As we look back on the new and refreshed models of 2024, there were quite a few options designed to appeal to enthusiasts. The sports car world saw the introduction of models like the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Nissan Z NISMO, and Chevy Corvette E-Ray, while the lineup of new adventure vehicles included the likes of the Ford Ranger Raptor, Tesla Cybertruck, and Toyota Tacoma.
In past years, our Car of the Nation awards have been dominated by off-road trucks like the Ford Bronco and Ford Raptor R, so in order to do a better job of representing everything unveiled over the past year, we have decided to offer two separate awards moving forward: “Car of the Nation” will now be given to the top sports car of the year, while “Truck of the Nation” will recognize the best adventure vehicle.
There were many candidates this year, but two models have dominated the enthusiast market. The 2024 Car of the Nation goes to the Chevy Corvette E-Ray. This is a new nameplate that stands out for delivering the advanced features and extreme levels of performance previously only found in exotic cars but at a price point attainable for far more drivers.
Meanwhile, the 2024 Truck of the Nation goes to the redesigned Toyota Tacoma. This long-time favorite has been refreshed for the modern era and continues to offer the versatility and dependability it has become renowned for. Whether you prefer high-speed thrills or muddy adventures, one of these two models is likely to excite you.
2024 Car of the Nation: Chevy Corvette E-Ray
The Corvette E-Ray deserves recognition for making hybrid supercar performance attainable for a much wider segment of car enthusiasts than ever before. If you’ve dreamed of driving a McLaren P1, Porsche 918 Spyder, or Ferrari LaFerrari, the E-Ray can give you a taste of electrified performance at a far more reasonable price. And while it may be down on power compared to those icons, its 2.5-second zero-to-sixty time is actually quicker than the P1 and matches the LaFerrari. Chevy also did its best to make the E-Ray a daily-drivable sports car, adding a level of practicality that you won’t find in those million-dollar European models.
One of the details that really makes the E-Ray stand out for sports car enthusiasts is Chevy’s commitment to the classic V8. Even Ferrari is switching to V6 engines in its hybrids, but the E-Ray still has a large and naturally-aspirated 6.2L V8 rumbling behind the driver’s head; it even comes standard with the performance exhaust from the Stingray Z51 Performance Package because Chevy knew that buyers would still want to hear that V8 howl. However, when you want to make a quiet escape, a new Stealth Mode lets the E-Ray get moving with just its electric motor before the V8 kicks in, similar to how the Cadillac LMDh race car works.
While most sports car buyers will probably want to opt for the high-performance Michelin summer tires included in the ZER Performance Package, the E-Ray actually ships with standard all-season tires. These tires were specifically designed for the car and are mud- and snow-rated while still providing 1g of lateral grip! The idea is that the all-wheel drive E-Ray is a four-season supercar that you can drive to work in bad weather and then take to the track in the summer. The combination of trunk and frunk provides a full 12.5 cu.ft. of cargo space and easily accommodates golf bags (a Corvette prerequisite). For comparison, the LaFerrari offered just 1.4 cu.ft. in its frunk, and a Mustang Dark Horse barely does better at 13.5 cu.ft. despite being a much larger car.
The $102,900 starting price is definitely on the higher side compared to sports car options like the Dark Horse, Z NISMO, or Toyota GR Supra, but it’s hard to argue that the E-Ray is anything but a performance bargain. It’s almost $20k less than a base Porsche 911 while offering genuine supercar performance and features. On top of its electrified all-wheel drivetrain, the E-Ray comes standard with adaptive suspension, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, and aerodynamics derived from the C8.R racecar. While most buyers will likely consider the E-Ray to be their weekend fun car, this is legitimately a one-car option for the serious enthusiast, making it the choice for our 2024 Car of the Nation award.
2024 Truck of the Nation: Toyota Tacoma
The Tacoma needs no introduction, but just because this truck has been catering to off-road enthusiasts for going on three decades now doesn’t mean there aren’t a ton of new features to explore in the redesigned 2024 model. In classic Toyota style, the previous generation went eight years without a major update and borrowed many of its features—including its V6 powerplant—from the previous-generation Tacoma; that means the new version is bringing roughly a decade of updates to this long-time favorite, and those updates combine to keep this truck head-and-shoulders above its competitors in the midsize pickup segment.
For starters, the Tacoma now offers even more off-road-oriented trims to pick from. The new PreRunner and Trailhunter join the established TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro to give buyers a ready-made option for virtually any kind of adventure. Any of these four trims could have been singled out as our Truck of the Nation, but all four combined help make the Tacoma what it is. The TRD Pro continues to occupy its position as the king of the hill when it comes to technical off-roading, while the TRD Off-Road is a more affordable alternative. Meanwhile, the Trailhunter is geared toward serious overlanders, and the PreRunner is an adventure-lite model that will appeal to classic truck lovers.
The biggest change for 2024 is the new powertrain options. The base 2.7L I-4 was replaced by a 2.4L turbocharged engine that offers more performance than the old 3.5L V6 and is paired with either an eight-speed automatic transmission or an old-school six-speed manual. For more power, a hybrid version of this same engine delivers up to 326 hp and a best-in-class 465 lb-ft of torque, although it does not allow a manual option. While some may question the shift to more complex engine designs, it is clear this is the way the entire segment is moving, and it’s difficult to argue that Toyota hasn’t done it better than the competition with its class-exclusive manual and hybrid options.
Toyota also one-upped the competition by continuing to offer the Tacoma with long bed and regular cab options; the only other midsize truck to do so today is the Nissan Frontier. Choices like this show that Toyota is determined to appeal to a wide selection of truck enthusiasts, not just the mainstream drivers looking for a crew cab pickup to commute to work in. Add the huge selection of off-road features designed to let the Tacoma tackle the trails right off the dealership lot, and it is clear why this model won our 2024 Truck of the Nation award. If you don’t need the extra towing and payload capacity of a half-ton model, then there is virtually no reason not to choose the Tacoma.
