5 Highlights from the 2025 New York Auto Show

Did you know that the New York International Auto Show celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2025? Of course, we’re a long way from the days when Madison Square Garden exhibited vehicles with prices ranging from $280 to $4,000!

This year’s edition, which runs until April 27 at the Jacob Javits Center, features a number of major debuts. Most of the attention is focused on Japanese and Korean manufacturers, while the only significant new announcement from Detroit’s Big Three is a more rugged version of the Jeep Wagoneer.

Here are five highlights from the 2025 New York Auto Show:

All Hail the Kia EV3

The winners of the 2025 World Car Awards were announced during a special ceremony on Media Day. By the way, the jury of 96 automotive journalists representing 30 countries around the globe includes The Car Guide’s Gabriel Gélinas, The Globe and Mail’s Mark Richardson and Autonerve’s Regina Chan.

The main award, World Car of the Year, went to the Kia EV3. The small electric crossover beat the BMW X3 and Hyundai Inster/Casper Electric. Styling is largely inspired by the three-row Kia EV9, which secured the same award in 2024. The EV3 is slated to launch in Canada early in 2026, and it’s going to be a game changer—provided the price is right.

Subaru’s Love for Adventure

Subaru presents two new vehicles, starting with the next-generation 2026 Outback whose silhouette is taller, beefier and more rugged than before, significantly distancing the model from its wagon-like predecessors. Styling is questionable, especially in Wilderness trim.

The cabin is more ergonomic and tech-friendly. The trunk is roomier, boasting a capacity of 980 litres with the rear seats up. Furthermore, every Outback model is equipped with the latest-generation EyeSight technology and a WRX-derived steering system. The available engines are slightly improved, too. The new Outback will launch by the end of this year, with the Outback Wilderness to follow early next year. 

Meanwhile, the Subaru Trailseeker is a brand new product that nobody saw coming. Fully electric like the Solterra (which gets a proper update for 2026), this larger vehicle focuses more on adventure and versatility. Among other things, roof rails come as standard, and towing capacity reaches 3,300 lbs. A new powertrain gives it 375 horsepower and a range of 420 km, according to Subaru. Watch for it in dealerships in early 2026.

Kia and the Power of 4

Kia’s all-new EV4 electric sedan shares the same design language as the EV6 and EV9 crossovers. Its sleek, fastback-style exterior is equal parts sporty and aerodynamic (with one of the lowest drag coefficients in the auto industry at 0.23), while a 30-inch digital interface highlights the cabin.

Based on the e-GMP platform, but with a 400V architecture, the car will be offered with a choice of two batteries: a 58.3kWh pack enabling 378 km of range or an 81.4kWh pack achieving 482-531 km of range, according to Kia. The EV4 will go on sale in Canada in five trim levels in early 2026.

For those who prefer conventional engines, the new K4 Hatchback also unveiled in New York will be available towards the end of 2025 in regular (147 horsepower) and performance-focused GT-Line (190 horsepower) models. Compared with the sedan, it’s approximately 10 inches shorter, but the larger trunk boasts a capacity of 629 litres. In addition, Kia promises better handling thanks to the hatchback’s smaller size.

A Comprehensive Overhaul for the Hyundai Palisade

For its second generation, Hyundai’s three-row midsize SUV is longer and more spacious, including when it comes to cargo room. The exterior design has changed radically, at times looking classier while at other times sporting a more adventurous appearance—especially in the new, off-road-oriented XRT PRO model).

In North America, the Palisade will retain a naturally aspirated V6 (now borrowed from the Kia Carnival minivan), but the big news under the hood is a hybrid system that promises livelier performance with a combined 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. Average fuel consumption could be as low as 7 L/100 km, which would be fantastic.

The V6-powered 2026 Hyundai Palisade will go on sale this summer. Hybrid models will arrive in Canadian dealerships a few months later.

The GTI of SUVs

The all-new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan goes on sale later this spring, but wait: the company will be adding a top-of-the-range model with a more powerful turbo engine for 2026, and it will arrive as early as this fall. Unlike other Tiguans, which are limited to 201 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, the new Tiguan Turbo Highline R-Line will generate 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft, making it one of the most potent compact SUVs available. Expect more exciting times behind the wheel.

If you were instead hoping for a hybrid variant, well, you’ll have to keep waiting.