2025 North American Car, Truck & Utility of the Year awards.

Why it matters: The selection of a hybrid sedan, a gasoline pickup truck and an electric minivan as the industry’s best vehicles offers proof that consumers have a multitude of choices when it comes to car buying.

Driving the news: The winners were announced during the press preview of the Detroit auto show, which opens Saturday and runs through Jan. 20.

The Civic’s hybrid version beat the redesigned Toyota Camry — now only sold as a hybrid — and a new gas-powered compact from Kia, the K4, for car of the year.

The new Ranger, jazzed up for thrilling off-road performance, beat a rival mid-sized pickup, the redesigned Toyota Tacoma, and the full-size Ram 1500 in the truck category.

• It’s the fifth year in a row that a Ford truck won the NACTOY award.

Volkswagen’s retro-inspired electric ID. Buzz edged out another plug-in, the Chevrolet Equinox EV, and the new three-row Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.

💭 Joann’s thought bubble: I am honored to be among the 50 automotive journalists on the NACTOY jury, but those three weren’t my top choices.

• I voted for the Camry, the Tacoma and the Equinox EV.
• But this is a democracy and the majority wins.

One of the best parts of my job as Axios’ transportation correspondent is evaluating the latest cars and trucks for this prestigious award.

• NACTOY jurors come from three countries and varied backgrounds, so each juror has their own method for assessing vehicles on criteria that include innovation, design, performance and value.
• I’m not a gearhead. I’m just an ordinary mom who wants safe, reliable and affordable transportation from point A to B.
• I usually give extra weight to value, innovation and how easy it is to use advanced technology — a frequent bugaboo for me.

The finalists in all three categories were excellent, and each had their strengths, but for me, the utility category was by far the toughest to evaluate.

• Clearly I wasn’t the only one smitten by the delightful ID. Buzz, which is a battery-powered reincarnation of the quirky VW bus.
• But the ID. Buzz has some big strikes against it, in my view: With a starting price of $61,545, it’s too expensive. And its 231-mile driving range isn’t competitive with other EVs on the road. Plus, it’s extraordinarily difficult to get in and out of, which is a deal killer for families.
• I loved the spacious comfort in the distinctively styled Santa Fe when we toured several national parks last spring. I’m glad it’s now offered as a hybrid, too.

The Equinox EV got my vote because of its attractive design, solid driving range of 315 miles and a starting price of $34,995 (excluding a $7,500 federal tax credit).

• At that price and driving range, the Equinox EV represents an industry breakthrough — an electric car that’s finally affordable to mainstream buyers.