DETROIT — As the Detroit Auto Show kicked off this week, we also learned the identity of the 2025 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) awards.

Taking home top honors were:
— North American Car of the Year: Honda Civic Hybrid
— North American Truck of the Year: Ford Ranger
— North American Utility Vehicle of the Year: Volkswagen ID.Buzz

The honors were handed out after a year of evaluation by NACTOY jurors who judged vehicles in areas including automotive innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, driver satisfaction, user experience and value. After the “Best of 2025” semifinalists were announced in September at Michigan Central Station, the list was narrowed further to 9 finalists, unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

“With such a tremendous crop of vehicles to review, our jurors worked overtime to decide the ‘best of the best,’” said NACTOY President Jeff Gilbert. “This year’s winners are on the cutting edge when it comes to technology, styling and value.”

Founded in 1994, the NACTOY awards are judged by 50 professional automotive journalists from a wide variety of print, online, radio and television media outlets in the United States and Canada. The awards are unique because they are given by an independent jury of automotive journalists instead of by a single publication, website, radio or television station.

Juror comments on the Honda Civic Hybrid:
“The Honda Civic has won awards for half a century now, and the Civic Hybrid brings Honda’s superb and fuel-efficient hybrid system into one of the market’s best compact sedans. Fun, fuel-efficient, and more elegant than its predecessors, it’s a hands-down winner.” – John Voelcker, Contributing Editor: Car and Driver, Green Car Reports, Inside EVs

“The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid is a much needed affordable high-mileage family car. In addition to sharp styling, a nicely crafted interior and a comfortable ride, the Civic Hybrid delivers exceptional fuel economy.” – Matt DeLorenzo, Editor-in-Chief, Tightwad Garage

Juror comments on the Ford Ranger:
“The Ford Ranger starts at $34,575 and the well-equipped SuperCrew 4×4 XLT has a base price of $39,646. It’s a midsize truck that looks like a full-size F-150, has combined fuel economy of 20 mpg and can tow 7,500 lbs. It has a solid and refined chassis, a nice interior and is a good choice for budget-conscious buyers.” – Drew Winter, Contributing Editor, WardsAuto

“Ford’s expertise in building trucks is evident in the 2025 Ranger that offers plenty of utility plus an added dose of comfort and convenience.” – Jack Nerad, America on the Road Radio, Sports Byline Radio Network

Juror comments on the Volkswagen ID.Buzz:
“If you have to drive a minivan, why not drive the one everybody waves to and just wants to hug? Seriously, the ID. Buzz has a decent 230+-mile range, beaucoup space inside, lots of useful features and it’s fun to drive.” – Ken Gross, freelance

“No vehicle in the last ten years has captured the imagination, while also bringing the past into the future, better than the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. It is an inspired Volkswagen design for the ages… again.” – John Davis, Host/Creator, MotorWeek

Amber Balcaen was the fastest of 70 drivers that participated in this week’s two-day ARCA pre-race practice at Daytona International Speedway. Balcaen turned her fast lap, 49.102 seconds/183.292 miles per hour, in a tight draft with her Nitro Motorsports teammate Thad Moffitt and fellow Toyota drivers out of the Venturini Motorsports stable.

The 62nd Annual Daytona ARCA 200 is scheduled for Saturday, February 15, at noon. The race will be televised live on FOX and will be carried live nationwide on select affiliates of the MRN Radio Network. Live timing and scoring data from all on-track activity, including practice on Thursday, February 13, and General Tire Pole Qualifying on Friday, February 14, is available at ARCARacing.com.

In other highlights from the two-day test:

— Eighteen-year-old Chase Pinsonnault made a strong debut in the ARCA Menards Series, timing in second fastest at 49.226 seconds/182.830 miles per hour. Pinsonnault, a third-generation racer, has driven in the ASA STARS National Tour for NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar; he will make his first career ARCA Menards Series start in the Daytona ARCA 200.

— Balcaen, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Pinsonnault, from Windsor, Ontario, gave Canadian drivers a sweep of the top two positions for the first time in the history of the pre-season practice runs at Daytona International Speedway.

Subaru of America, in partnership with Operation Warm, announced its continued efforts to help children in urgent need through the Subaru Loves to Help initiative. This season, Subaru and its retailers will provide brand-new coats, shoes and socks to more than 130,000 children across the country, visiting homeless shelters and support agencies to coordinate gifting events.

As the largest automotive sponsor of Operation Warm, Subaru understands that essential clothing provides warmth and comfort and just as importantly, instills confidence and emotional well-being. Through gifting events sponsored by more than 630 Subaru retailers around the country, children will personally select their new pieces of clothing, which have been updated with new designs and colors this year to keep pace with national trends.

“Kids grow out of clothing about every six months, so for those in urgent need situations a coat and shoes that fit cannot be taken for granted. As part of our commitment to being ‘More Than a Car Company,’ we are working to make sure that these children feel strong, confident, and prepared for the day, said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing forSubaru of America.

