For five straight years, Ford left the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards emptyhanded.
The Dearborn automaker broke the losing streak in style on Monday, Jan. 11, winning two of the three honors.
The Ford F-150 was named 2021 North American Truck of the Year and the Mustang Mach-E was named the 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Hyundai Elantra took the other title, winning North American Car of the Year honors.
A panel of 50 automotive journalists evaluated dozens of vehicles to determine the NACTOY winners.
The Mustang Mach-E is an electric SUV-version of the storied Mustang sports car. They start at $42,895 and are expected to hit dealerships soon. The Mustang Mach-E is built in Mexico.
“This is really special for us,” said Kumar Galhotra, the Ford president accepting the awards virtually on Monday. “If you’re going to create a new Mustang, you can’t mess this up.”
The Mustang Mach-E represents the future of the company, Galhotra said. It has a standard electric range of 230 miles and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds.
“Obviously there was a risk that the ‘hardcore Mustang fans’ might not want a four-door SUV,” Galhotra said. “But the more we talked to them, one thing that became really clear. If we were going to expand the Mustang family, it has to deliver on what it means to be a Mustang.”
The goal was to build a “fun-to-drive element” into the Mustang Mach-E, Galhotra said.
“If we truly deliver on those (core values of a Mustang), their view was, it would actually enhance the Mustang brand, not take away from it,” Galhotra said. “On the other hand, if we didn’t, it would – and it should – take away from the brand.”
All-new F-150 Limited in Smoked Quartz Tinted Clearcoat. New exterior design has a bolder and even tougher look, while an all-new interior provides more comfort, technology and functionality for truck customers, along with enhanced materials, new color choices and more storage.
The 2021 F-150 is built in Dearborn and starts at $28,940.
The new model is successful because of the Ford team’s research about how customers use their trucks, Galhotra said.
Many are used at construction sites, so Ford built in the ability to use the truck as a mobile generator. Customers also often napped in their truck, so Ford designed seats that recline all the way in a comfortable sleep position. People also needed a workspace but didn’t want to sacrifice the traditional shifter, so Ford made a shifter that folds down so drivers can set up a laptop in the center console.
The new available Interior Work Surface makes living and working in the cabin easier with a large, flat deployable surface ideal for signing documents, using a laptop or just enjoying your lunch break. Available in both bench and captain’s seat configurations from XL to Limited.
Of the nine finalists for the three awards, Detroit’s Big 3 automakers took four spots. The Jeep Gladiator Mojave and Ram 1500 TRX were also finalists for Truck of the Year.
Foreign automakers took all three Car of the Year finalist spots. It was no surprise Ford didn’t make the cut – since it no longer builds a traditional sedan. It’s discontinuing models like the Fusion, leaving the Mustang as its only offering that’s not a truck or SUV.
A look at the Hyundai Elantra, the 2021 North American Car of the Year winner.
While some carmakers shift away from sedans, Hyundai and others still see value in the market.
“We believe that a lot of the consumers still prefer to be in a compact and mid-size sedan versus SUVs, especially young consumers,” said Jose Munoz, president and CEO of Hyundai North America. “This is what we’ve seen in our research.”
Munoz credits more technology, better design and better features for his team’s Car of the Year victory – the company’s first win in the category since the Elantra won in 2012.
“We firmly believe in this segment and we’ll continue to invest and develop great products within it,” Munoz said.
