2023 Los Angeles Auto Show: Winners and Losers
Auto shows aren’t what they used to be, with automakers increasingly opting out of big displays, expensive booths and floors full of new models for various reasons. The 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show is the latest example of that, and it was notable for what wasn’t there: most of the big German luxury brands, all of Stellantis and a lot of GM. But of the brands that did participate, there were a lot of significant new models to be seen. Here’s our take on the winners and losers of the new vehicles introduced at this year’s L.A. show.
Related: More 2023 L.A. Auto Show Coverage
2024 Acura ZDX
Aaron Bragman, Detroit Bureau Chief: Winner
This might just be the best-looking model of the whole Honda Prologue/Chevrolet Blazer EV/Cadillac Lyriq quartet. If you were wondering where the performance versions of the Prologue (the second-best-looking model in this group) were, well, here they are over in the Acura showroom. I just wish the interior had a little more flair than the Honda does because the Chevy definitely beats them in terms of interesting cabin styling. My big hope is that Acura will actually be able to get vehicles to sell because if the glacially slow Lyriq and Blazer EV rollout is anything to go by, Honda hitching its ride to the GM Ultium train might not have been the best idea.
Brian Normile, Road Test Editor: Winner
That the ZDX is so refreshingly normal-looking is impressive given its namesake. And I second Aaron that it’s the best-looking of the mid-size Ultium bunch. The interior is nice and roomy, and what it lacks in flair, it makes up for in common sense. The control layout is intelligent and intuitive, and the combination of GM sensibility and Acura materials quality is a winner in my book. We’ll have to drive it to see how the performance piece of the puzzle stacks up, but the ZDX feels like a worthy challenger to the Genesis Electrified GV70, which is my benchmark for the class.
Damon Bell, Senior Research Editor: Winner
The ZDX’s long-wheelbase/long-hood proportions are especially striking in person, and it looks and feels everyday-practical inside. Despite its shared platform and the noticeably GM switchgear inside, the ZDX manages to have an Acura-esque feel, and its striking exterior styling helps it stand out from the Prologue and Blazer EV.
2025 Genesis GV80, GV80 Coupe
AB: Winner
I swear, Genesis is on an amazing roll. It’s making luxury cars that absolutely shame established players. Both of these GV80 models have an interior nicer than anything in the Mercedes-EQ lineup, and only recently has BMW really been upping its game in terms of interior quality, perhaps feeling the pinch from this brand in particular. But the details in the GV80 are exceptional: The assembly quality is flawless, and the materials are all rich and feel expensive. Even the designs show significant thought, like the 27-inch single-pane gauge cluster and touchscreen that isn’t so high as to make you feel like you’re driving a flat-screen TV. I don’t even hate that Genesis has made a coupe model, which is a stupid SUV segment, because it just looks fantastic, inside and out.
BN: Winner
I can’t be mad about the continued coupeification of luxury SUVs, either, not when this one looks so good. Photos don’t do the GV80 Coupe justice, but the SUV is no slouch in the looks department, either. With gorgeous interiors and ergonomic improvements that show some automakers actually do listen to customer feedback, the GV80s should be top of mind for any luxury SUV shopper. We already know the technology is excellent, too. What really intrigues me is the 48-volt supercharger tacked onto the twin-turbo V-6, which was already an exemplary engine … Are we inching toward Genesis’ vision of an N lineup?
DB: Winner
I still roll my eyes at the whole “coupe SUV” thing, but I am clearly in the minority because the things keep proliferating. Obviously, there’s a sufficient number of luxury-brand buyers who value a rakish roofline over optimal practicality, and they’re willing to pay extra for it. Beyond the addition of the GV80 Coupe variant, this is a stellar mid-cycle refresh. The exterior styling updates are subtle but effective, but it’s the upgraded interior and its 27-inch single-pane touchscreen that are the real showstoppers. Genesis’ cabins have always been good, but in the last couple of years, they’ve been elevated to world-class, and the 2025 GV80’s is no exception.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
AB: Loser
I love a high-performance electric car as much as the next guy (which is a lot), but the problem I had with the Kia EV6 GT is the same one I have with the new Ioniq 5 N, and for me, it’s an absolute deal killer: The front seats are terrible. It’s the lack of adjustability that does it; the seat bottoms are adjustable for height but not for rake, as they’re manually adjustable only. No power seats means the angle of the seat bottom is exceptionally unpleasant for me and my short-legs, long-torso frame. It’s not even the aggressive bolsters that kill it for me; it’s the fact that I’d have to sit absurdly close to the dash and steering wheel to use the pedals properly, and I don’t want to do that. That means I don’t want to drive this car, and that makes me sad because I really, really did — until I sat in it.
