Five GM Vehicles Nominated For 2018 North American Car, Utility, Truck Of The Year Award
4
Sponsored Links
It seems the auto show circuit just ended, but before we know it, media will be gathering in Detroit, Michigan once again and there will be a new North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year.
For 2018, General Motors has brought its best. Five vehicles from GM have been nominated for the prestigious award with three vehicles from Chevrolet alone. However, no GM metal is present in the Car of the Year category.
Instead, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, 2018 GMC Terrain and 2018 Buick Enclave round out four nominees for the Utility of the Year award. The 2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 rounds out GM’s fifth nominee in the Truck of the Year category. The only other make to match Chevrolet’s three potential winners is Honda, which also has three vehicles nominated for the awards—Odyssey, Clarity and Accord.
By September, the list of nominees will become a list of semifinalists before three finalists are chosen from each category. From there, the winners will be revealed at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. Currently, the odds alone are in Chevrolet’s favor to pull a repeat; the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV was crowned North American Car of the Year last year.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a Corvette Z06 and 2024 Silverado. Details here.
Sponsored Links
Personally I think the 2018 GMC Terrain should get the nod , but even before it hits dealer lots later this summer to many people ( staff writers and on forums ) seem not to like the push button gear selector so that might be a problem . I’m betting the 2018 Chevy Traverse has the best chance , it’s meant for the average consumer and will sell in decent numbers and is now more of a SUV with three rows instead of what was really a mini-van in SUV metal in the last generation . JMO
No doubt, these new SUV/Crossovers are complete redesigns, each having their own distinctive identity. GM has invested heavily and we should soon see very good sales activity as production ramps up.
GM will take away business from the competition with these vastly improved new models.
Seems odd since the Traverse is several months away from showrooms and Enclave is 6 months or more. On top of that the market reaction for STOP/START systems is as yet unknown on vehicles this pricey, and unless they are dead letter perfect and reliable it will hurt the new vehicles especially if the systems cannot be shut off by the driver, however, GM seems to have told the auto magazines to not say anything about the systems if they want any further ad revenue, I have never see auto mags be so gentle in their reporting and investigation.
I would have a hard time naming any of these 4 as best of the year award as not one of them represent GM at it’s best. They are good but have the usual GM issues baked in from the start. Older engine designs. No stop start defeat. Indifferent interior and fit/finish. Lackluster 1.5T in the Terrain plus the controversial shift system I think will hold this model back from the award. Time will tell