Elantra, Evoque, named Car and Truck of the Year

1/13/2012

The votes are in, and the Hyundai Elantra and Range Rover Evoque have been named the North American Car and Truck of the Year, respectively.

The awards are among the most prestigious in the industry, as they are voted on by 50 of the most-respected automotive journalists in the country. This year, the Elantra beat the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Passat to claim its crown, while the Evoque had to go through the Honda CR-V and BMW X3 for the truck title.

The Elantra continues Hyundai's resurgence, as the brand has had highly-acclaimed redesigns over the past few years. The Sonata was nominated last year, but lost to the Chevrolet Volt.

Jury member Jayne O'Donnel summed up the panel's decision in a quote to the Washington Post, saying that "the Hyundai Elantra is sporty, yet sensible. Luxurious, yet affordable. Spunky, but safe. The Elantra is a series of paradoxes and every one is another argument for the latest, impressive entry in the Hyundai lineup."

The Evoque, meanwhile, was a departure for Land Rover as it slimmed down the normal model and improved fuel economy dramatically.

Drivers who plan on buying a new car in the near future should not ignore the auto maintenance on their current vehicle, as major car repairs can drive down the value of a trade-in.