THE NEW YORK AUTO SHOW, PRESENTED BY SUBARU AND HYUNDAI

Or so it seemed. With major reveals by Subaru and the Hyundai Motor Group dominating this year, you won’t be faulted for thinking they hosted the New York Show.

The New York International Auto Show is the oldest such show in the country, having started in 1900. Amazingly, even at that early stage, the organizers say the first show displayed 160 cars from 34 carmakers and attracted some 48,000 people at the original Madison Square Garden. This year, the New York Auto Show is 150 years old and is held at Jacob K. Javits Hall. It remains the largest show of its kind in the USA.

By Roy Nakano

Tue, Apr 22, 2025 01:00 PM PST

Featured image above: The banner for the New York Auto Show hangs in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (courtesy of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association)

For the most recent Los Angeles Auto Show, the Hyundai Motor Group had so dominated the event we titled one of our stories “Welcome to the LA Auto Show – Presented by Hyundai”. For the New York Auto Show, the Hyundai Motor Group (includes Kia and Genesis) still dominates, but Subaru has matched them with four major debuts.

In alphabetical order, here are the major reveals for the 2025 New York International Auto Show:

Genesis X Gran Equator Concept

Genesis introduced this off-road capable concept SUV with an eye toward moving into the Mercedes G-Class and Range Rover market. Very little is revealed about the X Gran Equator, but the design speaks volumes about the new direction Genesis may be taking for its brand of cars. The X Gran Equator trades the traditional soap bar profile of current Genesis cars for one that’s more in the Rivian and Range Rover Defender direction.

*Above: The 2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro at the New York International Auto Show (photograph courtesy Hyundai Media Center)*

Hyundai Palisade for 2026

The popular Hyundai Palisades is all new for the 2026 model year. The first-generation Palisades was already Hyundai’s flagship vehicle. For 2026, the Palisades is even larger, with a new look that is reminiscent of a Range Rover. The profile is similar to Hyundai’s newest Santa Fe. A hybrid version is offered for the first time, as is a new off-road XRT Pro trim looking even more Range Rover-like.

Kia EV4

Kia has been rather cryptic about the U.S. availability of the sub-compact Kia EV3 electric SUV. Understandably, many things are in a state of flux as the full impact of the tariffs remain uncertain at this time. Nevertheless, Kia introduced a U.S.-spec version of the new EV4 sedan at the New York Auto Show. Estimated to go for around $37,000, the EV4 is comparable in size to the current Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. And like those two bread-and-butter sedans, the EV4 is front-wheel drive. Unlike those two cars, however, the EV4 is pure electric, with range estimated to be either 235 miles or 330 miles, depending on the trim model.

Kia K4 Hatchback

The Kia K4 sedan has been on sale in North America since August of 2024. A K4 Hatchback made its introduction at the New York Auto Show. Curiously, the hatchback is 11 inches shorter than the sedan, but Kia says it has more cargo space. The new hatchback appears to have the same interior as the sedan, which is a good thing.

*Above: The 2026 Subaru Outback was introduced at the New York International Auto Show during a press conference (R. Nakano photograph)*

Subaru Outback for 2026

Forget about what you think the Subaru Outlook should look like. For 2026, the Outlook abandons the lifted wagon look for a more upright, square-shouldered look that off-road vehicles are trending toward. The interior looks decidedly more upscale, with a promising new central touch screen, physical HVAC controls, and StarTex faux leather upholstery now standard. A hybrid option promises significantly better fuel economy.

*Above: The Wilderness edition of the 2026 Subaru Outback (photograph courtesy Subaru Media Center).*

Subaru Outback Wilderness for 2026

The 2026 Outlook includes a new top-of-the-line Wilderness version with 9.5 inches of ground clearance (versus 8.7 for the other Outbacks), electronically controlled dampers, and all-terrain tires. The Wilderness also goes even more rugged-looking on the exterior styling with extra cladding, a pickup-like "SUBARU" grille, and the familiar copper-finished fog lights and other trim.

Above: The 2026 Subaru Solterra undergoes a major upgrade, with a new look, 25 percent more range, more power, and a new NACS charging port that can connect to Tesla Superchargers (photograph courtesy of Subaru Media Center)

Subaru Solterra for 2026

The first-generation Solterra received mixed reviews for being little more than a rebadged Toyota bZ4X EV, which itself was criticized for sub-par range and performance. For 2026, the Solterra gets a major mid-cycle upgrade, with 25 percent more range, new motors, quicker charging, and quicker acceleration. A new XT version is claimed to do 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds. By way of comparison, that’s significantly quicker than the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 that was once a benchmark for muscle cars. The new Solterra also gets the NACS charging port, making it compatible with Tesla Superchargers. Last, but not least, the Solterra gets a facelift that mitigates much of the body cladding from the first generation, and a new face that steers it further away from the Toyota bZ4X.

Subaru Trailseeker

For Subaru owners lamenting the loss of the raised wagon look of the old Outback, you can can still get it on the carmaker’s newest EV, the Trailseeker. Built on the new mid-cycle Solterra platform, the Trailseeker sports a profile not unlike the older Outbacks. The Trailseeker is roomier than the Solterra, but it’s also quicker with a claimed 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds. Like the new Solterra, the Trailseeker gets the NACS charging port and quicker charging than the first-generation Solterra.

*Above: Volkswagen is holding out the 2026 Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo as a GTI of compact SUVs (photograph courtesy of Volkswagen Media Center).*

Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo

For GTI fans seeking a taller, roomier ride, Volkswagen hopes its new Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo will fulfill the thrill. Nevermind that all Tiguans already have turbocharged engines. This model has an upgraded 2.0 liter turbocharged engine with 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque—a significant increase from the standard Tiguan, which was all new for 2025. Only time will tell if the new Turbo model matches the fun and value of the GTI. Pricing for the Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo is forthcoming. The Turbo variant will go on sale for the 2026 model year.

Honorable Mention

A few trim variants where introduced at the New York Auto Show, including an outdoorsy version of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer called the Overland Special Edition and a Nightfall Edition of the Kia EV9. Otherwise, the New York Auto Show belonged to Subaru and the Hyundai Motor Group.

*The entrance to the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (courtesy of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association)*

The New York International Auto Show runs through April 27, 2025. For more information about the show, including its history, go to autoshowny.com.

About The Author

Roy Nakano

Roy Nakano gave birth to LACar in the late '90s, having previously delivered LA Audio File back in the '80s. Aside from the occasional review, Roy likes to stray off the beaten automotive path: "Six Degrees of Reparations" reflected on the regretful ethical paths taken by car companies throughout history. "Traveling Through the Past and Present of the Green Book" looked at businesses that took a stand against racism and the man that wrote the book on where to find them. "Best Cars to Drive in Rush Hour Traffic" was an LACar guide published in the pre-GPS era. "In Search of the First Datsun 510 Tuner" looked at one of the milestones in the origin of import tuners.

Keep reading...