Hyundai Genesis.

Dodge Ram

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why is the VW in both lists/

Hyundia Genesis- Best in class

Chevy Traverse- Best in Class (excluding other 3 platform mates)

Genesis

Forester

CTS-V: Looks and class leading performance
Ram: Raises the bar for pick-up trucks

The 1-series is not the car of the year. It might have been the car of three years ago, or whenever it was introduced in Europe. Over here, it's too small, too expensive, and doesn't come in the hatchback versions that are so much more appealing to families. The GTR might deserve it despite being limited, impractical, and ugly, just because it's such a beast. But the 1-series breaks no new ground.

Car: XF or 1 Series
Truck: Tiguan

These seem pretty cut and dry to me:
Hyundai Genesis
Dodge Ram

Cars: either G8 or XF

As before, I don't understand the selection of a number of the cars and trucks on this list. I guess it boils down to exactly what "car/truck of the year" means. Is it a game changing vehicle? a vehicle that represents a major step for a company? a future vision brought into the present?

It seems to me like a number of these vehicles do not fit any of the criteria, and are just up there to fill some space.

The most significant on the list:

1. Cars: Hyundai Genesis
2. Trucks: BMW X6

As far as picking the best, that would be different for each person. For me:

1. Cars: Honda Fit
2. Trucks: Subaru Forester

Why is the Flex on the car list but the Traverse on the truck list? Aren't they both crossovers?

I'd vote for Mazda6. If you can beat the Accord and Camry (okay not that impressive) for enthusists and appeal to mass market, it's definitely a winner. Genesis is nice, but enthusists won't buy it because its track numbers (with ESC) is just not that impressive. Most mass market customers will not choose this over a Lexus no matter how much better it is. Lexus's reputation and quality reputation will destroy any bargin you can get on a Hyundai.

For trucks I'd go with Ram or F-150. Which ever one you think is better. I'm pretty unimpressed by the truck selection this year.

Car: Genesis (Would be the 1 Series, but it's hardly new)
Truck: BMW X6 (You either love it or you hate it and I love mine)

Why do they still refer to SUVs and crossover's as Trucks? The only trucks I see on the list are the Ram and the F150.

I don't think the Genesis is the greatest car on that list but it's certainly the most significant.

As far as trucks the Ram is mostly new with IRS, the F-150 changes are mostly cosmetic other than the overdue transmission, there are a bunch of forgettable CUVs exactly like the gazillion other forgettable CUVs we already have, and there's a Korean Explorer. Not a hard decision there.

Genesis or 6

Ram or Traverse

I hope no one votes for the Tiguan as that vehicle is breaking no new ground.

flex/xf/g8/1

Ram/f-150/x6

yea...I REALLY hope the X6 loses...

Audi A4 pleeeeeeeez

Genesis or Flex

&

Ram

Aspade..... not to nit-pick but, I don't think the Ram has IRS. It has a regular truck axle but coil springs and links vs. the traditional leaf spring set up. It is this aspect as well as a couple others that makes me give the Ram the nod over the F-150. I think the F-150 is a better truck and it would get my $ before the Ram would but it's more evolutionary than revolutionary. Gotta give Dodge kudos for possibly introducing a game changer.

The cts-v and dodge ram are the cars most worthy of the title. One of them has completely changed the perception of a brand, while the other is going to save a brand (hopefully). The Cadillac has finally made a truly fantastic car, and Dodge has redefined what a truck should be. I will never own a truck, but I am highly considering buying the cts-v, I might have to wait for the coupe though.

My comment is this: What sort of idiotic thinking went into putting the Forester up against the Ram? Or any CUV up against any full-size pickup on this list? How can you possibly cross-compare them?

This just goes to show how meaningless this award is.

I do agree these awards are stupid and pointless. They are only used by the winner to advertise and Americans are gullable enough to buy a car based solely on an autowriter's specific set of criteria.

Chavis beat me to it.

I vote the whole thing be done away with.

I agree with brn / chavis / rsholland....
These "lists" are of no importance to me.
They seem like a waste of editorial time,
at least for the reader satifaction level
anyway.

lol, @ the Fit in the truck list.
and the Flex in the car list.
I read NO MAGS "super all line up
vehicle of the year" award tests...
its so.....1980's

These lists exist so a bunch of auto writers can be important for a split second.

"lol, @ the Fit in the truck list.
and the Flex in the car list. "

The fit isn't in the truck list.

Car: Hyundai Genesis. Not in the luxury top-tier, but good enough to help drive a few brands to extinction.

Truck: Dodge Ram by default. Not a truck year.

Wow, I'm the first GT-R vote.

