PONTIAC, Mich. (NEWSnet/AP) — Kia EV9 large electric SUV won the 2024 North American Utility of the Year award. Toyota Prius hybrid took the top car honors. Ford’s Super Duty pickup won the truck award.

The awards, announced Thursday at a meeting of Automotive Press Association in Detroit, often are used in advertising by automakers.

About 50 automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada tested and rated the vehicles based on how much they set new benchmarks for their segment of the automobile market.

All the SUV finalists have electric versions, including the electrified GV70 small SUV from Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, and Hyundai Kona and Kona EV.

In addition to Prius and its plug-in version called Prime, car finalists included Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 EV and the redesigned Honda Accord midsize sedan.

Truck finalists included General Motors’ redesigned Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup and Chevy Silverado EV pickup.

Winners were selected from an initial list of 52 eligible cars, trucks and SUVs and narrowed to 25 in September. Finalists were announced in November.

Electric vehicles comprise more than half of the finalists.

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