2023 New York Auto Show: Everything You Missed

New York City has a knack for rising above: It houses the tallest skyscraper in the U.S. and has the largest U.S. city population of 8.5 million — that’s more than double the population of Los Angeles. Even the pizza in NYC rises above, at least when it comes to the recently debunked ‘”pizza principal” (no, we’re not taking sides in the “best pizza” debate). This theme carries into the 2023 New York International Auto Show, which opens to the public on Friday, April 7. As a plethora of new and updated vehicles make their debut in the Big Apple, many are looking to rise above and defy expectations.

Related: More 2023 New York Auto Show Coverage

From a subcompact SUV that can tow as much weight as its mid-size stablemate to a 1,025-horsepower muscle car that runs on alcohol, these new cars are taking the “go big or go home” mantra seriously. Our Cars.com Editorial team got early access to the show on its media preview days, held Wednesday and Thursday prior to the public show. Read on for a summary of all the coverage, and don’t miss our editors’ roundup of the winners and losers and Best in Show vehicle.

Small SUVs Punch Above Their Weight

Small SUVs like the new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness and 2024 Hyundai Kona make their auto show debut with elevated capability, styling and space. A new trim for the subcompact SUV, the Crosstrek Wilderness gets the same off-road-oriented elements as the larger Forester and Outback Wilderness models. The Crosstrek Wilderness isn’t just an appearance package, either: It gains a higher ground clearance for better approach, departure and breakover angles. It also sees a sizable improvement in towing capacity that beats the compact Forester and matches the mid-size Outback.

The 2024 Kona, meanwhile, grows larger and gains new styling elements that bring it more in line with stablemates like the Elantra and Ioniq 5. The new Kona is 5 inches longer and has a 2-inch longer wheelbase, which helps boost passenger and cargo space: The automaker-estimated 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 63.7 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded is a notable upgrade from the outgoing model’s 19.2 and 45.8 cubic feet.

EVs Rise to the Challenge

Even without the roar of an engine under the hood, a set of all-new EVs like the 2024 Kia EV9, 2025 Ram 1500 REV and 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 make their presence known. The 2024 EV9 made its U.S. debut at the show; with its spacious cabin and mainstream appeal, the three-row EV promises to be a strong contender against current rivals like the Tesla Model X and Model Y and the Mercedes-EQ EQB and EQS SUVs.

The all-electric 2025 Ram 1500 REV is also shaping up to be a worthy opponent to rivals like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the Ford F-150 Lightning thanks to its relatively conventional looks, opulent interior in the new Tungsten trim and maximum range target of up 500 miles with an available 229-kilowatt-hour battery. For a breakdown of how the new 1500 REV stacks up against the F-150 Lighting across categories like interior quality and comfort, cargo space, range and charging, don’t miss our detailed comparison.

The 2023 Ioniq 6 first made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show back in November, but the all-electric sedan once again made a splash in NYC when it took home three World Car Awards: 2023 World Car of the Year, 2023 World Electric Vehicle and 2023 World Car Design of the Year.

Supersized Horsepower

If horsepower specs top your list of concerns, don’t skip over our coverage of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and 2024 Nissan GT-R. The gas-powered Challenger will be discontinued after 2023, but it’s getting a proper send-off with a series of Last Call special editions. The latest one — the SRT Demon 170 — gets up to 1,025 hp and runs on alcohol (E85 ethanol).

Sports cars may be an endangered species, but the 2024 GT-R proves to be alive and well with a fresh face-lift for improved aerodynamics and a more daring look for the top NISMO trim. More notably, the GT-R’s twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 now makes 565 hp and 467 pounds-feet of torque, or 600 hp and 481 pounds-feet of torque in the NISMO.

Going Bigger Off-Road or Looking The Part

Although they’re not all-new models, the 2024 Jeep Wrangler and 2024 Volkswagen Atlas arrive in New York with a handful of upgrades that help them feel more at home on-pavement or off. The 2024 Wrangler gets enhanced capability for its most off-road-capable Rubicon, a new base 4xe plug-in hybrid model and significant tech improvements like a larger 12.3-inch center touchscreen. Meanwhile, the refreshed 2024 Atlas gains a new Peak Edition that brings a more rugged appearance, minus any notable capability improvements. Besides the new 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires that should improve traction, the other changes are purely aesthetic.

Here’s all the coverage you missed from the 2023 New York Auto Show:

• 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 Up Close: Last Call on Alcohol
• 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Garners 3 World Car Awards
• 2024 Hyundai Kona Up Close: A Little Bigger, a Little Bolder
• 2024 Hyundai Kona: Updated Performance, EV Offers Estimated 260 Miles of Range
• 2024 Jeep Wrangler: Tech Overhaul, Capability Gains, New Base 4xe
• 2024 Jeep Wrangler Up Close: Beefier, Safer, More Capable
• 2024 Kia EV9 Up Close: This One Is Significant
• 2024 Nissan GT-R Up Close: Nipping and Tucking
• 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Out-Tows Forester, Starts around $33,000
• 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Up Close: Into the Wild
• 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition Gets Rugged Look, No Significant Functional Upgrades
• 2025 Ram 1500 REV Promises 500-Mile Max Range, Hands-Free Driving
• 2025 Ram 1500 REV Up Close: Fighting Lightning With Thunder
• Auto Show Face-Off: 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric Vs. 2023 Kia Niro EV
• Auto Show Faceoff: 2025 Ram 1500 REV Vs. 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
• U.S.-Bound 2024 Kia EV9 Revealed: Is It an Electrified Telluride?
• 2023 New York Auto Show: Best in Show
• 2023 New York Auto Show: Winners and Losers

New York Auto Show Dates and Tickets

The 2023 New York International Auto Show returns to the Jacob Javits Convention Center Friday and runs through Sunday, April 16. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets can be purchased on the show’s website; they run $21 for adults (age 13 and up) and $7 for children age 12 and under. Kids 2 and younger are free with a paying adult family member.

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