DETROIT — After an intensive, year-long jury process designed to identify the best-in-class vehicles for the upcoming model year. The winners of the NACTOY honors for 2026 have been named.

The winners are:
— North American Car of the Year: Dodge Charger
— North American Truck of the Year: Ford Maverick Lobo
— North American Utility Vehicle of the Year: Hyundai Palisade

NACTOY jurors have spent the last year test-driving, researching and evaluating vehicles on criteria including automotive innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, driver satisfaction, user experience and value.

When the Hyundai Palisade burst onto the scene a few years ago, the brand new flagship SUV became an instant smash.

With upscale and comfortable seating for up to 8 passengers, the Palisade is one of the vehicles leading the resurgence of Hyundai in the tough SUV battleground. Ironically, one of its top competitors is a corporate cousin, the Kia Telluride, along with the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander.

But everything must change to stay relevant, so a refresh to the Palisade’s design inside and out has arrived for 2023. There’s also a new stylish and rugged trim level (XRT) added for 2023, improved tech setup, and safety upgrades.

I recently tested a 2023 Hyundai Palisade, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up against today’s best SUVs.