2021 Los Angeles Auto Show: Winners and Losers
In a year filled with stops and starts, anytime a staple of “before times” actually happens, it feels like a win. The Los Angeles Auto Show returns to November with a few less reveals than normal for 2021, but according to Cars.com’s editors, there were plenty of wins.
Related: More 2021 L.A. Auto Show Coverage
Here are our winners and losers from the 2021 L.A. Auto Show.
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Aaron Bragman, Detroit Bureau Chief: Winner
I thought it’d be hard to improve upon the looks of the new mid-engine Corvette, but look what Chevy has done — it looks even more aggressive, more swoopy, even meaner than before. And that full-on red interior option is just stunning. They tell me its flat-plane crank engine makes amazing music, and I can’t wait to dance to it sometime in 2022.
Kelsey Mays, Assistant Managing Editor: Winner
Good for GM bucking the forced-induction trend with a naturally aspirated Z06. It should be plenty of old-school fun, with an 8,600-rpm redline that should be a thrill to reach, and GM officials confirmed that despite the loss in torque versus the outgoing Z06’s supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, this one could be considerably quicker. Aerodynamics notwithstanding, I didn’t love the extra bits of carbon fiber hanging onto an Amplify Orange example at the show with the Z07 Performance Package — it seemed a touch overaccessorized for my tastes. But a Z06 coupe with the 3LZ trim across the floor toned it down to good effect.
Jenni Newman, Editor-in-Chief: Winner
What Kelsey and Aaron said … except I love the high-mounted carbon-fiber rear wing. Not only does it provide an astounding 734 pounds of downforce at 186 mph, but it makes this stunner look even more badass.
2023 Fisker Ocean
AB: Winner
There’s enough legitimate automotive supplier content and engineering in this thing to make me confident it’s not vaporware — this is a real vehicle, and it increasingly looks like Fisker will be the next automaker to join the ranks of startups like Tesla and Rivian in delivering actual customer vehicles. The Ocean is stylish, has some neat design features and, if the company manages to come through with a well-built model, it should be successful.
KM: Winner
Agreed, though I still find certain styling elements too busy with no point. The solar roof is a cool implement, adding 4-5 miles per day depending on conditions and battery charge. That’s just 1%-2% of the Ocean’s overall range, but it’s a feel-good element to know your car’s working for you even when you’re somewhere else. Another bonus — though it might dampen performance — is that the two-wheel-drive version is front-wheel drive, not rear-wheel drive as many electric vehicle rivals go. That improves practical affordability for those who live in colder climates, where a base front-driver becomes more usable.
JN: Winner
Speaking of practicality, the Ocean has a starting price of $37,499 (before any tax credits or destination). This could be an EV for the masses — a real hurdle for EV adoption, as many EVs are priced too high for many shoppers. Not only is the pricing a big plus, but the size and style are, too. The Ocean reminds me of a Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, giving it an upscale appeal, and with its compact SUV body style, it can haul the family or friends, make a Costco run or go for a long road trip.
2023 Kia Sportage
AB: Winner
I swear, every new model that pops out of Kia’s factories just blows me away anew every time I encounter one. This new Sportage is no different: It’s exceptionally stylish and futuristic; the interior has a lot more sophistication than just about any other compact SUV I’ve been in lately; and it has room in front and back that makes it feel a size bigger than the rest of the category. I was a fan of how the last one looked and drove, and if this one drives as well as it looks, it will be the latest hit for the brand.
KM: Winner
Easy one here. The Sportage will draw inevitable comparisons to the Tucson, the just-redesigned compact SUV from affiliated automaker Hyundai. Kia doesn’t commit many unforced errors: The gas-only Sportage has physical dashboard controls (though switching between climate and audio functionality requires some toggling), plus a traditional push-pull gear selector. Higher trim levels of the Tucson have none of those things. The prior Sportage’s roomy backseat carries over here (and then some, apparently — Kia cites a few more inches’ rear legroom). Materials quality in the vehicles displayed at an auto show is always subject to change by the time they hit dealerships, but what I saw here is competitive with the compact SUV class.
JN: Winner
The Sportage just leapfrogged its compact SUV competition, and some might say it’s serving notice to a few mid-size SUVs, too. The Sportage grew significantly for 2023, and that extra space was given to rear passengers and the cargo area, which at a Kia-measured 39.6 cubic feet is nearly the same size as a Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport (40.3). The digital display and instrument panel look modern, but there are enough buttons and knobs to satisfy everyone.
2022 Land Rover Range Rover
AB: Winner
The shape looks truly dynamite, like some kind of Range Rover concept car brought to life. I’m less enamored with the interior, as just about everything is now touch-sensitive, but the initial experience of playing around with it seems to indicate that Land Rover has made significant improvements to how sensitive it is and how much feedback it gives you. We’ll see if that holds up out on the road, but it is undeniably striking to look at.
KM: Winner
I agree with Aaron that the interior still has way too much touch-sensitive stuff going on, which has afflicted the prior-gen Range Rover since its model-year 2018 refresh. But it’s a step in the right direction to move from the old dual-touchscreen interface to a single unit with more intuitive climate controls below it. What stands out to me is how quiet the new Range Rover is if you’re able to steal a moment alone with the doors shut. Cabin materials are top-notch no matter where you sit, and there’s a lot of cool detailing — D-pillars covered by glass, for example, to give the impression (even up close) that the side glass meets the rear window. Very cool.
