Volvo XC90, Honda Civic Win North American Car And Truck Award

The 2016 Volvo XC90 ran away from the competition, winning the North American Truck of the Year award by nearly 200 points. The 2016 Honda Civic took the mantle for the Car of the Year award.

Announced before the doors opened for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit Monday, the award is unique because it is given by a slate of independent journalists and not one media organization. Both winners had taken the award before. The Civic won in 2006 and the XC90 won in 2003. And the XC90 was Yahoo Autos Ride of the Year winner last year. We did not get the Honda Civic in time to test for the 2016 awards, but will take a closer look at it next year.

In December, the Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Civic and Mazda MX-5 Miata were named the car finalists for the prestigious award, and the Honda Pilot, Nissan Titan XD and Volvo XC90 were named the three truck finalists.

The list of finalists marked a few surprises. The energy efficient Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius and did not make the final cut. The No. 1 selling midsize pickup, the Toyota Tacoma, as well as the influential Tesla Model X also did not make the finalist list.

John McElroy, a longtime auto journalist in Detroit and juror member, said “This year was not easy, now you have to get down to nitpicking details.”

McElroy noted that the Volvo XC90, like the Miata, makes a big statement for the brand.

“(The XC90) is a terrific vehicle, this is Volvo’s comeback,” McElroy said. “They have been essentially out of the market for eight years. They’ve got a vehicle that is absolutely terrific.”

This is the 23^rd year for the award that grown in scope and size.

Check out the odds Yahoo! Autos editor Scott Burgess gave each of the cars and trucks of winning back in December, when the finalists were announced. He’d like you all to know that he was very, very right.

This compact car should be considered the front runner for the North American Car of the Year award. It is supremely quiet, has lots of technology added to it and rides great. I give it a 60 percent chance of winning.

This all-new, light-weighted midsize sedan could become a powerhouse for Chevrolet, but it lacks the revolutionary approach of the Civic and familiar fondness of the Miata. I give it a 5 percent chance of winning.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a sentimental favorite, but we only give it a 30 percent chance of winning the award.

It is all new and a strong strong contender in the large SUV market. But it doesn’t have the chops to pull in the North American Truck of the Year honors in 2016. It’s good, but the competition is better. I give it an 8 percent chance of winning.

Nissan’s new tweener truck (bigger than a full-size pickup and smaller than a heavy duty) is the dark horse in the truck of the year competition. It’s 5.0L diesel engine provides lots of working torque and its aggressive styling may win over some old-school judges who don’t think SUVs are trucks, but it won’t have enough mustard to pull in the award. I give a 22 percent chance of winning.

Everyone seems impress with this brute of a sport ute. The Volvo XC90 does make a statement, showing that a small four-cylinder engine can power a big SUV. It comes loaded with technology and a plush interior, which helped it win Yahoo! Autos Ride of the Year. I give it a 64 percent chance of winning even more.