BN: Winner
I will not dispute a word of what Aaron said about the seats. Nothing ruins a driving experience like an uncomfortable seating position. But here’s the thing: I don’t have that problem, so this car rules. Everything about it is appealing to me, from its aggressive styling to its 600-plus horsepower to its smart performance-oriented tech to its still very roomy and utilitarian cabin. The “N” names for nearly every feature are silly, but I. Don’t. Care. I want to drive one. I want to buy a home just so I can have convenient home charging so the inevitable not-great range (if the EV6 GT was just revised to 218 total miles, and this one has a bigger battery pack but also more power, it’s … not gonna be a big number) isn’t annoying.
DB: Winner
I’m going to call this a winner, but with significant reservations. I appreciate how the Ioniq 5 N expands Hyundai’s N brand and stretches the definition of a high-performance vehicle. I’m also on board with the N-specific exterior styling touches and the Performance Blue Matte finish the Ioniq 5 N on the show floor wore. The specs are certainly dazzling, as well: 641 hp maximum and 0-60 mph times in the mid-3-second range(!). However, I can’t make a final judgment until I get behind the wheel of one to see how all of this coheres — or doesn’t — into an engaging high-performance driving experience.
2024 Kia Sorento
AB: Winner
The continual improvement of the Kia brand carries on, with each new model even better than the last. The latest Sorento isn’t as great a departure from the last one as the new Hyundai Santa Fe, but that’s OK, as it provides an interesting foil to the Santa Fe’s sudden left-field Land Rover-esque styling transformation. It’s more about that interior, however, which is now approaching near-luxe-brand levels of sophistication, materials refinement and design.
BN: Loser
My counterpoint is that because the Sorento isn’t as radical a departure as the Santa Fe, I’m not really into it. The interior is lovely; it finally has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; and the new X-Pro trim gives it a little extra oomph. But I’m bored of it. It’s a mild face-lift of an already good car that is now probably slightly better. Yawn.
DB: Winner
Swiping some of the Telluride’s style and slapping it on the Sorento seems a smart strategy for Kia, as does the addition of the off-road-themed X-Pro variant. The interior updates look to be spot on, as well. I’ve always liked the latest-generation Sorento as a rational, right-size alternative to larger three-row SUVs like the Telluride and Honda Pilot. The updates for the 2024 model aren’t necessarily headline grabbers, but they make the Sorento that much more appealing.
2025 Lucid Gravity
AB: Winner
The Lucid Air is a jaw-droppingly good electric luxury sedan, and the only thing the new Gravity SUV doesn’t have as an advantage over the Air is that it didn’t come first. The design is stunning; the interior is an exercise in simplicity, style and materials quality; and the additional utility of the space and a third row (for smaller people) is fantastic. The attention to packaging in the Gravity makes for a much larger vehicle inside than its low-slung footprint would suggest. This thing is just a knockout.
BN: Winner
The Gravity really pulled in the crowds at the auto show (get it!?) — and deservedly so. I love the exterior design, which is more akin to a wagon or minivan than an SUV to my eyes. Segment semantics aside, we know Lucid can deliver on range and performance, and when that’s coupled with gorgeous interior materials, intelligent tech and legitimate three-row space, it’s always going to be a win. My one hesitation with the Gravity are the touch-sensitive steering-wheel controls, but until those are proven stupid in real-world testing, I’ll let them slide.
DB: Winner
The Gravity successfully transposes the styling cues of its Air sedan sibling onto the shape of a sleek, low-slung SUV, and it also carries over the dazzling dashboard displays. I didn’t get the chance to sit in the models that were on display at the show, but I fit in an Air just fine, and the Gravity’s slightly higher profile and ride height should be a comfort plus (and make entry and exit easier). I also appreciate that Lucid has at least given some thought to lifestyle use: One of the models on display at the show was carrying a surfboard and mountain bike in the rear cargo area, and the frunk seats are a fun, funky touch, too.
2025 Subaru Forester
AB: Winner
It’s certainly a styling departure from the previous Foresters, but if you took that Subie badge off the front, you could easily mistake it for the next Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 — it actually kind of looks like a cross between the two. That’s exactly what Subaru is intending, aiming the latest Forester squarely at those two bestsellers in the hopes of snagging some of those mainstream buyers. Given the solid interior digs, excellent roominess and standard all-wheel drive, it’s likely to succeed. I just wish it had a bit more oomph in the engine department, but I pretty much wish that for all Subarus.
