Kia, Hyundai, Genesis And Subaru Owned The 2025 New York International Auto Show With 8 Vehicle Reveals
They stole the show.
Subaru and the Hyundai Motor Group brands of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis were the only automakers to debut new models during media day at the 2025 New York International Auto Show, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
The major U.S. autos shows have become less important as venues for new vehicle reveals of late, as car companies have shifted toward digital media and standalone events.
The trio did muster up eight vehicles between them, including a good old fashioned concept car, with four that were being shown for the first time anywhere.
GENESIS X GRAN EQUATOR CONCEPT
Genesis brought a show car to the show in the form of the X Gran Equator. The rugged luxury SUV is named after a famous Arabian stallion show horse and prances around on enormous 24-inch wheels shod in all-terrain tires. It didn’t say if it was meant to be gas or electric, but the sleek two-row model looks like it would be a winner either way if it went into production. Genesis didn’t confirm that it would, but you can probably expect something like it to make the move from show floor to showroom in the coming years.
2026 HYUNDAI PALISADE
The all-new 2026 Hyundai Palisade is a little larger than the old one and a looks a lot meaner, with a giant grille and stacked front light design. The three-row SUV will be available for the first time as a hybrid with a 329 hp powertrain that’s good for 30 mpg and a 4,000-pound tow rating. The standard engine is a 287 hp. 3.5-liter V6. New to the lineup is a rugged XRT PRO trim that gets all-terrain tires, an extra inch of ground clearance, a limited slip rear differential, new bumpers and protective body cladding, recovery hooks and other off-road goodies. Production remains in South Korea and pricing will be announced closer to when it goes on sale this fall.
2026 KIA EV4
The EV4 is something a little different. It’s a car. Not an SUV or a truck, but a compact sedan. There aren’t as many of those as they’re used to be and to make this even more unusual, it’s electric. Kia estimates it will deliver 235 to 330 miles of driving range per charge, depending on the model, and take about a half-hour to charge from 10% to 80% at a DC Fast charging station. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but Kia said it will be “affordable” when it deliveries begin in early 2026.
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2026 KIA EV9 NIGHTFALL
The Kia EV9 has been on sale since 2024 and not much changes this year, but the new Nightfall edition adds some fresh style and performance to the three-row electric crossover. The Nightfall is a package for the Land AWD trim that adds gloss black trim and wheels plus a Boost feature that increases the 379 hp powertrain’s torque from 443 lb-ft to 516 lb-ft in short bursts that allow it to accelerate to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Pricing for the Nightfall haven’t been announced, but the Land AWD starts at $71,395.
2026 KIA K4 HATCHBACK
The gas-powered 2025 Kia K4 made its debut at the 2024 New York International Auto Show, so it is fitting that the 2026 K4 Hatchback would do the same. The compact five-door is nearly a foot shorter in length than the sedan, but gets a 22.2-cubic-foot cargo area under the rear glass. A 147 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is standard, but the K4 will be available as a GT-Line with a sportier suspension and a GT-Turbo with the suspension and a 190 hp turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that should qualify it as a hot hatchback.
2026 SUBARU OUTBACK
The Subaru Outback is rolling into its seventh generation bigger than ever before. The midsize, two-row SUV has a boxy new style and the most interior space yet. A 180 hp four-cylinder engine is standard and a 260 hp turbocharged four-cylinder available, the latter being the exclusive motor for the most extreme Wilderness off-road trim. Click here to read more about the Indiana-built 2026 Outback.
2026 SUBARU SOLTERRA
The Subaru Solterra electric SUV is a collaboration with Toyota that was introduced in 2023 and it is getting what everyone has been asking for since then: More power and range. The range has been increased by 25% to 285 miles between charges. The standard all-wheel-drive system’s power has been increased from 215 hp to 233 hp, while a Solterra XT model gets boosted to 338 hp and can accelerate to 60 mph in five seconds. Subaru also gave it a styling makeover with a more monochromatic look. The Japan-made 2026 Solterra is scheduled to hit showrooms later this year at a yet to be announced price, but the 2025 model starts at $40,390.
2026 SUBARU TRAILSEEKER
The Trailseeker is essentially a wagon version of the Solterra that you can almost think of as an electric Outback. It features a 375 hp all-wheel drivetrain that can accelerate it to 60 mph and tow up to 3,500 pounds. It’s six inches longer overall than the Solterra and has a taller roof with raised roof rails. Like the Solterra, it has 8.3 inches of ground clearance and an X-Mode traction management system with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud Modes. The driving range is estimated at 260 miles per charge and prices will be announced closer to when deliveries begin in early 2026.