At every auto show, Driving’s experts are tasked with picking the highlights and lowlights from that particular event. We do it to showcase the reveals that captivate and inspire, as well as those that fall short of the mark.
There weren’t a whole of new-car reveals at this year’s iteration of the Los Angeles Auto Show, but we’ve continued this hits-and-misses tradition nevertheless. (Heck, it feels like half the debuts were of new Kia models. Coincidentally, our list, here, is all half Kias, though you’ll have to read on to find out which half.)
Even with such a small shortlist, we still found ourselves blown away by some of the cars that got their covers pulled off for the first time here in L.A. And, of course, we also found ourselves deeply disappointed by a handful of other introductions. Anyway, you’ve got the point—here’s our roundup of the hits and misses from the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Driving’s biggest hits from the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show
Hit: 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan
Sami Haj-Assaad: “Wow!” Maybe my expectations weren’t properly set, but upon seeing just how much effort went into the interior of the new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, I couldn’t help but repeat that three-letter interjection. The cabin is loaded with high-end materials that look and feel the part. And while there’s a good amount of room, everyone is sure to enjoy the sheer abundance of features that VW is offering on the new Tiguan, from heated seats in the front and rear; to front massage seats, as well.
And while it’s a bit gimmicky, the new Atmosphere feature, which combines sound settings with ambient lighting, is a cute way to add more personality to a car that competes in a very tough segment. While VW hasn’t shown us a hybrid version of this compact crossover, it’s sure to come in the future. For now, the Tiguan is starting to feel like a winner.
Hit: 2025 Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector’s Edition
Clayton Seams: I know it’s pretty silly, but the little Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector’s Edition is my pick of the show. I am a sucker for cheese-ball fashion collaborations. It reminds me of the Bill Blass Lincolns of the 1970s, or the Nautique Mercury Villagers of the 1990s.
I like the silly “GA” wheels, though I do think they could have taken the concept farther, like they did with the Gucci Edition 500 back in the 2010s. It’s little more than some fashion badges pasted onto an economy hatchback, but I like some oddball charm. It won’t be a sales leader, and it doesn’t bring any revolutionary tech, but I can’t help but like it. For warm reasons of nostalgia, it’s my pick of the show.
Hit: 2026 Genesis GV70
Graeme Fletcher: My highlight was a toss-up between the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the revamped GV70. I liked the Ioniq 9 for the way it explores a better way to utilize interior space. It also has the largest battery, at 110.3 kWh, the company has used, and it has serious range.
However, I was drawn to the eGV70 as my pick as the highlight of the show. It gets a mild exterior refresh and a major interior rework, with shades of the GV80 showing up in the 27-inch OLED screen. It is crystal-clear and has the ability to reorder the various tiles for the likes of Apple CarPlay, audio, navigation, settings and so on.
However, the big change is the adoption of a larger 84-kWh battery that will bring a boost in driving range. Likewise, switching from the CCS charging port to the NACS, or Tesla, port opens up a lot more charging stations. Throwing in an adapter so the driver can use either of the charging port formats is a big plus.
Driving’s biggest misses from the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show
Miss: 2026 Kia EV9 GT
Graeme Fletcher: My miss of this year’s L.A. Auto Show was the Kia EV9 GT. I get two-row souped-up rides like the BMW X5 M and Porsche Cayenne, but Kia is not BMW or Porsche. Producing a hot-rodded version of a three-row ride that is primarily aimed at families with young children makes absolutely no sense.
As it stands, the two-motor EV9 GT-Line has the wherewithal to whisk the riders from rest to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.5 seconds. So, why pay through the nose to get an adaptive suspension when the GT-Line rides just fine; and why is 501 hp required, just to shave the race to 60 mph down to 4.3 seconds? Besides, if speed is the name of the game, there’s lots of Kia EV6 GTs looking for a driveway to call home.
Speaking of, my other choice for the show’s big miss was the reworked 2025 Kia EV6. It has a face only a mother (or its designer) could love!
Miss: 2025 Kia EV6 GT
Clayton Seams: I am a big fan of the Kia EV6 GT. I like its slingshot acceleration and agile handling. For the 2025 model year, Kia has added a larger standard battery to the model, giving it more range. That is an objectively good thing, but the company did so while ruining its face!
Kia has really been pushing the limits of design lately, and I like some of its offerings, like the EV9. But its dashed the previously good-looking front end of the EV6 GT with a new alien-like maw that I simply can’t get over. It’s still just as good to drive, and now it goes even farther on a charge, but, my goodness, I can’t stand the restyle. For that petty reason, it’s my miss of the show.
Miss: 2026 Kia Sportage
Sami Haj-Assaad:Looking at the 2026 Kia Sportage, I’m baffled at the pace of Kia’s design team. The Sportage was just redesigned in 2023, and now it’s arrived with a whole new front fascia. The new model promises plenty of technology and three different powertrains, but the current model offers all that as well.
What is Kia doing to make its compact crossover really stand out and feel ahead of the competition? Maybe that PHEV model will feature class-leading range? But the automaker didn’t comment on what we should expect in that regard when this vehicle shows up next year. It’s a missed opportunity to create real hype, and feels like a run-of-the-mill refresh.