Car: Nissan GT-R
Truck: Dodge Ram

There's simply no getting around the fact that the GT-R is a marvel of engineering, even if Edmunds' example isn't a marvel of reliability. Likewise, coil springs are a huge risk for which I believe Dodge should be rewarded.

I would, however, consider either the 6 or the XF for the car award given that both of them advance their segments and are hugely important (largely sucessful) launches for their respective brands.

Volkswagen Tiguan

Mazda 6
Jaguar XF
Hyundai Genesis
Ford Flex

Do we really need to pick a Lambda with a new nose/ass slightly different interior panels. It's the same Lambda.

Car: Genesis
Truck: Ram

I think the CTS-V and Genesis are in the same situation so to speak. Both seem to be world class offerings but we already know the CTS is a good car because its been out for some time now. Taking that into consideration, it was obvious the CTS-V would build upon the regular CTS success.

Regarding the Genesis, I think a lot of people thought it would be sub par because "its a Hyundai" but in reality its very well executed car, especially for the money. Another reason I picked it over the CTS-V is its less expensive (more attainable) as it should be given it performance targets. In the end I think the Genesis is more significant for Hyundai as a brand than just one model trim of the CTS is for Cadillac.

I picked the Ram because of the innovations it will bring to the segment. Hopefully overall quality will go up substaintially and at least meet its competitors.

I agree with most of you guys.
Car: 6/Genesis/Flex
Truck: Ram

Cars: There are no true game changers here, but the Genesis comes closest.

Trucks: The only trucks I see there are Ram, F150, and Borrego. The Ram wins by default.

Ford Flexeril a car? Yeah, sure. But it ain't a truck either.

Aside from everyone's surprise over how much it doesn't suck, I don't understand the appeal of the Genesis. It's so vanilla and unspectacular.

The only benchmark in the Car category is the
CTS-V, closely followed by the GT-R

Likewise, for Trucks, I believe the appeal of the appeal of the Traverse is also due to the surprise over how much it doesn't suck. Even though it's a very sharp vehicle, it's not Car of the Year worthy.

Most of the Trucks/Crossovers are pretty unspectacular. The only trucks that really show forward thinking and break away from the status quo is the

ML320 BlueTec, closely followed by the
Saturn Vue Two-Mode Hybrid

Ne1butu2, I view the GT-R and CTS-V as vehicles that have zero impact on the automotive world. They're not game changers. In fact they don't even rate a blip in the scheme of the way automakers behave. The Genesis represents something different and I think hits wannabe luxury brands like Lexus, Infiniti, Caddy and Acura.

blueguydotcom:

Perhaps you're right. The GT-R and the CTS-V are for enthusiasts who make up a small number of the total population. While I am unimpressed with the Genesis, it will steal boatloads of sales from the Toyota Avalon, Lexus ES and Buick. So if you consider an "of the year" winner to be a car based on its technology, performance, design and merits that will trickle down to mainstream vehicles, I have to go with the CTS-V or GT-R. Or if the winner is simply a Sam's Club membership where you get lots of unspectacular stuff on the cheap, then the Genesis gets the nod.

What from the CTS-V or GT-R will trickle down? Superchargers? Turbos? Dual clutch manuals? Driver adjustable shocks? All of this exists today on much cheaper mainstream cars. What's on the GT-R or CTS-V that's so special and unusual?

"What from the CTS-V or GT-R will trickle down? Superchargers? Turbos? Dual clutch manuals? Driver adjustable shocks? "

Oh, I dunno. Heightened performance standards maybe. New benchmarks that others will have to match. There's a reason you're so impressed with the Genesis and that Hyundai can build a car like this. It's because the advancements on more expensive cars have provided the roadmap on how to build such a car. It's also why I suggest that the Blue Tec MB should win the Truck category.

I don't think the car of the year should go to a performance vehicle like the CTS-V or the GT-R. They're a bit too niche.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Car_of_the_Year

have a look at the wikipedia list of the NACOTY...the GT-R and CTS-V would stick out like a sore thumb in this list. They are not what NACOTY is about.

"There's simply no getting around the fact that the GT-R is a marvel of engineering"

Uhh... in what way? What does that car have that an EVO MR doesn't? Nothing, unless you count the PS3 dashboard display. Where's the direct injection and torque vectoring AWD system I can get on a Saab or BMW?

The CTS-V shouldn't even be on the list. If the regular CTS didn't win the award last year it shouldn't have another chance this year.

"Do we really need to pick a Lambda with a new nose/ass slightly different interior panels. It's the same Lambda."

Yes because it's the best vehicle in the class- period. More power than anything else and equal/better economy with the most room. In case you didn't know (what a surprise here) it'll be the highest volume seller of the quartet.

I'd vote for the Ram because of the coilover suspension is the best old is new innovation.
I'd vote for Godzilla in the cars just because.