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The Motor Trend Car of the Year ( COTY) is an annual Car of the Year award given by magazine to recognize the best new or significantly refreshed car in a given model year.

Background
Motor Trend, which debuted in 1949, was the first publication to name a Car of the Year. The inaugural Motor Trend Car of the Year award recognized 's V8 engine in .
(2026). 9780760323274, MotorBooks/MBI Publishing. .

The earliest awards were given to the manufacturer or division, not for a specific vehicle. The 1958 Ford Thunderbird became the first single model to be selected.

(2026). 9780873497565, Krause Publications. .
In 1970, the won the COTY while Motor Trend selected the Porsche 914 for its first Import COTY award.

In 1972, the low-volume imported Citroën SM won the overall COTY award. Between 1976 and 1999, the COTY award was split in two: Domestic COTY and Import COTY.

The trophy was recombined in 2000 because the distinctions between domestic and import cars became increasingly difficult. The award has expanded to include a (starting in 1979) and a separate sport utility vehicle (starting in 1999), which are recognized separately from the Car of the Year.

Over time, other publications and organizations have copied Motor Trend's Car of the Year award and created their own. These COTY designations may focus on regional markets, vehicle types, specific market segments, or other criteria. Some examples include the European Car of the Year that began in 1964 by a collective of automobile magazines, the Green Car of the Year selected by a panel of automotive and environmental experts, the Tow Car of the Year chosen by selected sponsors in the industry, and the Fleet Car of the Year that is voted by professional fleet managers.

Impact
Motor Trends Car of the Year is "one of the most prestigious honors bestowed in the auto industry."
(1999). 9780760307816, MotorBooks/MBI Publishing. .

The trophy for the winner, a depiction of , is often used in the winning automaker's marketing and advertising.

(1996). 9780875846330, Harvard Business Press. .
Most cars that win the award report a spike in sales.
(1997). 9780226169101, University of Chicago Press. .
(2026). 9780814330913, Wayne State University Press. .

Criteria
To be eligible for the award, a car must be an "all-new" or "substantially upgraded" vehicle that has been on sale within twelve months from the previous November, vehicles that have been on sale for over five years are ineligible for the award.

Between the contenders, it is not a comparison test. In 2014 as an example, the Motor Trend judges debated and evaluate each vehicle against six key criteria:

well-executed exterior and interior styling; innovative vehicle packaging; selection of materials
vehicle concept and execution; clever solutions to packaging, manufacturing and dynamics issues; cost-effective technology that benefits the consumer
low fuel consumption and carbon footprint, relative to the vehicle's competitive set
active: help the driver avoid a crash; secondary: protect occupants from harm during a crash
competitive price and equipment levels, measured against vehicles in the same market segment
how well the vehicle does the job its planners, designers, and engineers intended

Motor Trend also only considers cars with base MSRPs less than $150,000 in order to avoid expensive luxury and super cars dominating the competition.

Vehicles are subjected to a battery of tests: standard car tests such as skid-pad ratings, acceleration and quarter-mile times, and evaluations of the interiors are combined with a track run conducted by Sports Car Club of America-licensed testers and taking the cars out on normal roads to test their drivability under normal conditions, and fuel economy. Trucks and SUVs add towing capacity and speed, plus an off-road course, to the normal regimen.

Car of the Year Winners
Note that in 1970 and between 1976–2000, the Car of the Year award was split into two categories, domestic and import.
+ ! scope="col"Year ! scope="col"Winner
2026Volkswagen Golf GTI / Golf R
2025Mercedes-Benz E-Class / All-Terrain
2024Toyota Prius / Prius Prime
2023Genesis G90
2022
2021Mercedes Benz E-Class
2020Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
2019Genesis G70
2018Alfa Romeo Giulia / Giulia Quadrifoglio
2017Chevrolet Bolt EV
2016Chevrolet Camaro
2015Volkswagen Golf
2014Cadillac CTS
2013Tesla Model S
2012Volkswagen Passat
2011
2010Ford Fusion
2009
2008Cadillac CTS
2007Toyota Camry
2006Honda Civic
2005Chrysler 300
2004Toyota Prius
2003Infiniti G35
2002Ford Thunderbird
2001Chrysler PT Cruiser
2000
1999Chrysler 300M
1998Chevrolet Corvette
1997Chevrolet Malibu
1996Dodge Caravan
1995
1994Ford Mustang
1993Ford Probe GT
1992Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan (STS)
1991Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ
1990Lincoln Town Car
1989Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe
1988Pontiac Grand Prix
1987Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
1986Ford Taurus LX
1985Volkswagen GTI (built at Volkswagen's Pennsylvania plant)
1984Chevrolet Corvette
1983 (built at AMC's Wisconsin plant)
1982Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1981Chrysler K Cars ()
1980Chevrolet Citation
1979Buick Riviera S
1978
1977Chevrolet Caprice
1976
1975 2+2
1974Ford Mustang
1973Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1972Citroën SM (imported vehicle, selected "Overall Car of the Year")
1971
1970
1969Plymouth Road Runner
1968Pontiac GTO
1967Mercury Cougar
1966Oldsmobile Toronado
1965Pontiac Motor Division
1964Ford Motor Company
1963American Motors (AMC) Rambler (all models; , , Ambassador)
1962Buick Special
1961Pontiac Tempest
1960Chevrolet Corvair
1959Pontiac Motor Division
1958Ford Thunderbird
1957 (Plymouth, , DeSoto, Chrysler, Imperial)
1956Ford Motor Company
1955
1954No Award
1953No Award
1952
1951
1950No Award
1949

