Volvo EX30 No Longer in the Running for NACTOY Award
The North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year (NACTOY) awards are a big deal this time of year, as they can significantly boost a model’s fortunes on the market. The automotive journalist-led assessments have requirements on when in the year vehicles can be released to qualify for an award. The Volvo EX30 was on the list until yesterday when NACTOY President Jeff Gilbert notified the group that the automaker had requested its new electric SUV be removed from the running because it won’t arrive until deep into 2024.
Volvo told NACTOY that the “first vehicles will not be delivered to customers until well into 2024, perhaps not until summer.” A Volvo spokesperson confirmed the move, saying that the company wants to be “fully transparent.” Reservations were expected to open in November but were pushed back to January, which moves the SUV’s release past NACTOY’s cutoff date.
The EX30 will likely make significant waves, even without a NACTOY award. It’s expected to land with a price tag in the mid-$30,000 range and will deliver impressive specs for the price. Volvo has also promised extensive safety equipment and high-end tech features in the new SUV.
Other vehicles in the EX30’s category include the Kia EV9 and Genesis GV70. Jurors replaced the Volvo with the Hyundai Kona EV, stacking three vehicles from the same parent automaker against each other.
[Image: Volvo]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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Hyundai and Kia do not revel in such arbitrary accolades for we define the acronymic performance targets that others like Toyota, Lexus and Honda can only strive to comprehend. Take, for example, our Genesis lineup which has completely bypassed Japanese "Luxury" marques and commanded record setting ATPs in all segments, only true hardcore luxury performance drivers will shop Genesis' exclusive Rwd lineup with legendary performance powerplants, not unlike Porsche clientele. Awards can go to our cowering foes while we stand head and shoulders above Toyota and Lexus.
So they'll compete next year. Big deal.
My wife is very interested in the EX30 as a Bolt replacement, probably a couple years down the line, but I may find the center-only screen to be a deal breaker. I also want to see the 2026 Bolt first.
Gee, never heard of the NACTOY award.
Building on some of Tassos' legit criticisms, these awards are bs wrapped in cat piss.
Want to impress? Have an award for best 3 year old lease returns all out of warranty coverage and a 2nd category for 6 year old cars and trucks. Let's check long term'ish ownership costs, driveability, creeks 'n rattles and solidity.
New cars are unaffordable to the majority of people. Let's see real world testing of the cars/SUVs most people buy.