There’s no fooling around for us today, as we’re covering the first media day of the 2026 New York International Auto Show. While the show circuit may not be as energized as it once was, these displays serve as an opportunity for consumers to get up close to all the models they may be considering for their next purchase, or those dream machines they hope to own. Either way, we’ve got a few reveals to review, so let’s hop to it.

2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid and 2027 Getaway

Our first debut is a pair of Subarus we actually had a chance to tour a few weeks ago in California, the 2027 Forester Wilderness Hybrid and 2027 Getaway.

Starting with the former, it’s Subaru’s first hybrid-assisted Wilderness model; and for those not in the loop, “Wilderness” is Subaru’s off-road sub-brand, which heightens the trail tackling abilities of whichever model it’s attached to. Here, you can expect the same 9.3-inches of ground clearance and upgraded suspension, all-terrain tires, and X-Mode capabilities of the non-hybrid Forester Wilderness. And, of course, Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive comes standard, spurred by a 2.5-liter boxer-four paired with electric motors. The whole system nets 194 horsepower, and is said to reach up to 25% better fuel economy.

That powertrain is the real shakeup here, as everything else is effectively a carryover. No sense changing what doesn’t need changing, right? That applies even to the cabin accommodations, a mirror image of the non-hybrid model, down to the 11.6-inch tablet-style infotainment screen and 12.3-inch digital gauge display. Expect the first examples of the 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid to arrive on dealer lots later this year.

The Getaway is yet another battery-electric utility to come from Subaru, following the recent arrival of the Trailseeker and Uncharted. This new model is larger than any of those, boasting three rows of occupancy for up to seven passengers. Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard here, nonmechanical and made possible by front and rear electric motors rated at a combined 420 horsepower; a 0-60 time under 5 seconds is achievable, according to Subaru.

With a 95.8-kWh battery pack, Subaru is also projecting a range exceeding 300 miles on a single charge, though a standard-range 77-kWh pack will also be available sometime next year. A standard NACS port allows recharges of up to 150 kW and, at best, a 10%-80% recharge can be achieved in about 30 minutes. 

The interior sees a 14-inch touchscreen as standard, joined by a 12.3-inch digital gauge display. Dual wireless device chargers, a plethora of USB-C ports throughout the cabin and heated front seats are just some of the standard features.

 

2027 Volkswagen Atlas

Another three-row SUV making a debut at the NYIAS is the second-generation Volkswagen Atlas. Getting into the goods, its MQB Evo underpinnings provide a platform for the EA888 evo5 engine; this 2.0-liter turbo-four produces 282 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, more potent than the last Atlas. Though horsepower has climbed 13 ponies, Volkswagen expects more efficient fuel economy.

New metal and plastics make up the bodywork, further defined by new LED elements front and rear. The front particularly stands out, width-spanning lightbars and an illuminated “VW” badge spearheading the design on all but the base trims; however, the rear liftgate’s pixelated lighting and extended spoiler make a statement on their own. Expect new wheels and paint options, too.

The cabin’s restructuring is perhaps more integral to the daily runabout. To that extent, Volkswagen has relocated the shifter to the column for a freer center console, the 12-way driver’s seat has been revised and features massaging capabilities and thigh support on higher grades, and second-row captain’s chairs are available on almost every grade. Tech on all but base models consists of a 15-inch center infotainment screen, a smaller 12.9-inch unit serving as standard, while the 10.25-inch gauge display is included throughout the lineup.

 

2027 Kia Seltos

Another next-gen model comes from Kia: The 2027 Seltos, which enters its second rendition self-described as “larger, wider, and roomier.”

Starting with that, the new Seltos is 2.4 inches longer in wheelbase than the outgoing model. That, in turn, provides an additional inch of legroom for second-row passengers; and cargo volume is improved, now 27.8 cu-ft behind the second row, expandable to 64.1 cu-ft behind the first. Up front, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen can be paired with a matching gauge display and a 5-inch climate control panel. 