JN: Winner
The Range Rover was an oasis of quiet and comfort on the frenetic show floor. The supple leather seats cradle you, and not just in the first row — the second and even third rows offered next-level comfort. Land Rover’s move to a single, sizable touchscreen, which sits lower in the dash, helps to add a calm elegance to the cabin.
2022 Lexus LX 600
AB: Loser
I’m sitting in the new LX and looking out the windshield at the new Land Rover Range Rover, and that elegant, beautifully realized luxury SUV only drives home just how horribly gaudy this Lexus flagship is, especially in the ridiculous F Sport trim. The proportions are wrong, the interior is a dozen different colors and textures, the grille is comically huge … It’s all just a stylistic mess.
KM: Loser
The Range Rover comparisons are inevitable, even though its six-figure starting price likely minimizes much pricing overlap with the LX. But as a flagship SUV, the LX is a letdown. Typical of Lexus these days, the interior is rife with eye candy — stitched vinyl wrapping over umpteen surfaces at eye level — but cheaps out in myriad details, from the stuff below arm level to anything in the third row. That third row is a penalty box, too, slammed to the ground with no way to increase knee clearance because the second row doesn’t slide. The failings in practicality and quality are a one-two punch.
JN: Loser
Is the redesigned LX 600 more luxurious-looking than the previous version? Yes, but is it enough? The LX is competing against the Cadillac Escalade, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class and Lincoln Navigator — to name a few — and the LX 600’s improvements may not catch up to the class. Then there’s the third row: Anyone forced to sit back there will have their knees in their chest, which seems just wrong in an SUV this big and this pricey.
2023 Subaru Solterra
AB: Loser
There are some things to like about the Solterra, including its interior room, the novel instrument panel, the fact that it has a name instead of a Stormtrooper designation like its Toyota bZ4X twin — but that estimated range is just underwhelming for a brand-new EV. Only 220 miles? Nearly every other competitor gets at least 250, with some topping 300 miles. I’m concerned about the DC fast-charging rate, too, as all that was said was that it can charge to 80% “in about an hour.”
KM: Loser
I agree with Aaron. The name is better than Toyota’s version, the fisted-a-keyboard bZ4X, but the lack of a 2WD offering keeps the Solterra from achieving the pairing’s maximum estimated mileage — a purported 250 miles in the front-drive Toyota. An extra 35 miles might not seem like much, but in the specs war of EV mileage range, it could lose Subaru some much-needed luster. The BRZ sports car already broke the mold of the automaker offering standard AWD lineup-wide; for the sake of maximum efficiency, I wish the Solterra had followed suit.
JN: Loser
What a difference 35 measly miles can make. It’s the difference between being declared a winner or a loser. There’s a lot to like about Subaru’s EV, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E front-end styling, but range matters to shoppers and the Solterra misses the mark here.
2022 Subaru WRX
AB: Winner
I’m just happy the WRX is still around and still offered with a manual transmission for the dozen or so people out there who love to actually drive cars themselves. The way the new styling draws some direct comparisons to the refreshed BRZ is also fun. I’m digging it.
KM: Loser
Sorry, I have to dissent. In other Subaru models, the automaker’s turbo 2.4-liter and continuously variable automatic transmission have proven a lackluster pairing — unresponsive from a stop, quick only if you lead-foot around. Subaru says it altered the CVT for WRX duty, and this is almost certainly a lighter car than what we’ve driven otherwise with the powertrain, but I’m not holding my breath. It’s nice to see a six-speed manual offering, but the fact that you can’t get the GT (adaptive shock absorbers and other goodies) with it is a letdown. The most performance-focused WRX will come with a CVT? That’s too bad.
JN: Winner
The WRX looks lean and mean, and any similarities between it and the Impreza have been erased. But you don’t get legions of loyal enthusiasts with good looks. What really matters here is how it drives. Subaru gets serious points for keeping the manual transmission, but what about that CVT? There’s only one way to find out: getting behind the wheel.
2023 Toyota bZ4X
AB: Loser
The same reasons that concern me about the Subaru Solterra have me disappointed in the bZ4X — the range is inadequate for a new EV in this category. Add in the fact that the name is horrible (one journalist colleague likened it to a copier machine designation), and the positives of the car don’t overcome the negatives in my eyes.
KM: Winner
Toyota claims up to 250 miles of range on its version of the joint-effort EVs, citing internal estimates, which should help the bZ4X size up a bit better against likely rivals. (That’s almost certainly thanks to a FWD version in addition to the available AWD bZ4X; the Solterra comes only with AWD.) The bZ4X is roomy enough, and Toyota seems to show some restraint on touch-sensitive controls. The two interiors are roughly identical, though I noted a little more cost-cutting (in the show cars, at least) in the bZ4X’s rear seat. Still, so much of any EV announcement hinges on pricing. That remains unknown as of yet, but if the bZ4X’s lowest trim level can hit the $40,000 sweet spot before tax credits, it’s hard to see this thing failing.
JN: Winner
Roughly the same size as Toyota’s RAV4, the bZ4X is positioned to win over small families and couples with its stylish, slightly futuristic exterior and roomy interior. I appreciate that Toyota is offering the EV in both FWD and AWD, and while automakers continue to raise the bar when it comes to range, I suspect that 250 miles is plenty for most drivers. The name, however, is inarguably a loser.
More From Cars.com:
- Up Close With the Fisker Ocean: Making Funky Waves
- Up Close With the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover: Quiet, Classy Interior
- Up Close With the 2023 Kia Sportage: Bigger Really Is Better
- Up Close With the 2023 Subaru Solterra, Subaru’s Electric SUV
- Up Close With the 2023 Toyota bZ4X: Terrible Name, Decent Effort
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