The Oscars of the auto industry are in, and the winners hail from just two manufacturers. Ford took home two of three awards, with Hyundai claiming the third. The small group of winners also neatly shows the interests of American car shoppers. There’s a reliable, solid-investment compact car that has grown more upscale and stylish over time to show our practical side; an all-electric crossover with athletic looks and acceleration, to show our increasing interest in environmentally-friendly vehicles if they can perform; and a full-size pickup, to show our continued love for big, Swiss-army-knife-like vehicles that contrasts, for now, with that push for low-carbon transportation.
2021 North American Car of the Year: Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra took home North American Car of the Year honors, thanks to its goldilocks blend of style and substance at a reasonable price. All-new for 2021, the Elantra is gorgeous. It offers standard safety features not normally available in its class. And early indications say it won’t cost much to own – even the base version gets 43 mpg on the highway (an available hybrid model bumps that up to 54), and every Elantra comes with a class-best 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
With an MSRP of $20,645, the Elantra is priced comfortably in the middle of a crowded pack of small cars. But it bests most of them over and over, also winning our 2021 Compact Car Best Buy Award.
2021 North American Truck of the Year: Ford F-150
Another KBB award winner went on to capture the North American Pickup Truck of the Year award – the Ford F-150. Our 2021 Pickup Truck Best Buy Award winner, the F-150 is entirely new for the 2021 model year.
It’s incredibly functional, with best-in-class towing, payload, and power. The F-150 has long been comfortable enough to serve as a daily commuter and haul the family on long road trips. But the new version goes beyond that, with a ride as smooth and quiet as most luxury cars, and cabin tech more advanced than any competitor. And it’s available in a huge list of configurations, making it possible to buy an F-150 that meets nearly any need, from basic fleet work truck to luxury pickup.
Pricing starts at $28,940. The F-150 has been America’s best-selling vehicle for 43 years, and we see little reason to think that will change with the new, improved version on offer.
2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year: Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The award generating the most buzz, however, is the winner of the SUV category. The 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year is a sign of what’s to come for car shoppers. The all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E is remarkable for its almost complete lack of compromises.
It’s a practical family vehicle, with upscale materials throughout and genuine space for adults in the back. Mach-E is sharp-looking, with clear visual connections to the Mustang heritage even in something more versatile than a muscle car. The electric Mustang as quick as a sports car. The high-performance trim levels accelerate to sixty in just 3.5 seconds. And it offers up to 300 miles of driving range without a drop of gasoline.
The Mach-E is a vehicle that should keep Elon Musk up at night (and there are signs that it is, with Tesla dropping the price of its Model Y just this week). The Mustang Mach-E starts at $42,895, but that price drops with significant federal tax incentives.
About the Awards
The North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year awards are given by a panel of 50 automotive journalists, including representation from Kelley Blue Book. Voters considered segment leadership, innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction, and value for the dollar. The votes were tallied confidentially by Deloitte, LLP.
