New York Auto Show 2025: Hopping down the EV Trail

There is precious little news from the current 2025 New York Auto Show, but it does underscore two facts: 1.) Electric vehicles (EVs as well as hybrids) are still the future, and 2.) It is forbidden to talk about Trump's tariffs.

A Genesis concept, and only a concept.

There are now over 60 different electrified models available in the U.S., and in the basement floor of the NY Auto Show visitors can ride in a bevy of BEVs, from Volkswagen's ID Buzz van to the Cadillac OPTIQ. In addition, Subaru, Kia, and Hyundai all revealed new or refreshed versions of vehicles with electric angles.

Subaru's new Trailseeker SUV EV was unveiled boasting a modest range of 260 miles and the ability to charge from 10 to 80 percent in 35 minutes. That's still tardy compared to 800-volt cars, which can do the same in about 17 minutes. But Subaru still has time to improve on the specs because the Trailseek won't be available until early next year.

A tougher Subaru Outback

What garnered more attention was the very butch new version of the Outback, which comes festooned with protective cladding (look out for those rocks!), skid plates, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Yeah, it looks like a Subaru, which is either a good or a bad thing, depending on your aesthetics.

Boasting smoother lines, Kia revealed the EV 9 nightfall edition, which does 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Also Kia's new hatchback version of the K4 was revealed with a host of safety ADAS features--for under $22,000. Not bad at all.

Hyundai talked a lot about its (already committed) millions of dollars to build new factories in the U.S. A spokesperson mentioned the "chaos" in the world without mentioning Trump's tariffs, and then went on to focus on the company's new products. Chief among those is the big refresh of the Palisade SUV. There's now a hybrid version coming (yay!) that will get you 34 mpg and have a total range of 600 miles. More interesting still, it will with come with a built-in dashcam and the redesign abandons the unattractive chicklet grill in favor of a more geometrically appealing look. Applause all around for that design move.

Boy meets grill in the Hyundai Palisade

As for tariff discussions, those were reserved for the J.D. Power-moderated panel "Evaluating the Shifting EV Landscape" held for members of the press. It was more of gripe session about EVs and featured a considerable amount of whining about how fuel standards take "choice away from consumers." No one mentioned the fact that we do that all the time: restricting cigarette sales, for example. Why not restrict the sales of products that are bad for us and bad for the environment?

One helpful piece of advice that the panel did offer: There are currently 3 million tariff-free vehicles on lots in the U.S. Get 'em while they're hot.

Also on display, collectibles like this grrrrreat Firebird.