Honda Civic, Ford Ranger and Volkswagen ID win North American vehicle awards
The Honda Civic hybrid won the 2025 North American Car of the Year award in Detroit on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Melanie Kentner/CTV News Windsor)
DETROIT (AP) — The Honda Civic hybrid won the 2025 North American Car of the Year award, while the Ford Ranger took the crown for the truck honors, and Volkswagen ID. Buzz won the utility award.
The honors, announced Friday morning during an Automotive Press Association event kicking off the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, are decided by a group of 50 journalists from the U.S. and Canada. They evaluate factors such as innovation, design, performance, driver satisfaction and value, according to the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards organization.
Friday marked the awards’ long-awaited return to the traditional January Detroit Auto Show after being held elsewhere for the past few years while the show experienced pandemic-related delays and was hosted during the fall.
Automakers hail the awards as a key gauge for how media perceive their new and refreshed vehicles, and buyers often look to them to make purchase decisions.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Amid tense political backdrop, Canadian warship gets friendly message from Chinese vessel tracking its movements
Daybreak on HMCS Ottawa began with a call over the marine radio from a Chinese warship. The call is coming from a Chinese Frigate known as the Yuncheng, the warship has been shadowing HMCS Ottawa through the South China Sea for two days and counting.
Liberal leadership: Melanie Joly, Brian Gallant will not run, both focused on other matters
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will not run for Liberal leadership. Up to now, Joly was widely considered a potential successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Former premier of New Brunswick Bran Gallant also confirmed to CTV News that he will not be in the running for Liberal leader.
'Devastating beyond words': Paris Hilton shows remnants of home destroyed by L.A. fire
Socialite Paris Hilton shared a video showing her ravaged house, destroyed by the L.A. wildfires., 'I’m standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable,' Hilton wrote on Instagram.
Cyberattack on Canadian students' data sparks concerns
School boards across Canada are grappling with the fallout from a significant cyberattack on PowerSchool, a widely used administration software platform.
'Everything is gone': Sask. business owner loses Los Angeles home to wildfires
A Saskatchewan business owner lost her Los Angeles home as wildfires ravage parts of the city.
Man dies after falling into sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort
An investigation is underway by Elk Valley RCMP after a man died Wednesday after falling into a sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort.
Trump gets no-penalty sentence in his hush money case, while calling it 'despicable'
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday in his hush money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment, an outcome that cements his conviction while freeing him to return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine.
'Just so surreal': Winnipeg firefighter joins wildfire battle while vacationing in L.A.
A Winnipeg firefighter with over two decades of experience found himself joining the fight against one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history.
'It's pretty scary': Toronto police investigating third tow truck-related shooting this week
Toronto police say they are investigating another tow truck-related shooting in Scarborough, the third such incident in just over 24 hours.
Kitchener
-
OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs to be sold to Edmonton Oilers player and family: TSN
The Ontario Hockey League’s Brantford Bulldogs are being sold to Zach Hyman, an Edmonton Oilers player, and his family, according to a TSN hockey insider.
-
Cambridge Memorial Hospital celebrates end of 10-year redevelopment project
The redevelopment of Cambridge Memorial Hospital is complete.
-
Police investigating Kitchener shooting into residence
Waterloo Regional Police Service is investigating after suspected bullet holes were found on a Kitchener residence Thursday afternoon.
London
-
Two in custody, two outstanding in jewellery store robbery at White Oaks Mall
At roughly 8:10 p.m., police say that four masked men entered White Oaks Mall armed with hammers. They smashed display cases and stole jewellery.
-
Commissioners Road closed due to structure fire
The London Fire Department is on scene of an active structure fire at Commissioners Road and Highland Heights.
-
Snow incoming, to hit London at rush hour tonight
According to CTV London weather specialist Reta Ismail, more snow is closing in tonight “We're tracking a weather maker that is approaching southwestern Ontario - and with that we'll be dealing with some widespread snowfall as we head into the evening.”
Barrie
-
Threat to Collingwood school leads to more weapons charges
Ontario Provincial Police have added a number of charges to a young man who threatened Collingwood school in 2024.
-
Shift in bridge closes historical Bracebridge Silver Bridge indefinitely
Bracebridge's historical Silver Bridge will be closed for the foreseeable future.
