Our annual Of The Year awards celebrate the very best car, truck, SUV, and auto industry personality. They also capture a moment in time and serve as reminders, upon future reflection, that excellence comes in all shapes, sizes, and magnitudes.
Some years we recognize a localized peak—a game changer whose impact is felt more deeply in one segment than across the whole industry. The Chrysler PT Cruiser (COTY 2001) fits that bill, as does the Nissan GT-R (COTY 2009). Sometimes our winners break ground for entirely new categories of vehicles, as the Lexus RX 300 (the very first SUVOTY, in 1999) did.
Then there are those rare vehicles that end up being bellwethers for fundamental shifts in culture, industry, and consumption habits. Can you imagine a world without the Toyota Prius (COTY 2004) or Tesla Model S (COTY 2013)? I can’t. And yes, for the peanut gallery, I will acknowledge there were times (under previous administrations) when we got caught up in the hype or were just plain wrong.
This is not that year. As moments in time go, 2019 will be remembered as the year of shifting archetypes. Just look at our winning Truck of the Year—every bit a stump-pulling ground pounder until you get inside and revel in its glove-soft leather, cosseting air suspension, and massive app-laden touchscreen display. This is a truck, but it’s like no truck you’ve ever seen.
Same goes for our SUV of the Year. Instantly recognizable by silhouette alone, its name conjures up imagery of soldiers taking hills in far-off lands and dusty weekend scrambles through rock-strewn canyons. But veterans of foreign wars and King of the Hammers alike will scarcely recognize the creature comforts in this category-redefining SUV. Removable doors and a fold-down windshield, plus heated seats and Apple CarPlay with Waze integration? Yup, you really can have it all.