Media Days kicked off with a bang during the 2018 North American International Auto Show. Often referred to as the “Oscars of the Auto Industry,” the announcement of the 2018 North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Awards were just that. These highly-coveted awards recognize excellence in innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, drive satisfaction and value. These factors fall in line with steel’s characteristics of strength, lightweighting, value and performance.

The Honda Accord won the 2018 North American Car of the Year, while the Lincoln Navigator was crowned Truck of the Year and the Volvo XC60 was named top utility vehicle of the year.

Car of the Year: Honda Accord

Honda raised the bar with its 2018 Accord, moving away from its conventional appearance. Known for its reliability, the Accord is composed of 29 percent ultra high-strength steel content and 54.2 percent is high-strength steel (above 440 MPa).This marks the third year in a row for Honda to win an award in one of these categories, with the Honda Civic winning Car of the Year in 2016 and the Honda Ridgeline winning Truck of the Year in 2017.

Truck of the Year: Lincoln Navigator

The all-new Navigator, Lincoln’s flagship SUV, combines modern luxury with advanced technology. The SUV was completely redesigned from the ground up last year for the first time in a decade. With its full-boxed, high-strength steel frame, the Navigator moves confidently on the road. This award marks the first time a Lincoln vehicle has captured one of these prestigious awards.

Utility Vehicle of the Year: Volvo XC60

The Volvo XC60 prevailed as a result of its design, safety and driver-assistance features. The already well-liked midsize SUV was redesigned, offering Volvo’s distinct brand of luxury with a wider appeal. Well-equipped, the Volvo XC60 continues its legacy of using advanced high-strength steel within the vehicle.

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