-
Brentwood Road house trailer goes up in flames
A house trailer at the 62 Brentwood Road trailer park was destroyed by fire.
Northern Ontario
-
Ontario homeowners left with expensive contracts after company appears to go out of business
Several homeowners in Ontario signed contracts with Provincial Smart Home Services promising rebates for their energy efficient upgrades, but now won't receive them as the company appears to have gone out of business.
-
Northern Ont. man fined $1,001 for dumping a bag of garbage
A Cochrane, Ont., man was fined $1,001 for dumping a single bag of garbage on public land.
-
Winter travel advisory in effect for Greater Sudbury
Snow is expected to begin falling in Greater Sudbury on Friday afternoon or evening, with up to 10 cm forecast by Saturday morning.
Sault Ste. Marie
-
Northwestern Ont. woman wins $250K lotto prize
Dorothy Whitefish of Fort Frances, Ont., won the $250,000 top prize with Instant Bingo Multiplier, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. said Friday.
-
Vehicle with tinted windows leads to cocaine bust in the Sault
Two people have been charged with drug trafficking after police in Sault Ste. Marie noticed a vehicle with heavily tinted windows.
-
Superbug outbreak declared at Sault Area Hospital
An outbreak has been declared in a medical unit at the Sault Area Hospital due to a superbug.
Ottawa
-
Algonquin College closing Perth, Ont. campus as it deals with 'challenging fiscal times'
Algonquin College plans to close its campus in Perth, Ont. next year, as it deals with a multi-million dollar deficit due to the new federal cap on international students and provincial funding shortfalls.
-
'Mom did most of the work': Ottawa police, paramedics help deliver baby boy in Centretown
A healthy baby boy was born Friday morning in Centretown with some help from Ottawa police and paramedics.
-
Ottawa Food Bank cutting food by 20-50 per cent to its agencies in 2025
The Ottawa Food Bank is cutting food donations to 98 food programs across the city by up to 50 per cent this year, as it deals with rising costs for food and an "all-time high" demand for food from the public.
Toronto
-
Man dies after falling through ice in Lake Ontario: police
A man in his 70s has died after falling through the ice in Lake Ontario by the Toronto Islands, police say.
-
Canada-wide warrant issued for Brampton teen allegedly linked to armed Vaughan home invasion
York police say a Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued for an 'armed and dangerous' Brampton teenager, who allegedly took part in a Vaughan home invasion that ended in a shooting.
-
Woman charged in connection with sister's murder in Smithville, Ont.
A woman has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder in connection with her sister’s death, who was found dead in their shared home in Smithville, Ont. last April, police say.
Montreal
-
27 years after Quebec ice storm, Montrealers find themselves in L.A. wildfire's smoke
Montrealers, accustomed to ice storms, snow and cold, found themselves in Los Angeles this week as major wildfires raged throughout the region.
-
How to improve climate predictions? McGill researchers turn to 19th century letters
A team led by McGill University researchers came up with a method they hope could improve climate models over Africa by combining them with 19th century missionary records, refashioning dubious documents in a bid to better inform projections of global warming's impact.
-
NEW
NEW Federal Liberals to pick new leader on March 9 as rules for leadership race are defined
The Liberal Party of Canada have announced leadership race rules late Thursday, including a significant increase in entrance fees and a requirement for voters to be Canadian citizens.
Winnipeg
-
'Just so surreal': Winnipeg firefighter joins wildfire battle while vacationing in L.A.
A Winnipeg firefighter with over two decades of experience found himself joining the fight against one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history.
-
Colleen Bready's forecast: Wintery melange moves into Manitoba Friday
A meteorological mix of moving parts across Manitoba on Friday will bring everything from snow in some areas, clearing skies in others and falling afternoon temperatures.
-
Winnipeg man charged with sexually assaulting children at daycare: police
Police have charged a man with sexually assaulting two children at an unlicensed daycare in Winnipeg.
Edmonton
-
Oilers forward Evander Kane undergoes knee surgery
Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane was expected to need four to eight weeks of recovery time after undergoing successful knee surgery, the NHL team said Friday.
