Critical Shifts:
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Lucid Dominates High-End Categories: The Lucid Gravity Grand Touring secured a double victory, sweeping both the Favorite Luxury and Favorite Plug-In categories.
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Kia Books Ends the Market: Kia captured opposite ends of the pricing spectrum, winning Favorite Family Vehicle with the 2027 Telluride X-Pro and Favorite Affordable Vehicle with the K4 Hatchback GT-Line Turbo.
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Track-Tested Performance Wins: Automotive media members heavily favored long-roof flexibility and raw muscle, awarding top performance honors to the 2026 BMW M5 Touring and the next-gen 2026 Dodge Charger SIXPACK.
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The Midwest Automotive Media Association released favorites in its 2026 Spring Rally. Over 75 MAMA members made their choices after two full days behind the wheel at Road America.
MAMA members traveled to Wisconsin’s Elkhart Lake for seat time in more than 70 of the newest vehicles on the market, spread across five distinct driving environments: street drives, Road America’s full track, the off-road course, autocross, and the acceleration lane. No spec sheets, no curated laps. Just real driving, real votes, real results.
“Year after year, the Spring Rally reminds us why in-person evaluation matters,” said Jim OBrill, MAMA president. “Our members don’t just look at vehicles—they live with them, push them, and put them in the kinds of situations real drivers face every day. When this group reaches a verdict, consumers and the industry alike can trust it. These winners earned their recognition.”
2026 MAMA’s Favorites Spring Rally Award Winners
- Favorite Family Vehicle: 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro
- Favorite Luxury Vehicle: 2026 Lucid Gravity Grand Touring
- Favorite Off-Roader: 2026 Jeep Wrangler Sport Willys ‘41
- Favorite Pickup Truck: 2026 Ford Ranger Raptor
- Favorite Performance Vehicle: 2026 Dodge Charger SIXPACK Scat Pack
- Favorite Plug-In Vehicle: 2026 Lucid Gravity Grand Touring
- Favorite Affordable Vehicle: 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback GT-Line Turbo
- Best of the Rest: 2026 BMW M5 Touring
When automotive journalists spend two full days behind the wheel—pushing vehicles on the road, flat-out on Road America’s legendary track, the vehicles that rise to the top have genuinely earned it.
