We’re back! Three years from the last NYIAS and 10 years on from our first-ever coverage, Limited Slip returned to the recently refurbished Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. It felt great to be back and connect again with old friends plus make some new ones. In many cases, this was also the first time we got to see new models, like the Corvette Z06, in person. With the show behind us and a PCR test or two pending, here’s what we think are the 5 Best and 5 Worst of the 2022 NYIAS.

5 Worst

1. Empty Show

Despite the fact that the show was on, many brands decided not to make an official appearance. If you plan on buying a ticket and attending the show, open April 15-24 , you’ll miss brands like Acura, Audi, BMW, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Porsche, and Volvo. That left a lot of open space on the show floor – space that was partially consumed by several EV “test tracks” for pre-scripted ridealongs. The worst part of the 2022 NYIAS was the space that went unused and what that represented for the first post-pandemic automotive event.

2. Gloss Black Plastic

Gloss black plastic is an interior design cancer. It has spread throughout the industry, covering high-touch surfaces in budget and high-end brands with very reflective and easily-scratched fingerprint magnets. Gloss black plastic will instantly makes a brand new car seem like it’s spent a year in the rental fleet. Take a look at the center console of the bZ4X, the alphabet-soup-named Toyota variant of a Toyota/Subaru EV “crossover” model that will grace the market next year. The entire surface, including the wireless phone charging tray lid – a surface you actually have to press down on to open – is gloss black plastic. The fingerprints, dust, and micro-scratches already apparent on this 0-mile car is simply appalling, not to mention the fact that gloss black “accents” in an all-black interior don’t actually help make the interior feel any less cave-like.

3. Tired Heritage

Yes, the Ford GT40 finished 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of LeMans. Yes, that means they have three podium racing liveries. And yes, they brought the original GT40 Prototype to the NYIAS back in 1964. But did the ultra-limited production run Ford GT really need yet another heritage edition? For those of you counting, this is the 7th heritage edition since 2017; seven heritage editions in six years. That’s a lot of heritage…too much heritage if you ask us.

4. The Grandest Wagoneer

Jeep’s Wagoneer lineup is getting grander for 2023. Expanding on “L” moniker bestowed upon the three-row Grand Cherokee, the Wagoneer is also going L. Does it stand for large, long, or leviathan? Regardless, the Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L are now 226.7 inches long, just 0.3 inches shorter than the Cadillac Escalade ESV. The cabin is spacious enough to provide plentiful legroom for second and even third-row occupants with massive cargo space in the back. Despite record high gas prices and a show that heavily featured EVs, Jeep decided to party like it’s 2002, not 2022. That sort of tone-deafness made it one of the strangest debuts of the show, especially parked on the stand next to 2022 Chrysler Airflow EV concept. Though we give Jeep some credit for debuting their new twin-turbo I6, good for up to 510 hp and 550 lb-ft torque, as a replacement for the very thirsty 6.4L V8.

5. Kia Telluride & Hyundai Palisade

At a Kia event in 2020, one product specialist joked that the Kia “Selluride” is one of the hottest models in the brand’s history. Customer waitlists began even before the pandemic, meaning the updated 2023 Telluride and Palisade will likely see supply chain related delays impact the launch of both refreshed models. With a fresh set of customer waitlists likely incoming and dealers unafraid of market adjustments, these hot new models will likely be selling for thousands over sticker to those lucky enough to get one. That disappointing prospect made their debut one of the worst parts of the 2022 NYIAS.

5 Best

5. Kia Telluride & Hyundai Palisade

Dealer markups and production delays be damned. The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are two of the best SUVs in their segment, now offering the latest infotainment technology and mildly refreshed styling to stay competitive. Kia adds two new trim levels, X-Line and X-Pro, to add more rugged looks and off-road capability. Both SUVs get larger updated screens and onboard technology. Pricing for both models will be announced soon.

4. Elvis is in the Building

Lincoln is celebrating its 100th anniversary in style by bringing a rare coupe with provenance to the show. The 1956 Continental Mark II – while not technically sold as a Lincoln originally – was purchased and owned by Elvis Presley. Very few brands build luxury coupes these days, and Lincoln isn’t among them, but the white-on-white Continental displayed in front of the updated Lincoln Navigator was one of the biggest talking points of the show. The car is displayed with the original bill of sale and check signed by The King himself.

3. Bronco Raptor

It’s bigger, badder, and wider than we expected. The Bronco Raptor played serious second fiddle to the F-150 Lightning on the Ford stand, but once it is unleashed on the roads and trails of North America there will be no mistaking it. Check out our coverage of the Bronco Raptor debut here. With a rear tire carrier that had to be completely re-engineered to support the 37-inch off-road tires and fender flares so wide they need their own sacrificial panel, the Bronco Raptor is in a league of its own. We can’t wait to get our hands dirty – literally and figuratively – with one. Seeing it in person was one of the highlights of the show.

2. Silver Lining

ChEVrolet brought the Silverado ZR-2 and Silverado EV to the NYIAS in matching blue paint. The off-road-ready ZR-2 is a new trim for the updated 2022 Silverado. Spool-valve dampers and a front locking differential set this model apart from the range. On the opposing stand, the all-new Silverado EV represents the next-generation of Chevy’s iconic model. Based on the Ultium platform that also underpins the all-new GMC Hummer truck, the Chevy will go on sale in 2024 with up to 664 “horsepower” and 400 miles of range. Should it have been called the Avalanche given the visual and bed configuration similarities? Possibly. But seeing GM go all-in on both ICE and EV trucks is great, since there are use cases that fit both propulsion methods.

1. Good Toyotas

Toyota arrived in NY having recently announced the all-new 2023 GR Corolla. With the same 300 hp 3-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission as the Euro-only GR Yaris, America will just have to make due with a slightly larger hot hatch. The launch edition will feature unique additions such as the gloss black hood vents and carbon fiber roof. Be sure to check out the stylish GR86 nearby. Also on the stand was the all-new 2023 Sequoia. This three-row SUV is totally redesigned with a new twin-turbo V6 engine and luxury interior. Finally, almost as soon as the show was over Toyota announced the GR Supra will receive a manual transmission as an option. We’re not exactly sure why they didn’t use the NYIAS as a platform to made such an enthusiast-focused announcement, but we won’t look this gift horse in the mouth. Some great upcoming Toyota products were the best part of the NYIAS.

Bonus: Puppies!

The Subaru Loves Pets exhibit invites guests to play with adoptable puppies in hopes of finding them fur-ever homes. Started in 2018, more than 700 pets have been adopted from the NYIAS to date. Stop by the Subaru booth to de-stress with furry friends from animal shelters in the greater New York City area. It was certainly the highlight of our day! If you’re at the show over the next few weeks, you can go home with a new car and a new best friend.