-
Opposition NDP demands Alberta government act ahead of school support worker strike
Alberta's Opposition NDP is calling on the provincial government to act as thousands of school support workers prepare to walk off the job in Edmonton and some nearby communities.
-
Edmonton's Food Bank's holiday donation campaign is a success thanks to city's 'remarkable generosity'
Edmonton's Food Bank shared its final numbers of the 2024 Festive Campaign donation drive.
Calgary
-
Alberta's unemployment plummets in December, hitting 6.7%
Alberta's unemployment rate dropped dramatically last month.
-
Man dies after falling into sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort
An investigation is underway by Elk Valley RCMP after a man died Wednesday after falling into a sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort.
-
Bald eagle released in Calgary after being found injured at Glenmore Reservoir
A Calgary wildlife organization is celebrating the successful release of an eagle taken into its care after being found injured.
Regina
-
'Everything is gone': Sask. business owner loses Los Angeles home to wildfires
A Saskatchewan business owner lost her Los Angeles home as wildfires ravage parts of the city.
-
Regina man charged in connection to woman's death pleads guilty to manslaughter
A Regina man who was charged in connection to a woman’s death in August pleaded guilty to manslaughter in front of a judge on Friday
-
Sask. RCMP arrest Yorkton man, seize hundreds of grams of cocaine, fentanyl and meth
Saskatchewan RCMP say a 20-year-old Yorkton man is facing drug related charges after officers executed a search warrant of a home in the city on Wednesday.
Vancouver
-
Despite owner's 'diligent efforts,' derelict Vancouver building will not be demolished on schedule, city says
The owner of a crumbling 127-year-old building in downtown Vancouver is "making every effort" to comply with the city council's order to demolish it, but will not meet the council's 21-day deadline for doing so, according to city officials.
-
B.C. Mounties say seized key fob kit could be used to steal 'virtually any vehicle'
A 48-year-old man was arrested Thursday after Mounties in Kelowna, B.C., recovered a stolen car containing illicit drugs and a car key programming kit that investigators say could be used to steal "virtually any vehicle that uses a key fob."
-
Man dies after falling into sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort
An investigation is underway by Elk Valley RCMP after a man died Wednesday after falling into a sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. Mounties say seized key fob kit could be used to steal 'virtually any vehicle'
A 48-year-old man was arrested Thursday after Mounties in Kelowna, B.C., recovered a stolen car containing illicit drugs and a car key programming kit that investigators say could be used to steal "virtually any vehicle that uses a key fob."
-
'Incalculably small' amount of diesel visible at site of 8,000-litre B.C. spill
Aerial surveillance over an area where thousands of litres of diesel was spilled last month off Vancouver Island shows most of the fuel is no longer visible on the water.
-
Man dies after falling into sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort
An investigation is underway by Elk Valley RCMP after a man died Wednesday after falling into a sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort.
Atlantic
-
N.B. man charged with second-degree murder in two N.S. homicides
A wanted man who was arrested in connection with two homicides in Nova Scotia’s Colchester County earlier this week has officially been charged with murder.
-
N.B. RCMP seek two men suspected in Lutes Mountain home invasion
Police are looking for two men suspected in a home invasion in Lutes Mountain, N.B., last week. Police say two people broke into the home and restrained a man and woman who were inside.
-
Big jump in gas prices across the Maritimes overnight
There was a big jump in the price of gas in all three Maritime provinces overnight.
N.L.
-
Yvonne Jones, longtime Liberal MP for Labrador, retiring from federal politics
Liberal MP Yvonne Jones speaks to reporters before a meeting of the Liberal women's caucus, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. Jones announced this morning that she will not be running in the next federal election for her seat in Labrador. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
-
Quebec energy deal touted as new chapter for Newfoundland and Labrador heads for vote
A draft energy deal with Quebec heralded as a game-changer for indebted Newfoundland and Labrador is heading for a vote Thursday night at the legislature in St. John's, N.L.
-
Adviser says Quebec-N.L. energy deal is 'very good,' as Opposition vows not to vote
Newfoundland and Labrador's Opposition Progressive Conservatives vowed Wednesday that they will not vote on a draft energy deal with Quebec's hydro utility until it is scrutinized by independent experts.
