Image: Kyle Patrick Image: Kyle Patrick This year's New York show was a busy one: here were the best debuts. In the automotive realm, the New York Auto Show is the unofficial start of spring. The weather is warming up, and automakers are itching to show off their newest wares. AutoGuide was on site in the Big Apple to catch it all as it happened this year, and found a solid spread of new SUVs across all sizes, propulsion types, and focus-and even a surprise or two. In ascending order, here were the five biggest reveals at the 2026 New York International Auto Show. 5th Place: 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Image: Kyle Patrick Image: Kyle Patrick Don't take the new Atlas' fifth-place positioning as a criticism of the big three-row SUV. This is a big deal for Volkswagen, and not just because the Atlas (and not-replaced-quite-yet Atlas Cross Sport) makes up the lion's share of the brand's sales in Canada and the US. Atlas 2.0 directly attacks where the market has moved since the Atlas debuted almost a decade ago. The cabin is far more upmarket, sharing the clean aesthetic of the new Tiguan with plenty of soft-touch materials and real wood inserts. Other high-end features include available front massage seats and 14-speaker sound system. The '27 Atlas continues to employ VW's trusty 2.0-liter turbo-four, though it now pumps out slightly more power (282 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque) through the eight-speed automatic transmission. The new Atlas arrives in dealerships this autumn. 4th Place: 2027 Kia EV3 Image: Kyle Patrick Image: Kyle Patrick At the complete other end of the spectrum is the 2027 Kia EV3, a small all-electric model from the Korean brand. The EV3 is already an award-winner, having clinched World Car of the Year last year after going on sale in other markets. While the EV scene has cooled in Canada and the US, the EV3 is the latest in a string of affordable models slotting in at the small end of the market. Broadly Seltos-sized, the EV3 features a spacious cabin, plenty of tech, and should come in with a price tag challenging the affordable Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt. The standard model packs a 58.3-kilowatt-hour battery and front-wheel drive for 220 miles (354 kilometers) and 201 horsepower. A larger 81.4-kWh pack bumps range up to 300 miles (482 km) and, unlike most of its competition, the EV3 can be had with a dual-motor AWD system. The only reason the EV3 lands in this spot and not higher? It doesn't pack as much surprise as the other EV coming up later on the list... 2026 Volvo EX40: All the Details 3rd Place: Kia Seltos Image: Kyle Patrick Image: Kyle Patrick The 2027 Kia Seltos is the Korean brand's second-generation contender in one of the busiest, most competitive segments. Kia is sticking to the hits that made the original such a success: a tall, boxy profile for one of the most spacious cabins in the class and a laundry list of standard kit for a strong value play. In comes an exterior style not unlike the also-new 2027 Telluride, along with a welcome modernization in the cabin. The outgoing Seltos is our reigning small SUV champion-so this one should arrive challenging the best in the class. We just want to know more about the hybrid. At the launch, Kia revealed the Seltos will roll out this summer with carryover powertrains, while a next-generation hybrid powertrain (with electric-AWD a la Toyota, utilizing a dedicated rear electric motor) will show up a few months later. Had Kia divulged more on this fuel-sipping option, the Seltos would've captured the next spot on this list. 2nd Place: 2027 Subaru Getaway Image: Subaru Image: Subaru We all knew Subaru was bringing another EV to New York, growing its family of battery-powered SUVs to four. What we didn't expect was that it'd look better than the Toyota Highlander with which it shares its bones-or that it'd be more powerful than anything else on the platform. Yes, the Getaway has a 420-horsepower version of the dual-motor setup, making it seriously quick (60 mph happens in under five seconds) and outgunning the Lexus RZ 550e. With a 96.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack, it should still clip off 300 miles (483 km) of range between charges, too. We're very curious about this one: the Trailseeker is priced right in-line with the Outback, so a relatively affordable Getaway could provide a serious challenge to not only the aging Ascent, but the excellent Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9 as well. 1st Place: Hyundai Boulder Concept Image: Hyundai Image: Hyundai Yes, a concept tops our list, the only one on it in fact. The Boulder is a major move by Hyundai, even if it only previews a potential avenue for the brand's upcoming body-on-frame platform. This is the final frontier for Hyundai, as it knows trucks-and rugged SUVs-are a lucrative part of the North American market. While the first production product on the platform will be a Ford Ranger-rivalling mid-sized truck, the Boulder is a tantalizing what-if, a big and burly off-roader with short overhangs, huge tires, and cool safari-style windows above its doors. The cabin is also a home run as far as we're concerned, with a techy edge that still prioritizes real, physical controls. We know a production SUV wouldn't match this, but as first tastes go, we officially have an appetite now. Top 10 'Old' Cars of the 2026 Detroit Auto Show