If you’re familiar with the latest Telluride, this Seltos may come across as a lite version of Kia’s three-row full sizer. Amber daytime runners still serve as an iconic part of Kia’s utility design language, bookending a black grille with squared edges. In fact, the Seltos embraces the current trend of strong angles, fitting for the more active X-Line grades. 

Sticking with their multi-propulsion strategy, the Kia Seltos is available in a number of powertrains, including a hybrid option. That sees a 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, powering the front wheels or available with e-AWD, the first time this system has been used on a Kia HEV SUV. That 1.6-liter can be turbocharged in a non-hybrid configuration of the X-Line, rated at 190 horsepower with standard all-wheel drive, serving as an upgrade over the standard 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-banger, front- or all-wheel drive configurable. That 2.0-liter’s “Intelligent Variable Transmission” gets swapped for an eight-speed auto when bumping up to the 1.6.

The 2.0-liter-powered LX, S, EX and X-Line grades of the 2027 Kia Seltos will arrive during the second quarter of this year, joined by the 1.6-turbo X-Line. Further availability and pricing will be confirmed later.

 

2026 Dodge Durango GT America250 Edition

It should come as no surprise that, of all the brands that you’d suspect would make a model called the “America250 Edition,” Dodge would be chief among them. Celebrating America’s birthday, this special edition (shortened to A250) gives buyers the freedom to choose between two powertrains spread across three trims.

Standard is a 295-horsepower V6, paired with the GT Plus AWD model; the GT HEMI Plus AWD uprates that to a 5.7-liter V8, capable of 360 horsepower; and that HEMI also powers the Premium AWD grade.

The A250 brings, for the first time, a number of interior options down to the GT, previously reserved for those higher grades, like Black Laguna leather seats. That upholstery is specially finished with blue perforations, an embossed flag, and red and white stitching; this theme carries throughout the cabin, up to the tricolor-stitched wheel, Demonic Red seat belts and sprinkling of carbon fiber elements. Outside, star-patterned dual stripes, special badging, and 20-inch wheels finish it off.

More than that, this is the first Stellantis production vehicle to be shown to both press and public as part of the group’s partnership with America250, the nonpartisan organization leading this year’s commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The A250 seems especially poignant, as Dodge has made it clear that customers, be it Durango or Charger, will have more options for customizing their rides.

 

2027 Chrysler Pacifica

Another bit of news from Stellantis, this time from Chrysler, the 2027 Pacifica has been fully revealed. We’ve covered this refresh prior, so much of that still holds true, but we’ve been given more insight into the powertrain.

The Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 is back, unsurprisingly, rated at 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a TorqueFlite nine-speed automatic and available all-wheel drive, capable of sending all power to the rear wheels or wherever grip is most accessible, though the rear wheels can be disconnected to improve fuel efficiency when needed.

In a win for modularity and affordability, Chrysler has separated the Theater Group and Family Tech Group, giving customers more flexibility when optioning their Pacificas. And to further drive that point home, a new entry-level model, the Pacifica LX, joins the lineup, though it does ultimately replace the fleet-aimed Voyager model. Starting at $43,490, the Pacifica LX starts just $100 more than the Voyager it replaces.

 

2027 Nissan Z and Z NISMO

Making an appearance at New York is another vehicle we’ve covered previously, the refreshed Nissan Z, including the top-trim NISMO edition. This one gets the most interesting shakeup, as a six-speed manual finally makes its way into the transmission tunnel. But while that’s the change most onlookers will talk about, a few additional improvements have been made to the NISMO to remedy various concerns, including a better front brake system borrowed from the retired GT-R, a retuned front suspension system, a more direct steering system, and an optimized fuel tank.

And the lesser Z grades have seen improvements, too, the Performance trim’s chassis being retuned, and that better fuel tank trickling down all the way to the Sport trim. The non-NISMOs have been updated with a new front fascia, akin to the Heritage Edition from 2024, and a new “Z” badge replaces the Nissan logo. Inside, a 15-watt magnetic wireless charging pad is now available on higher grades, and a new tan interior option is available if the shades of black, blue and red didn’t quite suit you.