Sustainable Truck of the Year 2026: let’s discover all the finalists in the three categories

Here we go again. The race for the Sustainable Truck of the Year Awards is back. The Awards, assigned by a jury coordinated by the editorial staff of Vado e Torno and Sustainable Truck&Van, will be presented at the end of January, based on specific sustainability parameters. Looking at the list of trucks and vans competing this year, the first thing that catches the eye is the presence of three types of engines. From diesel to natural gas, and finally, of course, electric, to which we have dedicated a special category since last year, eTruck. Finally, starting this year, the awards are abandoning one of their traditional categories. The jury has decided not to award the prize to distribution trucks. Overall market volumes are declining, and manufacturers seem to be less interested in this type of vehicle than in the past.

Sustainable Truck of the Year 2026: Tractor

Ford F-Max Gen2

The evolution of Ford Trucks’ flagship model has led to several changes compared to the first generation of the Blue Oval’s heavy-duty truck. First and foremost, engineers have worked on a more modern design, with the front end featuring a revamped grille that gives the vehicle a modern and elegant look. Then, a lot of work went into improving efficiency, which, according to the truck maker, has increased by 11.3 percent compared to the previous generation. This was made possible mainly thanks to the introduction of the Ecotorq Gen2 internal combustion engine.

IVECO S-Way LNG

The decisive and significant restyling decided by IVECO at the end of 2023, which led to the creation of the Model Year 2024, did not only concern the diesel version of the flagship S-Way, but also the natural gas-powered version. One of IVECO’s main objectives is to allow those who choose technology with a lower environmental impact not to have to compromise on the performance level of diesel. No sooner said than done, thanks also to the collaboration with FPT Industrial for the upgrade of the Cursor 13 gas engine, which in its latest release delivers 500 hp.

Mercedes eActros ProCabin

In an era in which competitive advantage must be sought in as many elements as possible, Mercedes is shaking things up with the ProCabin cab. The latter is no longer reserved solely for the electric versions of the brand’s heavy-duty trucks. The Actros L also gets the new look in the Stream, Big, and Giga versions (the three possible cab types). The highlight of the Mercedes Actros L ProCabin, however, is the cab design itself, which leverages particularly optimized aerodynamics. Starting with the 80-mm extension of the front end, an important step in reducing air resistance and channeling air more efficiently.

Sustainable Truck of the Year 2026: E-Truck

DAF XF Electric

DAF does not shy away from medium-long range incursions, and the role of ‘top class’ in this select group is certainly entrusted to the XF, powered by the new Paccar EX-D2 electric motor in the power range from 370 to 480 hp. The modular battery design has also been adopted for the XF, with the possibility of installing 3 to 5 packs, with CATL cells but assembled in the Netherlands (maximum capacity is 525 kWh), with a range of almost 500 km in the ‘heaviest’ configuration.

Mercedes eActros 600

The eActros 600 is the truck Mercedes is betting on to achieve its decarbonization goals. The number in the vehicle’s name refers to the kWh guaranteed by the installable battery packs, for a range of over 500 km. The cab is the ProCabin developed for electric vehicles and then extended to the ICE range. Confidence was put in LFP technology for the batteries, while traction is provided by the electrified axle developed in-house by Mercedes, giving the eActros 600 a truly native feel. It is making inroads into the market, including in Italy. Here we tell you about the range test we subjected it to.

Renault Trucks T E-Tech

The T (and C for construction) E-Tech range has enabled Renault Trucks to take a decisive step forward and defend its second place in the electric vehicle market in Europe and Italy. We have already written about this in the past: Renault Trucks’ T E-Tech really has what it takes to succeed, even in a market that is still sluggish. The truck has a range of around 300 km, the possibility of installing 4 to 6 battery packs with a modular design, and power that can reach up to 660 hp. We await what will happen in 2026 with the arrival of the Extended range, which will be able to double, or almost double, the truck’s range thanks to the electrified axle developed by the Volvo group.

Sustainable Truck of the Year 2026: Van

MAN TGE Next Level

Although not yet available in an electric version (but it will be, as MAN Italia CEO Marc Martinez assured us), MAN’s TGE has truly taken a leap into the future. The Lion’s van has rewritten the rules in terms of safety and driver assistance systems. And this has little to do with the legal requirements imposed in 2024 by the update of the GSR2 regulation: the Lion wanted to go further and equip the light vehicle in its range with a truly formidable package to make the working day easier for light commercial transport professionals.

Mercedes eSprinter

This year has been anything but ordinary for the Sprinter. Mercedes has celebrated the 30th anniversary of its launch on several occasions. The year 1995 is difficult to overlook in the history of the brand, given that the Sprinter quickly became a benchmark in the sector. In its ‘basic’ version, it immediately stood out and confirmed the quality of the development work even after the latest update. Meanwhile, we had the opportunity to test the van earlier this year, evaluating its electricity consumption on the revamped urban route.

Nissan Interstar-E

Launched at the end of 2024, Nissan’s new Interstar, which shares much of its development work with its ‘cousin’ Renault Master, takes range well beyond the 400-km threshold, a distance that removes any anxiety about charging and proves itself perfect for daily city missions. All this is made possible by the 87-kWh provided by the battery packs. We tested it and were impressed by the level of comfort offered by the large Japanese van. What’s more, Nissan’s electric Interstar perfectly fulfills its task of transporting goods as efficiently as possible.