BN: Loser
This is the Sorento all over again, except there isn’t a radically redesigned competitor as an alternative, so it’s a much more narrow loss. I actually really like the Forester, but the updates don’t move the needle much for me. The new 11.6-inch touchscreen display is an improvement over the (still standard) dual-screen setup, but having used it in multiple other Subarus in recent years, the portrait-oriented screen is not my cup of tea. To Subaru’s credit, it hasn’t messed anything up and the Forester will likely remain a top seller, but I wanted more from this redesign.
DB: Winner
Again, no headline-grabbing new features here, but the new Forester strikes me as a solid redo of a perennial Subaru bestseller. Refinement looks to be up across the board without compromising the distinctive, outdoorsy workhorse character that has endeared the Forester to its adventure-seeking owners over the years. I was especially impressed with the low-key but successful redesigns of the 2024 Impreza and Crosstrek, and I expect the 2025 Forester to deliver the goods in the same way. I’m also hopeful that the promised hybrid model that is slated to be unveiled within the next year or so might also deliver a bit more oomph in the acceleration department in addition to improved fuel economy.
2025 Toyota Crown Signia
AB: Winner
I don’t even know why Toyota bothered with the absolutely bizarre Crown sedan when this was waiting in the wings. The Crown Signia is far more attractive than the frumpy and weird crossover-sedan Crown, and it features that model’s very nice interior while adding excellent rear headroom and cargo space, as well. The powertrain is decent, but I’m bummed it won’t have the 340-hp Hybrid Max powertrain the Crown sedan offers. Maybe Toyota will add it later.
BN: Winner
Just barely a winner in my book, the Crown Signia is what the new Venza should’ve been from the beginning: a borderline station wagon that looks great on the outside and offers the average person a roomy two-row interior. The interior of the Crown Signia is the kind of near-premium vehicle that should appeal to buyers who can afford a Lexus but find it a little too ostentatious. The lack of a Hybrid Max powertrain is disappointing but not deal-breaking; I don’t think Crown Signia buyers will really care. As long as Toyota continues to call this an SUV in marketing, it should be a winner.
DB: Loser
I’m calling this one a loser because of one simple yet very important detail: I can’t fit in it comfortably. In both the front and backseats, my head brushes the headliner — enough so in the driver’s seat that I would have to recline the seat back to an uncomfortable driving position to have enough headroom. Granted, I’m 6-foot-6, but c’mon: This is a mid-size SUV, not a close-coupled two-seat sports car. Incidentally, I had the same problem with the Crown, but it’s even more galling here. I’m also disappointed that the Crown Signia is apparently replacing the recently reborn Venza, which I fit in just fine.
2025 Toyota Camry
AB: Loser
It kind of feels like Toyota redid the Camry simply because Honda redid the Accord, and it just couldn’t let it go. The styling is an improvement with the hammerhead grille, but the angular front and rear end doesn’t really match the middle bits, which didn’t get any changes. The interior makes up for that stylistic weirdness, but what really relegates the Camry to loser status is the hybrid-only powertrain. The styling and sporty bits promise an incredible performance sedan, but I’m sorry, you’re not gonna deliver on that promise with just 232 hp and a continuously variable automatic transmission.
BN: Loser
Sedans are still cool and good, but this is a miss for me. As good as the exterior styling updates are — and I think this grille design looks better on the Camry than on any Lexus I’ve seen — the interior leaves a lot to be desired. The Camry’s interior design and materials are more avant garde than the Accord, but I prefer the Honda’s no-nonsense style. The quilted trim in the XLE — a likely volume seller — strikes me as something that will absorb liquids, oils and odors and become a problem soon into ownership.
DB: Winner
This is just barely a winner for me, and only because the conservative-in-scope redesign is in keeping with the Camry’s sensible-shoes mission. Going whole hog on a ground-breaking, all-new Camry doesn’t seem like a prudent use of Toyota’s resources at the moment, and there’s just enough new here to keep the Camry fresh and appealing in the eyes of mainstream mid-size sedan shoppers. Would I have liked to see a new generation of the Camry TRD? Would I have liked to see a smooth Toyota V-6, or at least another spicier powerplant, hang around a little longer? Yes and yes, but times change.
More From Cars.com:
- 2025 Subaru Forester Up Close: No Big Changes, Just Better
- 2024 Nissan Rogue Up Close: Sleeker Looks, Upsized Touchscreen
- Face-Lifted 2024 Kia Sorento Goes Off-Road With New X-Pro Trim
- Hyundai Unveils U.S.-Market Specs for 2024 Santa Fe
- 2025 Toyota Camry Up Close: Still Kicking, Now With Even More Style
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