The best cars and SUVs from the 2022 North American International Auto Show. As tends to be the case in this post-ish-pandemic world of auto shows, the North American International Auto Show was a strange one. It was at least mostly indoors and thus not at the mercy of Mother Nature. And unlike that first Chicago Show following the initial pandemic shutdown, this one was all assembled before the media arrived. Even with a much thinner show floor, the Detroit Auto Show still gave us a number of noteworthy reveals.
Now, full disclosure, the rules for our Detroit picks were made a little more flexible, since some of these vehicles were revealed a little before the week of the show. But we still focused on vehicles that were making their show debut, and were actually present on the floor. Sadly, that means we had to leave out the Jeep Recon and Wagoneer S electric SUV concepts. Odds are, those would've made it into our list of the top five if they had actually been on display. Now, on to the winners.
TranscriptGREG MIGLIORE: Welcome back to the North American International Auto Show. The Detroit Auto Show, the first show here in the Motor City since 2019. There were a lot of major reveals this year, but it was a bit quieter than you might remember in years past. Except all of that changed when the president decided to stop by, so that definitely made press days more interesting than I can honestly ever remember, from a pure news perspective.
Still, Autoblog editors were all about the sheet metal. We cover the show all across the floor, and of course, we have some favorites. So here they are, Autoblog's best in show. In fifth place was the Jeep Wrangler Willys 4XE. Associate editor Byron Hurd said, this was an easy one. While there's nothing so remarkable about the Willys that it makes this package a must-buy, it's nice to see another model available with a 4XE power train. Just one question, though. Where was the Recon?
In fourth place was the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV. Senior editor for all things green John Snyder said, as a fan of the K5 and S10 Blazer generations, I was a bit bemused when the current gen crossover came out until I drove it and realized how good it actually is. Now that there's a Blazer EV incoming, I feel like I can become a true fan again.
And there's a lot for fans to appreciate. Front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, and all wheel drive versions, and even a 557 horsepower SS variant. In a lineup of practical, Ultium-based Chevy utes, it's good to see an attainable product that enthusiasts can get behind, along the lines of Ford with its Mustang Mach-E while we wait for an electric Corvette.
In third place was the 2023 Chrysler 300C. I spoke on behalf of the staff for this one. My thoughts were Chrysler kicked off this year's show with a deserving salute to one of its icons. To be clear, this isn't the 300S with an available 5.7 liter. This is the 392 Hooligan with 485 horsepower that looks and sounds the part. While the 300 has languished in recent years, it's hard to understate just how much the sedan meant to Daimler-Chrysler and the Chrysler brand 17 years ago.
In second place was the 2024 Chevy Equinox EV. News editor Joel Stocksdale notes, while it may not be the most glamorous car on the floor at Detroit, the Equinox EV is probably the most important. Our second place pick for this year's show is an EV with an impressively low starting price around $30,000. But this isn't a tiny hatchback. It offers impressive range between 250 and 300 miles, and amazingly, it even looks good, particularly in the cheery blue and white paint scheme on the display model.
This is a real look at the mainstream future of EVs, and it's looking good. The top vote-getter, perhaps no surprise, the 2024 Ford Mustang. To sum this up on behalf of Autoblog, best in show this year goes to the 2024 Ford Mustang. The new Mustang hits all of the high notes for the car's large and passionate fan base. The V8, check. Familiar styling, check. A manual transmission, check.
This is all good. This is likely it, though, for the internal combustion engine Mustang, and Ford played to the car's strengths. With the Challenger done next year and the Camero's future uncertain, Ford's long-running pony car may end up as the last one standing. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore.
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander adds another three-row SUV to its line-up that fits between the smaller Highlander and the larger truck-based Sequoia. It features styling closely related to the RAV4, with a wide stance and crisp lines. Three powertrains are available including a non-hybrid turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a hybrid …
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is a big, lovable luxury beast. Under the hood, it’s packing a biturbocharged 4.0-liter V8 making 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, propelling this three-row SUV from 0-60 miles per hour in a swift 4.1 seconds. But it’s not all about speed. With an …
The winner of Autoblog’s 2023 Technology of the Year competition is Mercedes-Benz’s Dolby Atmos audio system. It defeated a number of impressive other new technologies like BMW’s Theater Screen, Ford’s Remote Rev and more. Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio has been present in theaters and home theater setups for quite some …
The 2023 Lotus Emira is finally here! Arriving now in limited quantities after multiple supply-chain delays, this V6-powered First Edition gets 400 horsepower out of its supercharged Toyota engine, which is mated to an old-fashioned, six-speed manual transmission. The engine's mounted in the middle -- right where you want it …
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is getting the TrailSport treatment along with a number of key interior updates for the entire lineup. The big news is obviously the new Ridgeline Trailsport, which adapts many of the same elements of the all-new Pilot TrailSport and the recently revealed updated Passport TrailSport. That …
The Maserati MC20 represents a rebirth of the Maserati brand. It’s the Italian marque’s supercar and represents a true flagship product that will get folks excited about every other new Maserati on its way. Everything about the two-door coupe, from how it looks, to how it drives, passes the supercar …
For 2024, the Honda Passport picks up some improvements for the off-road focused TrailSport trim, as well as a style-focused Black Edition. The TrailSport's upgrades include all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels as well as retuned shocks, springs and anti-roll bars for better off-pavement performance. The Black Edition is the new …
The 2024 Honda Prologue will be Honda's first widely-available electric car available in the U.S. While it is based on the Chevy Blazer EV, it has a number of unique qualities, starting with its unique exterior and interior styling that are much cleaner and more reserved than the Chevy. Honda …
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S is the Acura branded variant of the Honda Civic Type R. It gets the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and six-speed manual transmission with 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It does have a number of differences, though. The design is different with a …
The F150 is a significant refresh for 2024 and features a new tailgate, bed dividers and an updated design. The tailgate can now swing out -- Ford joins the tailgate wars with Ram and GM -- and the headlights give the F150 a fresh look. The Tremor and Raptor are …
Ford brought three trims of its refreshed 2024 F-150 to the Detroit Auto Show, including the Tremor, Raptor R and Platinum. The Tremor shows off Ford’s fancy, new Pro Access Tailgate and a new modular bumper with a Ford Performance winch kit on it. Meanwhile, the Raptor R showcases Ford’s …
The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is the most extreme Mustang and also one of the most extreme road cars ever made. Its body is largely made out of carbon fiber, and it's rocking a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 under its hood that is promised to make over 800 horsepower. Ford created …
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4Matic SUV is a very pleasant luxury EV to pop around in, and while it isn’t particularly sporty to drive, it sure is a relaxing space to spend time in. The EQE SUV is a similar size and class as the gas-powered GLE, though its …
