2022 New York Auto Show: Everything You Missed
Yankees versus Mets, Jets versus Giants, pizza versus pastrami — these age-old New York City rivalries are well established. With the return of the New York auto show following two years of pandemic-related cancellations, there’s a new rivalry in town: family SUVs versus electric vehicles. The 2022 New York International Auto Show is bustling with freshly debuted people movers and a robust lineup of new EVs looking to seduce shoppers away from their gas-powered rivals.
Related: More New York Auto Show Coverage
Our Cars.com Editorial team got early access to the show on its media preview days, held Wednesday and Thursday prior to the public show that starts on April 15. Get all the details on what’s new with family and adventure-focused SUVs as well as electric cars with our roundup of all the coverage.
Family SUVs
The roster of SUVs unveiled in New York is stocked with three-row family vehicles including spruced-up versions of the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, stretched-out variants of the new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, and an off-road trim for the Nissan Pathfinder. Compact two-row SUVs revealed at the show include a fresh-faced Subaru Outback and the all-new Alfa Romeo Tonale.
Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade Are Spiffed Up
Related automakers Kia and Hyundai have taken a chisel to their popular three-row SUVs with styling tweaks, new tech and additional adventure-oriented models ready for mild off-road jaunts. The 2023 Kia Telluride gets an updated face with new headlights, a larger standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and two new off-road-leaning trims: the X-Line and X-Pro.
The 2023 Hyundai Palisade gets an updated grille, a new 12-inch touchscreen, the option for heated third-row seats and a new XRT trim that gives the SUV a more rugged appearance. Both the Palisade and the Telluride gain a new Tow mode and an available rearview camera mirror.
Jeep Wagoneer L, Grand Wagoneer L Stretch It Out
Families looking for more space than the preceding SUVs offer can check out the new 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L. The supersized variants of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer go up against rivals like the Lincoln Navigator L and Ford Expedition Max. The SUVs are a foot longer than their standard-wheelbase counterparts and come with a wheelbase that’s 7 inches longer for a significant increase in cargo space. The pair will be powered by a new twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that replaces the choice of V-8s in the standard-wheelbase models.
Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Returns
If trading big-city traffic for off-road trails is the goal, the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek aims to accommodate those aspirations. The Rock Creek was once an appearance package for Nissan’s three-row SUV, but it returns as a stand-alone trim for 2023. Unique features for the adventure-leaning model include a darkened front grille, standard LED foglights and a roof rack that holds up to 220 pounds. The SUV also gets an off-road-tuned suspension, 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires and a 6,000-pound towing capacity.
Subaru Outback Gets Techier
For smaller families, the two-row 2023 Subaru Outback may be a better fit than the mid-size and full-size SUVs revealed at the show this week. The Outback is refreshed with minor styling tweaks to bring it up to date with its Impreza and WRX stablemates. More notable are improvements made to Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist system and the debut of the automaker’s latest multimedia system that comes with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Alfa Romeo Tonale: Little(r) Italy
Another SUV that can accommodate small families came to New York with little fanfare. Despite its quiet entrance, the new 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale impressed our team with its resemblance to its larger Stelvio sibling, a surprisingly roomy interior and a plethora of physical controls inside. The Tonale will come to the U.S. with standard all-wheel drive and the choice of a 256-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine or a 272-hp, plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Electric Vehicles
Family SUVs aren’t the only trending story at the show. A wide range of all-electric sedans and SUVs descend on the Big Apple in hopes of converting gas-engine fans. Electrified rookies like the Volkswagen ID. Buzz and VinFast VF 8 join veteran EVs like the Kia Niro and Nissan Leaf.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz Brings Electrified Nostalgia
Fans of the original VW T1 Microbus will find a reimagined and electrified version of the iconic van in New York. Our team got a first look at the two-row ID. Buzz slated for Europe; a longer-wheelbase passenger van with three rows is expected to arrive in the U.S. market in 2024. The ID. Buzz retains some familiar elements of the Microbus with short front and rear overhangs, two-tone paint and a supersized VW logo between the headlights. However, it trades the original van’s gas-powered engine for a 201-hp electric motor and 82-kilowatt-hour battery offered in the Euro-based model (U.S. specs are still undisclosed).
VinFast VF 8: Batteries Not Included
Vietnamese automaker VinFast is the new kid in town, making its New York auto show debut with the VF 8 EV. VinFast aims to bring the compact SUV to the U.S. in late 2022 to challenge household names like Tesla. Unlike Tesla vehicles that include the battery in the purchase price, VinFast is introducing a novel battery subscription program where shoppers pay a monthly fee for the vehicle’s battery; a lifetime battery warranty and free battery replacement are included in the subscription. The VF 8 is expected to get a driving range of 292 miles and carry a starting price of around $41,000.
A Trio of Kia Niros
Kia’s new EV6 SUV has stolen the spotlight recently, but the automaker reminds shoppers that it offers another battery-powered SUV with more powertrain options. The redesigned 2023 Niro is powered by a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully-electric powertrain. The hybrid makes efficiency improvements, while the PHEV and EV each get a longer range; the EV also benefits from faster Level 2 charging. For the 2023 redesign, Kia increased the Niro’s size and cargo space; its exterior is also more memorable with its new “Aero Blade” accent panel in contrasting or body color paint.
Nissan Prunes Leaf Lineup
The Nissan Leaf was one of the first all-electric vehicles on the market, and for 2023, the hatchback sees minor updates with new front styling and aerodynamic improvements. Nissan has also trimmed the model options down to the base Leaf S and the mid-tier Leaf SV Plus. Like the outgoing model, the S is powered by a 40-kWh lithium-ion battery and a 147-hp electric motor, while the SV Plus runs on a 60-kWh battery and a 214-hp motor.
Here’s all the coverage you missed from the 2022 New York Auto Show:
- 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Wins Big at World Car Awards
- 2022 New York Auto Show: Best in Show
- 2022 New York Auto Show: Winners and Losers
- 2022 New York Auto Show: What to Expect
- 2023 Hyundai Palisade Gets Bolder Face, More Technology
- 2023 Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer Go Bigger With New L Versions
- 2023 Kia Niro: Three Familiar Flavors, One Spicy New Look
- 2023 Kia Niro to Debut at the 2022 New York International Auto Show
- 2023 Kia Telluride Piles On New Off-Road Trims, Safety Tech
- 2023 Nissan Leaf Gets Minor Updates, Simplified Lineup
- 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek: Now With More Ruggedness
- 2023 Subaru Outback: Fresh Face, New Tech
- Up Close With the 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale
- Up Close With the 2023 Hyundai Palisade
- Up Close With the 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L
- Up Close With the 2023 Kia Niro EV, PHEV and Hybrid
- Up Close With the 2023 Kia Telluride
- Up Close With the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek: Up a Creek With a Paddle
- Up Close With the 2023 Subaru Outback: Touchscreen Gains Important Updates
- Up Close With the 2023 VinFast VF 8: A Budget Tesla Model Y?
- Up Close With the Volkswagen ID. Buzz: Not Your Average Minivan
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