Auto shows are often dismissed as a relic from a bygone era, but they’re still relevant to consumers and the 2023 New York Auto Show had enough debuts to keep the media busy.
With that in mind, we’re wrapping up our coverage of this year’s show with a look back at the hits and misses. We’ve also compiled over 400 pictures, spanning vehicles both old and new.
Hit: The Ram 1500 REV Is An 800 Pound Gorilla With 500 Miles Of Range
Ram might be late to the electric truck game, but they’re making up for lost time with a massive 229 kWh battery pack that will give their pickup approximately 500 miles (805 km) of range. That’s a ridiculous number and among the longest ranges offered by any EV.
Besides a big, honking battery, the Ram 1500 REV looks relatively handsome and is suitably fancy in Tungsten trim. The model also sports plenty of other impressive figures including a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 4.4 seconds, a towing capacity of up to 14,000 lbs (6,350 kg), and a combined output of 654 hp (448 kW / 663 PS).
Miss: The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Can Get Lost
What do you call a hatchback, disguised as a crossover, pretending to be a serious off-roader? If you guessed Crosstrek Wilderness, pat yourself on the back.
Designed to deplete the world’s supply of plastic body cladding, the Crosstrek Wilderness starts at $31,995 and has looks only a mother could love. While the car appears slightly better in person, it’s a bit much and you can buy the WRX for $30,605. The latter has all the cladding you need and will likely go off-roading as often as the Crosstrek Wilderness.
Hit: The Kia EV9 Is Electrifying
If the New York Auto Show had a winner, it would likely be the 2024 Kia EV9. While the Ram 1500 REV certainly drew its fair share of attention, people swarmed the EV9s and they were still drawing crowds hours after their debut.
It’s not hard to see why as the three-row crossover looks great, although the interior is a little bland. The latter is disappointing, but the EV9 GT-Line will have a dual motor all-wheel drive system with 379 hp (383 kW / 384 PS). We can also expect a rear-wheel drive model with around 300 miles (483 km) of range.
Hit: The Genesis GV80 Coupe Concept Is Stunning
Genesis has really found its stride in the past few years and the GV80 Coupe Concept continues that trend.
The concept previews a stylish and elegant crossover coupe, based on the standard GV80. Genesis hasn’t said much about it, but the concept looks fantastic and hopefully the production model will too.
Miss: Honda Had Nothing To Show And It Showed
Honda didn’t have anything new to introduce, so it’s not surprising the brand flew under the radar. However, their exhibit was the automotive equivalent of Ambien and felt deserted.
While the automaker did bring a Civic, it appeared to be of the plain Jane variety. The lack of excitement was clear from across the show floor, although a couple of police officers scoped out the new Accord.
Hit: Nissan Makes It Snow
Like Honda, Nissan didn’t have anything new to display. However, that doesn’t mean they didn’t have any eye candy.
Quite the opposite as the GT-R ‘ultimate garage’ drew plenty of attention to the aging GT-R Nismo. The Z also puts a smile on your face, while the Ariya made it ‘snow’ inside Javits Center.
Miss: A Bear Market As A Number Of Brands Were MIA
While New York is often seen as a luxury market, a number of luxury brands were missing in action. Mercedes was the most noticeable absence, despite having plenty of new and updated products on the horizon.
Acura, Cadillac, and Jaguar Land Rover were also nowhere to be found, while Audi, BMW, and Porsche only had a small presence.
Hit: Facelifts That Involve More Than Just The Face
Facelifts have a tendency to feel phoned in, but that’s not always the case. The 2024 Jeep Wrangler is a clear example of this as it sports a significantly improved interior with a new dashboard, soft-touch materials, and a standard 12.3-inch infotainment system.
Also on display were facelifted versions of the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Ford Escape, and Volkswagen Atlas. The Atlas and Trailblazer both sport nicer cabins, while the Escape has a far better looking exterior.
Miss: Camaro Gets A Lackluster Retirement Party
Chevrolet recently announced production of the sixth-generation Camaro will end in January. While the car will eventually return, it’s appearance in New York was less than glamorous as it was tucked away, next to a roll of carpeting.
The 2024 Ford Mustang, on the other hand, was given plenty of prime real estate. It also didn’t hurt that the Dark Horse was joined by an eye-catching red convertible. Likewise, the Dodge Challenger Demon 170 needed no introduction.
Attending The Show
The 2023 New York Auto Show runs through April 16th and tickets cost $21.00 for adults as well as $7.00 for children 12 years or younger. Besides the numerous static displays, there are also ride and drive events from Ford, Jeep, Hyundai, and Toyota.