The semifinalist lists for the annual North American Car and Truck of the Year awards mix halo performance, practical hatchbacks and unfinished newcomers. Four pickups and five passenger cars made the first cut in September 2026, and most of the field has yet to face its full evaluation. Here are nine of those vehicles, each with a note on why it earned a place.
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1. Ram 1500 TRX SRT: Halo Truck Gatecrasher
The Ram 1500 TRX SRT is a Truck of the Year semifinalist, and Carscoops reports describe it as a supercharged halo truck producing 777 hp (580 kW). The same coverage notes a price of more than $100,000.
Few semifinalists sit so far from the typical pickup shopper’s budget. A figure above $100,000 makes the TRX a showcase for what a full-size truck can do, so its presence in the field says more about performance ambitions than about everyday value, which judges will weigh in later rounds. Readers tracking the awards should remember that semifinalist status is only the first step, with narrower lists still ahead.
2. Slate Truck: Preproduction Pickup Contender
The Slate Truck is a bare-bones electric pickup that appears on the list even though, per coverage from Carscoops, customers still cannot take delivery of it. It remains officially in preproduction.
A contender nobody can buy yet is an unusual position for an awards field. Buyers interested in the stripped-down approach will have to wait for deliveries to begin, and the semifinalist label should be read as recognition of the concept rather than a verdict on a finished, owned vehicle. Anyone following the field can treat it as a reminder that awards attention and showroom availability do not always arrive together, and plans should rest on confirmed delivery dates.
3. Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 Hybrid: Electrified Entry From Stuttgart
The Mercedes-Benz CLA 220 Hybrid is one of five vehicles in the passenger-car category, a group according to Carscoops lists alongside the Audi A6, Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, Kia K4 Hatchback and Lexus ES.
The CLA stands as the electrified luxury sedan in that lineup. Shoppers comparing hybrids with fully electric and conventional cars can treat the list as a handy shortlist, though a semifinalist spot signals only that the car advanced, not that it will reach the finalist stage. Final results will depend on how the cars perform against one another once evaluators complete their comparisons, so this early placement is best viewed as a starting point.
4. Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Overhauled Bestseller
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 arrives as a newly overhauled model and is one of four trucks on the semifinalist list, according to reporting from Auto123 about the preliminary finalists.
Full-size pickups carry heavy sales volume, so a fresh redesign draws attention from fleet and retail buyers alike. Because the update is new, long-term durability and real-world ownership costs remain unproven, and the award process is one of several ways owners may judge the changes. Comparing trims, towing needs and cabin quality side by side will matter more to buyers than any list placement, particularly with several rival trucks competing for the same customers.
5. GMC Sierra 1500: Sibling In The Same Class
The GMC Sierra 1500 is grouped with the Silverado as a newly overhauled model in the same truck class, as Auto123’s list lays out. That makes it the second GM full-size pickup among the four trucks.
Two related trucks from one manufacturer can split attention in a small field. For shoppers, the pairing offers a chance to compare how a shared platform is tuned differently, with the Sierra pitched to buyers who want a more upscale feel than its Chevrolet counterpart. Anyone cross-shopping the pair will want to compare pricing, interior materials and available equipment directly, since matching mechanical foundations do not guarantee matching ownership experiences.
6. Audi A6: Driven In Early Testing
The Audi A6 is a passenger-car semifinalist, and Auto123 notes states that the passenger-car entries have been driven, at least during initial test drives.
That caveat matters for context. Initial drives are brief and controlled, so they cannot reveal everything about comfort, reliability or running costs. Buyers weighing the A6 should view its place on the list as an early positive, with deeper evaluation still to come. Test drives of the finished car, ideally on familiar roads, remain the best way for a shopper to judge whether early praise holds up in daily use.
7. Hyundai Ioniq 6 N: Electric Performance Arrives
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N brings what Automotive Addicts says it calls serious electric performance into the Car of the Year mix, giving the passenger-car group its most overtly sporting battery-powered option.
Performance electric cars appeal to enthusiasts who want speed without a combustion engine, yet they often trade range and cost for that thrill. Anyone considering the Ioniq 6 N should compare it against the more modest entries on the same list. Charging access, insurance costs and tire wear deserve a look too, since performance-oriented electric cars can be demanding on all three over time.
8. Kia K4 Hatchback: Attainable And Practical
The Kia K4 Hatchback is presented by Automotive Addicts as a more attainable and practical approach among the Car of the Year contenders, in contrast with the pricier entries around it.
A hatchback body adds cargo flexibility that sedans lack, and an accessible price keeps the car in reach for ordinary commuters. For buyers outside the luxury segment, the K4 is arguably the semifinalist whose purpose most closely matches everyday needs. Cabin space, fuel or energy costs and warranty coverage are worth comparing against rivals, because accessible pricing only helps when ownership expenses stay reasonable as well.
9. Lexus ES: Redesigned Sedan Option
The Lexus ES is a redesigned model and one of five contenders for passenger-car honors, according to Automotive Addicts’ roundup, which lists it among the Car of the Year hopefuls.
The ES has long served buyers who prioritize a quiet, comfortable ride over sporty handling. A redesign invites fresh scrutiny of that formula, and shoppers should wait for full reviews before deciding whether the changes improve on the car it replaces. Choosing between redesigned generations and the outgoing model also deserves thought, since early production runs sometimes bring small quirks that later updates correct.
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