Import Car of the Year Winners
Introduced in 1970 for one year and then brought back in 1976 due to differences between imports and American cars. The award was discontinued after the 1999 model year when the difference between what was a domestic and an import had started to become problematic.
+ ! scope="col"Year ! scope="col"Winner
1999Volkswagen New Beetle
1998Lexus GS
1997BMW 5-Series
1996Mercedes-Benz E-Class
1995Nissan Maxima
1994Honda Accord (imported nameplate, locally built at Honda's Marysville Auto Plant)
1993Mazda RX-7
1992Lexus SC 400
1991Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4
1990Nissan 300ZX Turbo
1989Mitsubishi Galant GS
1988Honda CR-X Si
1987Acura Legend Coupe
1986Mazda RX-7
1985Toyota MR2
1984Honda Civic CR-X
1983Mazda 626
1982Toyota Celica Supra
1981Mercedes-Benz 300SD Turbodiesel
1980Honda Civic
1979Datsun 280ZX
1978Toyota Celica
1977Mercedes-Benz 280E
1976Toyota Celica Liftback
1975No Award
1974No Award
1973No Award
1972No Award
1971No Award
1970Porsche 914

Truck of the Year Winners
+ ! scope="col"Year ! scope="col"Winner
2026
2025Ram 1500
2024Chevrolet Colorado
2023Ford F-150 Lightning
2022Rivian R1T
2021Ram 1500 TRX
2020Ram Heavy Duty
2019Ram 1500
2018Ford F-150 / F-150 Raptor
2017Ford Super Duty
2016Chevrolet Colorado Duramax Diesel
2015Chevrolet Colorado
2014Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
2013Ram 1500
2012Ford F-150
2011Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty
2010Ram Heavy Duty
2009Ford F-150
2008Toyota Tundra
2007Chevrolet Silverado
2006Honda Ridgeline
2005Toyota Tacoma
2004Ford F-150
2003Dodge Ram Heavy Duty
2002Chevrolet Avalanche
2001Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty
2000Toyota Tundra
1999Chevrolet Silverado
1998Mercedes-Benz ML320
1997Ford F-150
1996Chevrolet Tahoe
1995Chevrolet Blazer
1994Dodge Ram
1993Jeep Grand Cherokee
1992Ford Econoline / Club Wagon
1991
1990 4WD
1989Toyota Pickup XtraCab SR5 V6
1988No Award
1987No Award
1986No Award
1985No Award
1984No Award
1983No Award
1982No Award
1981No Award
1980Volkswagen Vanagon
1979Chevrolet LUV
1978Ford Econoline

SUV of the Year Winners
"SUV of the Year" was split from "Truck of the Year" in 1999.
+ ! scope="col"Year ! scope="col"Winner
2026Cadillac Escalade IQ
2025
2024Chevrolet Blazer EV
2023Hyundai Ioniq 5
2022Genesis GV70
2021Land Rover Defender 110
2020
2019Jeep Wrangler / Wrangler Unlimited
2018Honda CR-V
2017Mercedes Benz GLC-Class
2016Volvo XC90
2015Honda CR-V
2014Subaru Forester
2013
2012Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
2011Porsche Cayenne
2010Subaru Outback
2009Subaru Forester
2008Mazda CX-9
2007Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
2006Nissan Xterra
2005Land Rover LR3
2004Volkswagen Touareg
2003Volvo XC90
2002GMC Envoy
2001Acura MDX
2000Nissan Xterra
1999Lexus RX 300

Performance Vehicle of the Year Winners
Motor Trend began their Performance Vehicle of the Year award in 2022.
+ ! scope="col"Year ! scope="col"Winner
2024BMW M2
2023Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2022Porsche 911 GT3

Car of the Year (China)
Motor Trend magazine's -market cousin, Auto Club-Motor Trend, also issues a "Car of the Year" award for that market.

Car of the Year
2011: BMW Brilliance 5 Series (long wheelbase)
2010: Shanghai-GM Buick Regal
2009: GAC-Honda Accord
2008: FAW-Volkswagen Magotan(Passat B6)
2007: GAC-Toyota Camry
2006: FAW-Toyota Crown
2005: Changan-Ford Mondeo
2004: FAW-Mazda 6
2003: Shanghai Volkswagen Polo

SUV of the Year Winners
2011: Audi Q5
2010: Highlander
2009: Dongfeng Nissan X-Trail
2008: CRV
2007: Countermanded
2006:
2005: CRV
2004: Changfeng Automobile Liebao Feiteng

See also
  • List of motor vehicle awards

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