2025 Los Angeles Auto Show: Winners and Losers

Key Point

• Cars.com’s editors pick our winners and losers among the newly introduced models at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show.

We didn’t get to the beach during our time at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show as we were too busy checking out all of the new metal at the Los Angeles Convention Center instead (also, it was raining most of the week). So instead of tasty waves and beautiful sunsets, here are our picks for the best and worst of the cars, trucks and SUVs displayed on the show floor. Presenting: Cars.com’s winners and losers for the 2025 L.A. Auto Show as judged by Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman, Road Test Editor Brian Normile and West Coast Bureau Chief Conner Golden.

Related: More 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show News

2027 Chevrolet Bolt

Aaron Bragman: Winner

I absolutely celebrate the return of the Bolt, having owned one in the past. It’s right-sized, right-priced and decently comfy — and the improved range and charging speed will make the new one even more appealing than the old one. But GM’s continued doubling down on eliminating Apple CarPlay from its systems remains a problem, and it’s a critical one for a lot of buyers who simply won’t consider buying a new one due to this one simple omission — myself included.

Brian Normile: Winner

The new Bolt is exactly what Aaron said, problems included. I have a ton of space upfront and in the backseat even behind an adult’s front seating position, the cargo area is spacious and has a deep well, and headroom is stellar even at my 6-foot-1 height. I can live without Apple CarPlay, but GM’s omission is so blatantly greedy that it’s a bit off-putting. With enough savings compared to a Nissan Leaf, I’d still consider the Bolt, but all things equal, I’m taking the Nissan. Despite all that, this is still a winner in my book for the availability of another actually affordable electric vehicle.

Conner Golden: Winner

I thought I’d be the first to write off GM’s brute-force use of Google Built-In in place of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but after using the former in a number of new GM products … yeah, I don’t really miss phone projection. I don’t really give a hoot about text notifications and whatnot, and I often have major connectivity issues with wireless apps, so this is all to say the CarPlayless Bolt is fine in my book. I like the style, color palette and moderately clever interior packaging, but it’s the Bolt’s aggressively affordable pricing that wins me over.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N

AB: Loser

Fast EVs are always fun, but just about all EVs are fast these days; the problem with Hyundai’s dedicated sporty EVs is that they’re not comfortable. I find the seats in the Ioniq 5 N to be stiff and angled poorly, and the 6 N repeats this offense. Add in the Ioniq 6’s lack of rear head- and legroom, and this thing just becomes somewhat pointless to me.

BN: Winner

I find the Ioniq 6 N perfectly comfortable — upfront, anyway — so it’s a win for me. The Ioniq 5 N is a blast and the Ioniq 6 N actually improves on it; not all of the N-named features worked in concert in the 5, but more of them will in the 6. I also just think this looks better; I love the wheels, the wing, everything about it.

CG: Winner

We knew this was coming, and the execution is about what we expected — which is roundly a good thing. I believe the N accents and character work better on a sedan, as do the general performance characteristics of a 641-horsepower super-EV. I’m glad the synthetic engine sounds were ported over along with the 5 N’s chunky touchpoints and stylistic touches. Love the wheels, love the color, and dang — a swan-neck wing? I’m in.

2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee

AB: Winner

It doesn’t look much different, but it’s still got a fabulously appointed interior, and the new engine is something I’m really eager to try. I’ve always liked the Grand Cherokee, and the new one just seems to improve on the old one in so many ways. Here’s hoping the Trailhawk will be improving its off-road survivability, as well, given our experiences with the one we owned long-term a couple of years ago.

BN: Winner

This is a winner in my book, but only just — and that’s assuming the Hurricane turbo four-cylinder isn’t an unrefined mess in what is otherwise an extraordinarily luxurious SUV, so I reserve the right to change my opinion after driving it. But the new engine is promising, and the interior is still excellent. I’m with Aaron, though: The Trailhawk is one I’d still avoid.

CG: Winner

Top-level Jeep interiors are roundly more characterful than equivalent cockpits from corresponding products from GM and Ford, and this is very much the case with the loaded-out Grand Cherokee Summit. Of course, like Aaron and Brian, I need to drive the new four-banger before I render complete judgment, but based on specs alone, I’d probably have that over even the plug-in hybrid 4xe.

2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

AB: Winner

Just like the Grand Cherokee, the changes aren’t visually dramatic inside or out, but it’s still a solid improvement on an already-outstanding product. And like the Grand Cherokee, the big news is the new powertrain, something we can’t try out on a show floor but that still qualifies it as a winner in my book for its novelty alone. Combining silent operation in electric mode with the Grand Wagoneer’s truly luxurious interior should make for a very interesting offering.

