The winners and finalists for 2026 Detroit Free Press car, truck and SUV of the year cover the modern auto industry’s extraordinary breadth from affordable compact cars to workhorse pickups and luxury SUVs.
Performance models, family vehicles and every type of drivetrain — electric, gasoline, diesel and hybrid — made the list.
It was a great year for new vehicles. Despite surging inflation and tariff and trade policies that seemed to shift with the wind, automakers from all over the world came through for their customers and delivered some unanticipated goodies.
The Detroit Free Press vehicles of the year are:
Car: Dodge Charger and Charger Daytona: Modern styling and technology accelerate Dodge’s muscle car heritage into the future.
Truck: Ford Maverick Lobo: Inspired design and engineering create a winning new class of sporty little pickup.
SUV: Cadillac Optiq: Compact EV outdoes and overpowers competing luxury brands.
Base price: $54,995 (excluding destination charge)
The American muscle car lives, evolving into something new and marvelous in the new Dodge Charger.
You want the home-charging convenience and surging, implacable acceleration of a 670-horsepower electric vehicle? The Charger Daytona’s got you.
You prefer the shake and rumble of a brawny 550-hp gasoline engine?
The Charger has you covered, too.
Stellantis’ Michigan-developed STLA Large multi-energy architecture passes its first test with flying colors — and breathtaking speed — in the gasoline-powered Charger and electric Charger Daytona two- and four-door muscle cars.
You can get either drivetrain with either body style, and there’s plenty to love about both, including roomy comfortable interiors and advanced, easy to use infotainment.
The Dodge Charger also gets my vote for North American Car Of The Year.
Base price: $21,590 (excluding destination charge)
Making a timely arrival as concerns about affordability surge, the compact Sentra sedan gets Nissan’s recovery plan off to a solid start.
The Sentra makes its case for value with two 12.3-inch screens — one for the instrument cluster, the other a touch screen — standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights and available surround view cameras. Standard safety and assist systems include automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind spot alert and automatic high beams.
The sleek exterior provides modern appeal and houses accommodating passenger and cargo compartments.
Base price: $42,000 (excluding destination charge)
Reviving the name of a legendary sport compact, the Prelude is a stylish rolling billboard for Honda’s growing lineup of hybrids.
There’s nothing retro about the sleek and elegant coupe, which aims to be a modern interpretation of cars that established Honda’s reputation as a purveyor of small cars that go way beyond basic transportation.
The Prelude’s suspension comes from the dynamic Civic Type R. Power comes from a 200-hp hybrid system shared with the Civic hybrid.
Honda uses electronic aides to mimic the feel and sound of an enthusiast revving the engine to the redline and slamming though a manual transmission’s gears.
Base price: $35,930 (excluding destination charge)
The Ford Maverick Lobo sporty pickup instantly became the dream vehicle for many buyers — especially coveted young ones.
Sporty “street truck” styling and performance upgrades to match made the Maverick Lobo immediate hit — and the kickoff to a new sub-brand Ford will milk like a prize Holstein.
Lowered ride and striking wheels set the stage. Upgraded running gear includes a torque-vectoring rear power unit, 250-hp 2.0L turbo engine, seven-speed automatic transmission, faster steering from the European Kuga SUV, Mustang Mach-E front struts and Focus ST brakes.
The result is a winner that looks and drives like no other compact pickup.
The Maverick’s four-door crew cab and 54-inch bed ensure the Lobo is as practical as it is eye-catching. It’s a value-packed and enjoyable vehicle that elevates the entire Maverick line.
The Ford Maverick also gets my vote for North American Truck of the Year.
Base price: $50,105 (excluding destination charge)
Ram’s heavy-duty pickups took a major leap as a new generation introduced advancements starting with a 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel producing 430 hp and 1,075 pound-feet of torque and 36,610-pound towing capacity. None of those figures are typos. Honest.
The workhorses also added advanced features including new infotainment systems including a 14.5-inch touch screen, a 10.25-inch screen visible only to the front passenger and plenty of safety and driver assistance features.
The new 2500 and 3500 also extends Ram’s status as the leader in pickup cab style and materials into the heavy duty segment. Your pickup cabin now looks and feels as good as the six-figure Airstream behind it.
Base price: $41,575 (excluding destination charge)
When you foul up, ‘fess up.
That’s the moral of the 2026 Ram 1500 pickup. The brand alienated and infuriated passionate customers by dropping the legendary 5.7L Hemi V8 without first convincing owners the engine that replaced it was in the same league.
To win them back, Ram engineers taught the Hemi to play nice with new electrical and other systems in record time, a task that included rushing pickups and staff to New Zealand in August for winter testing.
The effort paid off in energized owners and rising sales. The Hemi is available on most Ram 1500 trim levels.
Base price $50,900 (excluding destination charge and tax incentives)
The Cadillac Optiq looks great, drives great and is a great value.
It’s not just the best electric compact luxury SUV. The Optiq makes a strong case as the best compact luxury SUV, period.
The Optiq offers rear- or all-wheel drive, allowing the model line to deliver luxury and performance at an appealing price. Power ranges from 315 hp in the base model to 519 hp in the Optiq-V.
Other key features include Dolby Atmos compatible Harman Kardon audio, interactive route planning for efficient charging on long drives and Super Cruise hands-free driving assistant.
The Optiq was also one of the first non-Tesla vehicles with a factory-installed NACS charging port, giving owners access to the simplest and most reliable nationwide fast-charging network.
I’m surprised the Cadillac Optiq is not a finalist for North American Utility vehicle of the year.
See the list: Dozens of car brands to appear at 2026 Detroit Auto Show
Base price: $38,435 (excluding destination charge)
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is a giant leap for Hyundai’s big family hauler. Value, features, style and innovation make it a clear leader among three-row family vehicles. You can get a loaded Palisade under $60,000 — serious money, but a screaming hot deal at today’s prices.
The Palisade’s modern and elegant seven- or eight-passenger interior could easily come from a luxury brand. In addition to room, comfort and style, the cabin delivers nifty innovations including lighted receivers for the second-row seat belts, 100w fast-charging USB-C ports and more.
The Palisade lineup also includes an SRT-Por model with surprising off-road ability and a hybrid that delivers 329 hp and 34 mpg in combined city and highway driving.
The Hyundai Palisade also gets my vote for North American Utility Vehicle of the year.
More: My 8 favorite new features from dozens of vehicles I tested in 2025
Base price: $79,900 (excluding destination charge and tax incentives)
Lucid’s big electric luxury SUV delivers unique style, advanced features, comfort and room.
The Gravity is long and low, with styling a bit more reminiscent of a minivan than an SUV. Five- and seven-seat models are available. It’s Lucid’s second vehicle and a fine follow-up to the outstanding Air luxury sedan.
Lucid’s internally developed battery and motors deliver up to 450 miles on a charge, 560 hp and 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds. An innovative “boost charging” feature allows a wide range of DC fast chargers to deliver maximum power. The Gravity’s NACS port provides access to Tesla’s enviable fast-charging network.
From features to choice of materials, Lucid’s engineering and design teams have created a unique vision of modern luxury.
Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

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