2025 New York International Auto Show Highlights

Some Key Things To See & Do At This Historic Event

by Peter Ciani

For 2025, the New York Auto Show celebrates its 125th anniversary. The first New York Automobile Show — sponsored at the time by the Automobile Club of America — made its debut at the original Madison Square Garden in November of 1900. A crowd of 48,000 attendees turned up to check out the latest and greatest automobiles from 34 carmakers, showcasing some 160 vehicles in all.

As much as show organizers have worked to keep the spirit of the auto show alive over the years, these days, not as many manufacturers turn out. It would be great to see more automakers return to the event that helped promote them for so long. There were notable absences from brands like Cadillac and Mazda, and scaled-down displays from luxury names such as Audi and Mercedes. It was nice to see them represented, but the show is missing something without the grand displays and new model premieres we used to look forward to. 

That said, several brands that were on hand didn’t disappoint. While Nissan, Ford, and Chevrolet didn’t debut any new models, they still put on impressive displays. The same goes for Kia, Hyundai, and, of course, Subaru. 

Subaru’s forest theme brilliantly conveys the spirit of the brand, and as usual, they made space for their ‘Subaru Loves Pets’ adoption area. Every year, Subaru partners with local animal shelters, creating a safe space where show attendees can interact with dogs in need of adoption. It’s a great program, and if you follow RPM News Weekly, then you know that I adopted a dog at the 2023 NYIAS, and it worked out great for us. 

While the dogs may steal your heart, Subaru stole the show when it came to debuts by introducing 3 new vehicles: the refreshed Subaru Solterra, a redesigned Subaru Outback, and the all-new Subaru Trailseeker. 

Kia and Hyundai weren’t about to let Subaru have all the fun. Kia made a big splash with the all-new K4 hatchback, the EV9 Nightfall Edition, and the radical 2026 EV4 sedan. While most automakers are stepping away from sedans and scaling back their EV ambitions, Kia doubled down and said, Nah, we’re gonna do both… in one sporty package. It’s not an exaggeration to say that online reviews of the EV4’s styling are mixed, but you certainly can’t accuse Kia of copying anyone else, and Kia’s estimated 330 miles of range and $37,000 price tag are certain to give vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 some serious competition. 

The big news on the Hyundai side is the redesign of the brand’s flagship SUV, the Palisade. The new 2026 Palisade fully embraces the rugged SUV trend, especially with the new XRT PRO model, and the bold vertical LED signature lighting up front also brings a splash of high-tech flair to the updated design.

Meanwhile, the introduction of a Palisade Hybrid model is sure to attract show-goers. The hybrid is expected to deliver up to 329 horsepower and an estimated driving range of 619 miles on a full tank of gas. Not bad for a spacious 3-row SUV. Of course, anyone who’s ever traveled with kids knows you’ll never get that far without stopping, but it’s nice to know you could.

INEOS Arrives On The Scene

If you’re like me, you’re probably thinking what the heck is INEOS? I follow the automotive industry pretty closely, but I’ll admit I hadn’t heard of INEOS Automotive until quite recently, when advertisements started popping up on YouTube. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see the new brand at NYIAS. You’ll find their booth outside the main show in the Crystal Palace, not far from where we here at RPM News Weekly saw the Lucid Air debut for the first time back in… 2017. Good Guwd, it’s been eight years already?

If you’re not familiar with INEOS Automotive, here’s a quick rundown: INEOS is a chemical company founded by billionaire chemical engineer and entrepreneur Jim Ratcliffe. He launched INEOS Automotive in 2017 in the aftermath of Land Rover discontinuing the original Defender. The company’s primary model is the Grenadier, which is named after the London pub where Ratcliffe first pitched the idea of starting an automotive brand.

The concept behind the Grenadier was simple: build a true, utilitarian 4×4 that delivers a more analog driving experience. And it looks like they’ve nailed it.

The Grenadier is offered in two body styles: the Station Wagon (yes, they actually call it that) and the 4-door Quartermaster pickup truck.

INEOS has two display areas at the show. At the time I visited, only the Station Wagon was featured in their main booth, which felt like a missed opportunity, because the pickup is genuinely cool. However, you can check it out if you head down to their second display on Level 1.

Lucid Gravity

I can’t mention Lucid without bringing up the Lucid Gravity. While its official debut didn’t take place at NYIAS, it was still a magnet for attention. This was my first time seeing the Gravity in person, and I can confidently say it didn’t disappoint.

The interior is spacious and comfortable, with thoughtful features and impressive tech throughout. On the outside, it’s sleek and looks more like a chopped hot-rod minivan than a rugged off-road explorer. If you’re not into the rugged design trend seen on vehicles like the new Palisade, the Gravity might be right up your alley.

Go for a ride!

As I mentioned, it’s kind of sad to see manufacturers scaling back their footprints at the major auto shows, but one silver lining is having the extra room inside the respective venues to actually show off cars in action. EV cars in particular. 

Even though automakers are slowing down their EV investments, thanks in part to the uncertainty surrounding the current “drill baby drill” administration, there were still plenty of tire-squealing, stomach-churning launches to experience at the EV test track. Getting people behind the wheel is one of the best ways to drive EV adoption, and the lineup at the EV Test Track didn’t disappoint. GM made a strong showing with the Chevrolet Blazer EV, Equinox EV, along with Cadillac’s full EV SUV lineup, while Ford brought out the F-150 Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E.

Thanks to GM and Ford, we’ve had a fair amount of seat time in several of their EVs, and we can confidently say they’re worth a look. But there were a few models at the show that we hadn’t yet had the chance to ride in, let alone drive. Standouts include the VW ID. Buzz, the Wagoneer S, and the Dodge Charger Daytona.

Everyone knows the Charger Daytona is a bit controversial. An EV aimed at the muscle car crowd was always going to be a bold move. But after taking a ride, I’ve warmed up to it. If you’re heading out to the show, be sure to take a blast, and let us know what you think. 

Camp Jeep

Okay, so an EV muscle car isn’t your thing. How about conquering a 45-degree incline in a 470-horsepower, HEMI-powered 392 Wrangler? 

Camp Jeep is a staple of the NYIAS. It’s the first thing you see when you walk up to the Javits Center, and as expected, the site of Jeeps off-roading in the heart of the city always draws a crowd from passersby.

If you’re a Jeep owner or thinking about becoming one, Camp Jeep is a great place to experience what these vehicles are truly capable of. The course puts Jeeps through their paces with tests for ground clearance, traction, stability, articulation, breakover, and off-camber angles. Plus, staring straight up at skyscrapers while climbing a 28-foot “mountain” is a bit of a mind-bending experience.

Ford Bronco Off Roadeo Adventure

Not to be outdone, Ford also has their own Bronco playground, aka demo course. While not as large in scale as Camp Jeep, the Bronco course has its own unique obstacles, including a teeter-totter and a rock crawl obstacle, which highlights how good the Bronco is on rugged terrain. 

The 2025 New York International Auto Show runs from April 18th to the 27th at the Javits Convention Center. Check out the NYIAS website for more details.