BN: Winner

The exterior styling is more upscale, the interior is still excellent and spacious, and the range-extended EV powertrain is a novelty that should add luxury and efficiency to what would otherwise be a gas-guzzling full-size SUV. But that also assumes owners will keep the battery charged without relying on the gas engine to do it. I would love to see owners’ charging data if/once Jeep has it, or the purchase rate of the gas versus extended-range EV powertrains, but I won’t hold my breath. Also worth noting: No longer pretending this isn’t a Jeep is a good move.

CG: Loser

I don’t have enough hands-on exposure on the new Grand Wagoneer to say I dig it, I’m afraid. I like the (mostly) carryover interior duds and the imposing style, but whereas the Grand Cherokee wows me with its refresh, the bigger Grand Wagoneer doesn’t, especially when you consider the steep competition from Ford and GM.

2026 Jeep Recon

AB: Loser

First, I have to say that I think the Recon is really cool — from the removable doors to the fun features to the far more spacious interior than I expected to find, the Recon ticks a lot of boxes for someone who’s been waiting for a fully electric Wrangler. But there are two critical failures with the Recon that will doom it, in my opinion: The range is insufficient at 250 miles (especially when the Rivian R2 is expected to have over 300 when it arrives), and the starting price is $67,000 (including destination), which is about 20 grand more than it should be.

BN: Loser

I want to love it, and in a perfect world, I do. An all-electric, Wrangler-adjacent off-roader with removable doors and windows and all of Jeep’s off-road know-how sounds fantastic. But the range is (understandably) Not Great, it’s concerningly wide, it’s too expensive, and I find it hard to believe there will be much support or enthusiasm for this product from folks whose main mission right now seems to be sticking a V-8 into everything they can.

CG: Winner

I can’t say this is exactly the all-electric Wrangler some — some — folks were hoping for, but considering the unique packaging challenges presented by EV translations of existing products, the Recon is as close as you’re gonna get for at least a while. I think it looks like a mashup of Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and Land Rover Defender in the best way, and it will certainly find purchase with a segment of buyers who want the style of the Wrangler with the usability of the Grand Cherokee. Hate to say it, but I think there are more buyers like that than my compatriots might believe.

2027 Kia Telluride

AB: Winner

I’ve said it before, and it still holds true: Every new Kia is better than the one it replaces, and it’s never by just a little bit. The new Telluride is no different — from its slick Range Rover styling to its spacious interior to the choice of putting a turbo four in as the standard engine instead of that lump of a V-6 you’ll find under the hood of its Hyundai Palisade sister ship, the new Telluride just takes what was good about the last one and amps it up to new levels.

BN: Winner

The new Telluride fixes pretty much everything that was wrong with the first-gen model, which wasn’t a lot to begin with. Now it’s got modern infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an available hybrid powertrain and an X-Pro trim that isn’t a hardcore off-roader but offers more capability than it did. Kia’s decision to make the standard powertrain a turbo four-cylinder engine is an interesting deviation from the Palisade, too, and should give the internal-combustion variants a bit more oomph. And it’s all wrapped up in a stylish exterior with a roomy, comfortable and downright luxurious interior. This is the easiest winner I’ve ever had to pick for one of these.

CG: Winner

Winner, winner. The new Telluride might be the most impressive Kia product since … well, since the last Telluride. A budget Range Rover? Other automakers would be so lucky to earn that descriptor. I think the styling is fantastic, and the rugged-yet-upscale interior is a significant improvement not only on the last-generation SUV, but also on the new and current-gen Palisade, too. Speaking of its sibling, the Telluride’s use of a turbo 2.5-liter four is far, far more suited to the class than the Palisade’s slightly wheezy 3.5-liter V-6. As has been the case since the first generation of these South Korean three-rows, a torquey turbo is almost always superior for hauling a full house. And the X-Pro? The chopped carbon interior trim is a fantastic upgrade.

2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-in Hybrid

AB: Winner

So, let me see if I have this right. Nissan gave Mitsubishi the Rogue platform to make the new Outlander, which was a smart decision given how good the Rogue is. And Mitsubishi made a plug-in hybrid version of the Outlander that Nissan took back, slapped a Nissan grille and Rogue PHEV badge on, and called it a day. I mean, given how good the Rogue and Outlander actually are, I’m OK with this. Sure, why not.

BN: Loser

Would the PHEV powertrain not fit in a Rogue that looks like a Rogue? The old Outlander PHEV wasn’t a compelling choice compared to the then-singular plug-in Toyota RAV4, and the new RAV4 has a lot more PHEVs to choose from. And it retains the poorly thought-out third row? My list of questions for this car start and end with “Why?” You’ll never guess what fills up the middle.

CG: Loser

Sheesh — at least don’t make it so obvious, Nissan. I suppose it’s not necessarily a bad thing it’s just a porting over of the Outlander PHEV, but it shows the automaker’s ongoing rethink is on a bit tighter budget than expected. Or perhaps Nissan (rightly) believes consumers won’t care, and will be more than willing to pay a little extra for a better badge.

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