For the last 28 years, the North American Car, Utility, and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) automotive media jury has gathered to vote on the true standouts of the model year.  Their mission is to reward the best-of-the-best in each segment.  The jurists decide the winner based on a vehicle's excellence in segment leadership, innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.  This year, the car category was won by the 2021 Hyundai Elantra.  It is the second time that the Elantra has nabbed top honors in the competition, with the first time being in 1994.  In the finals of the category, the Elantra beat out the Nissan Sentra and the Genesis G80.

Many consider the NACTOY Awards to be especially prestigious because they are not influenced or associated with a single publication, website, radio, or television station.  Because of this fact, the jurors are considered independent and able to vote for the vehicle they truly see as the best.