Chevrolet Camaro, Colorado and Volvo XC90 win Motor Trend awards

(November 17, 2015) LOS ANGELES — The all-new Gen Six Chevrolet Camaro and the Chevrolet Colorado with its all-new 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel engine won the 2016 Motor Trend Car and Truck of the Year awards on Monday night. The Volvo XC90 was named Motor Trend’s SUV of the Year for the second time.

For the first time in its long history of naming its best of the year, Motor Trend announced all three awards on the same day.

It is the second consecutive Truck of the Year award for Colorado, the mid-size pickup introduced as a 2015 model.

Motor Trend editors praised the Camaro for its lighter weight, which contributes to “world-class sports car performance and dynamics.”

The Colorado diesel offers the best fuel economy for a pickup truck in the United States, with an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated 31 mpg on the highway for two-wheel drive models, and the highest trailering capability in the midsize truck segment: up to 7,700 pounds (2WD) when equipped with the available trailering package.

Colorado is available in four-door extended or crew cab models with Work Truck, LT and Z71 trim levels. The diesel engine is offered in LT and Z71 Crew Cab
models with 2WD or four-wheel drive. It features a variable-geometry turbocharger for optimal power and efficiency, and is SAE-certified at 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm.

Six all-new powertrain combinations are offered on the 2016 Camaro, including a standard 2.0L Turbo and an available, all-new 3.6L V-6 in LT models, and the 455-hp LT1 6.2L V-8 in the SS – making it the most powerful Camaro SS ever. Each engine is available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

Vehicle mass has been reduced between 223 and 390 pounds, depending on the model, creating a more nimble, responsive driving experience. A dramatic, sculpted exterior accentuates the leaner, stiffer platform and slightly smaller dimensions. Meticulously tuned in the wind tunnel, the new Camaro’s exterior contributes to performance through reduced aerodynamic lift for better handling while enhancing efficiency.

Both the Camaro, which won Motor Trend Car of the year in 1982, and Colorado are well-connected, offering Chevrolet MyLink with phone integration capability for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as OnStar 4G LTE connectivity and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

It was the second time the Volvo XC90 has won SUV of the year. Developed from the ground up on Volvo’s unique Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), with a 316 horsepower, supercharged and turbocharged Drive-E engine featuring an EPA rating of 25 mpg highway, a tablet-like Sensus control system, and understated Scandinavian design, the all-new 2016 XC90 sets a new standard for the luxury SUV segment.



With its full suite of IntelliSafe features and two more world firsts for safety, the all-new Volvo XC90 is also the safest Volvo ever.

“Everyone at Volvo Cars is exceptionally proud to win the Motor Trend SUV of the Year award,” said Lex Kerssemakers, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. “The all-new XC90 is a strong indicator of things to come at Volvo.”

When it was introduced in 2002, the original XC90 won Motor Trend’s SUV of the Year as it redefined the seven-passenger SUV segment.

To judge contenders for the award, Motor Trend's editorial staff conducted an exhaustive three-phase testing process. Phase one includes a full tech check and weigh-in, then full track testing to establish baseline data for acceleration, braking, and handling. Phase two involves three days of road loops offering a range of road surfaces and traffic conditions to evaluate ride and handling, engine and transmission smoothness and responsiveness, wind and road noise, and ergonomics. An off-road section tests traction, stability, and braking control systems. In the third phase, the judges debate and deliberate.