Top 10 Highlights from the 2026 New York Auto Show
The New York Auto Show has become the largest auto show in the U.S., ahead of Los Angeles and Detroit. The 2026 edition, which kicked off last Friday, features several major new models, including some global and North American premieres.
The Car Guide was on hand during Media Day. Here are 10 vehicles that caught our attention:
2027 Volkswagen Atlas
The second-generation Atlas boasts more refinement, technology and power. The exterior dimensions are the same except for an increase of approximately 2 cm in length, which benefits cargo space, but styling is much more elegant thanks to the redesigned grille, headlights and taillights. The interior is completely transformed: there’s a really cool ambient lighting system offering 10 or 30 colours, a new centre touchscreen measuring 12.9 or 15 inches, as well as available front seats with massage for the first time. Under the hood, the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine gets revised tuning and gains 13 horsepower for a total of 282, which is more in line with the average competitor and once again good enough to tow up to 5,000 lbs.
2027 Kia Seltos and EV3
The Seltos is a major player in the subcompact SUV segment, as evidenced by its sales figures. For its second generation, it aligns more closely with the design of other Kia models and looks very attractive from every angle. More modern and more versatile, the interior offers extra cargo space as well as dual 12.3-inch displays. Safety content has been expanded, too. As for motivation, the two gasoline engines return unchanged, but the big news is a hybrid system with e-AWD technology. We’ll learn more as we approach its on-sale date this fall.
Also from Kia, the EV3 subcompact electric crossover will finally arrive in Canada this summer as a 2027 model, replacing the Niro EV and joining the EV4 sedan and EV5 crossover, two other battery-powered models aimed at the mass market. Visually similar to the three-row EV9 and featuring a large panoramic display of approximately 30 inches, the EV3 promises a range of 354 to 514 km depending on the model. More good news for Canadian drivers: some units will have all-wheel drive and boost output from 201 to 261 horsepower, or even 288 horsepower in the case of the EV3 GT.
2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
Blessed with a next-generation 6.7-litre V8 that generates more torque than any other naturally aspirated V8 production car, the new Corvette Grand Sport produces 535 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque. Z52 Sport and Z52 Track performance packages are available. Now, get this: a gas-electric Grand Sport X will also be launched, taking over from the Corvette E-Ray. The motor on the front axle is derived from the Corvette ZR1X and results in a staggering 721 total horsepower.
2027 Subaru Getaway
Extremely similar to the 2027 Toyota Highlander, the new Getaway is a three-row electric SUV that offers more than 480 km of range in addition to 420 horsepower—unprecedented for a production Subaru model—resulting in 0-100 km/h acceleration in under five seconds. With seating for seven and 450 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, the Getaway is also the most spacious vehicle in Subaru’s history, and its massive panoramic roof will bring plenty of light into the cabin. It is expected to arrive at U.S. dealerships in late 2026 but may not come to Canada due to the current tariff situation.
2027 Nissan Z NISMO
A refreshed and improved Nissan Z coupe is coming for the 2027 model year. Good news for fans of the high-performance Z NISMO: the six-speed manual transmission is now available. It has been specially tuned for this model, and there’s manual-specific tuning for the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6, too. That’s not all: engineers have also borrowed the front brake rotors from the discontinued Nissan GT-R and revised both the suspension and steering. We can’t wait to drive it!
2027 Chrysler Pacifica
The updated Pacifica sports a new, more modern front fascia with vertical LED headlights and an illuminated grille featuring a unique signature that designers call “piano keys.” This is complemented by a redesigned bumper and a reinterpretation of Chrysler’s winged emblem, as first seen on the 2024 Halcyon concept. New body colours and wheel designs are also available. Inside, the new logo adorns the steering wheel and interior accents have been updated across the line. On the other hand, there are no changes under the hood. The 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 is carried over. Ditto for optional all-wheel drive.
2027 Ram ProMaster City
Five years after being discontinued, the ProMaster City returns and revives the compact van segment. More attractive and more modern, it shares its platform with five other models including the Citroën Jumpy, Peugeot Expert and Opel Vivaro. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 166 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, good for 2,000 lbs payload and 2,000 lbs towing. Ram intends to meet the needs of transportation companies with a selection of five- and eight- passenger variants in addition to the two-seat cargo variant. Overall, look for up to 11 different models split into two lineups, Tradesman and SLT, the latter aimed at more demanding customers.
2027 Infiniti QX65
The new QX65 is a coupe variant of the QX60 three-row midsize SUV and remains true to the QX65 Monograph concept you may have seen at the Montreal Auto Show in January. Its sportier looks come at a price: just two rows of seats, reduced cargo space from 1,178 to 1,014 litres, an increase in weight of approximately 40 kg, and 15 mm less headroom in the second row. Other than that, the QX65’s interior is virtually identical to that of the QX60. The same goes for the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 268 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque. We love the Sunfire Red body colour, flecked with real gold-plated glass. Don’t you?
Hyundai Boulder
Following the Crater concept that was unveiled in late 2025 and displayed at the Montreal Auto Show, Hyundai is back with the Boulder concept, a rugged 4×4 designed as a hypothetical competitor to the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. The exterior is the product of Hyundai’s “Art of Steel” design philosophy, and safari-style windows add a unique touch while making the cabin brighter. The Boulder also features 37-inch all-terrain tires, a real-time off-road guidance system and dual-opening tailgate. The powertrain remains unspecified, however, as do Hyundai’s plans for this vehicle.