If you think you’ve been hearing about the Volkswagen ID.Buzz for a while, you would be correct.

First unveiled as a concept vehicle at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, it is finally available for sale in the U.S. after a long journey and first debuting in Europe.

First things first, what exactly is the ID.Buzz?
Is it a microbus? A minivan?

Whatever you want to call it, this nostalgia-inspired offering harkens back to VW’s 1960s microbus heritage (the kind you might have taken to Woodstock). Brought into the present, it is a wholly unique entry in the U.S. automotive landscape. There are just a few large fully electric SUVs that can be considered competition (Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Rivian R1S), and some minivans that are offered in hybrid versions that could be cross-shopped, but none of the alternatives are in the exact class of the ID.Buzz — it’s truly its own category in many ways. 

Doubters will be tempted to write off the ID.Buzz as a trendy offering, but there is plenty of capability and versatility offered by the vehicle that should silence them. It’s got plenty of power, lots of cargo space and room for 7 passengers, and a versatile design to accommodate various needs.

I recently got some time behind the wheel of this long-awaited VW revival, driving a 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz Pro S Plus, and I’m back with a full report for all who may be interested in taking one home.

The 2025 model year brings a new addition to the Mazda lineup … well, sort of new if we’re being honest.

The Mazda CX-70 is a five-passenger midsize SUV that is essentially the same as the CX-90 SUV, minus the third row of seats.

I recently tested a 2025 Mazda CX-70 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus model, and below are the top 5 things you need to know when deciding if the CX-70 is a vehicle that will meet your needs.

When it comes to taking the plunge in the electrification of their vehicle offerings, some car brands jumped into it head-first, while other brands are being more cautious.

Mazda is one of the brands taking a more reserved approach, having no full EVs yet (and none expected until 2027), and really just starting to offer hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles in its lineup.

One of those initial offerings is the 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV, a plug-in version of the brand’s largest, three-row SUV — featuring standard all-wheel drive, and room for up to 8 passengers. This is the second year the plug-in option has been offered on the CX-90.

There are few true competitors to this vehicle — though Volvo offers a plug-in hybrid of its XC90 (which is more expensive) and Kia offers a plug-in version of the Sorento (which is less powerful). Many leading three-row SUVs, including the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, have no plug-in hybrid offerings as of now.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus model, and I’m back with a full report on how it looks and drives, and who might want to take one home.

Boldly designed while simultaneously upscale, the Mazda CX-50 occupies a unique position in the realm of compact SUVs.

Introduced a couple years back as a curious addition to Mazda’s lineup, offering a more rugged design and adventurous nature than Mazda’s popular CX-5 offering, the CX-50 has proven itself to be a worthy contender in the busy compact SUV segment.

Between its sharp looks, upscale interior features, tremendous handling and overall driving experience, this relative newcomer has emerged as a leading contender to meet the needs of SUV buyers.

New for 2025 in the CX-50’s third year is the arrival of a hybrid powertrain offering, as well as upgrades to standard tech features on all trim levels. It does a balancing act between pushing boundaries and maintaining Mazda’s reputation as one of the more upscale non-luxury brands.

Read on for a full breakdown of the 2025 Mazda CX-50, where it shines, and where improvements can be made as Mazda takes on heavyweight competitors like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.

SUVs don't have to be boring. In fact, some are downright thrilling.

Case in point: I recently tested the 2025 Audi SQ7, a rare vehicle that checks all the boxes that both driving performance lovers and family-focused buyers are looking for in a car.

The regular Audi Q7 is already an excellent three-row luxury SUV, and by adding in a powerful V8 motor and 500 horsepower, the SQ7 takes that experience to new levels.

There are few true competitors to the SQ7, though BMW and Mercedes-Benz do offer powerful, 500+ horsepower versions of their larger SUVs.
Read on for a full breakdown of what the SQ7 has to offer.

While other brands are bowing out of the sedan market to focus on SUVs, Volkswagen isn’t quite throwing in the towel.

For the 2025 model year, they continue to offer the Volkswagen Jetta, a budget-friendly compact sedan offering attractive styling and strong fuel efficiency.

Offered for the past 35 years, the Jetta is VW’s only remaining sedan, and gets a refreshed look on both the front and rear ends for 2025, but not a full redesign.

I recently tested a 2025 Volkswagen Jetta (SEL trim level), and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up against compact sedan offerings from Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda and more.

As drivers continue to embrace SUVs as the go-to vehicle, sedans continue to face a tough environment.

With that in mind, we are saying goodbye to another sedan in 2025, and this time it’s the Subaru Legacy, which is bidding farewell after more than 35 years and more than 1.3 million sales in North America.

The Legacy is a vehicle that’s easy to like. It’s capable of dealing with tough weather conditions, well-equipped with safety features, is quite roomy inside, and offers a strong turbo engine option.

I recently tested the 2025 Subaru Legacy (a Touring XT model), and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up to the remaining sedan rivals — from Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Nissan — in its final year.