This year's Los Angeles Auto Show featured dozens of new models that will arrive at dealerships in the next year. Many were radically restyled or all-new, while many, many more were less significantly updated.
Related: More 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show Coverage
Here our editors weigh in on the most significant new production and concept cars at the show and give their thumbs-up or thumbs-down as well as their unfiltered opinions. Let us know if you agree in the comment section below.
Audi Prologue Concept
David Thomas: Winner
Audi's geometric-heavy design hasn't leapt forward in decades so this subtle shift to a more elegant shape is rather groundbreaking. This large coupe has a curvaceous profile that somehow meshes perfectly with the traditionally styled front and rather sharp-looking rear.
Joe Wiesenfelder: Winner
Very nice-looking car, and not so far out that you have to doubt its feasibility as a real car. The recessed rear window might be an exception, though.
Aaron Bragman: Winner
Not so much for its exterior, which really doesn't move the Audi styling needle all that much, but for the impressive interior technology. That full-width touch-sensitive organic light-emitting diode panel looks pretty cool, but it should never make it into production; Audi is one of the brands we hold up as getting controls and buttons just right. To eliminate them for a production car would be a shame.
Joe Bruzek: Loser
I couldn't help seeing a lifeless, uninteresting concept car spin on an auto-show turntable. The "curved muscular" fenders — as Audi calls them — are as flat as a production A4, and there isn't any one design I can identify as striking or groundbreaking. This cold design almost feels like a lateral move.
2016 Cadillac ATS-V
DT: Winner
Auto shows allow everyone to see all-new cars in person for the first time; standing in a car's presence is a different experience than looking at its photos. The ATS-V almost requires your presence to fully appreciate it. It resonates with performance — even when sitting still — and looks great in sedan form as well as coupe. I do like it in blue, too.
JW: Winner
The ATS is one of GM's few notably lightweight cars, so I'm anxious to see how it behaves with all the performance upgrades, especially this gem of an engine. Did anyone notice it has a liquid intercooler like a supercharged car? Love it. I think the V treatment makes for a much better-looking coupe, too.
AB: Winner
Cadillac decides to bring the fight to the BMW M3/M4 with a dynamite coupe and sedan. Styling changes are subtle but formidable — the thing looks mean — and on paper, it has the credentials to give the Germans one hell of a run. Can't wait to get behind the wheel.
JB: Winner
Cadillac took the smallest, lightest sedan in its lineup and stuffed the ATS with a honkin' twin-turbocharged V-6 engine. Points go to Cadillac for sticking with a stick -- the six-speed manual transmission didn't hit the cutting-room floor. The ATS-V is on my must-drive list for 2015.
2016 Chrysler 300
DT: Loser
I think I'm being too nice this year, so I'm going to give the 300 a thumbs-down for the somewhat cheap-feeling wood grain and really cheap-feeling shift knob in what is otherwise an upscale cabin. I do like the new styling and assortment of new grilles. But will shifting that knob everyday annoyingly remind owners that they're not in a luxury car?
JW: Winner
Sometimes being a winner is not screwing up a good thing. I called them out on the plastic knob, but I otherwise like the change to a rotary gear selector. I also like the exterior tweaks. As for the wood, that show car looked like it wasn't ready for prime time. I'm going to withhold judgment.
AB: Winner
The thing that annoys me about the Chrysler 300 is that it's looked fantastic since its introduction in 2004, but its iconic style, which only gets better with this latest mild refresh, hasn't filtered down to any other Chrysler product. Why not, Chrysler? It's distinctive, decidedly American, classy and bold - and instead we've gotten snoozers like the Sebring and 200 instead of a baby 300.
JB: Loser
Midcycle refreshes are necessary after a few years to keep things relevant in the consumer's eye, but I'm not certain those models always need an auto show reveal. The 300 is a great car and the minor changes for 2015 make it slightly better, but the new bits are so subtle that it's easy to walk right past the 300 on the show floor.
2016 Fiat 500X
DT: Winner
I wasn't a huge fan of the Jeep Renegade and thought this would be a simple rebadge, but this Fiat is radically different with a more upscale interior and surprising amount of cargo room, too. It looks good in person and is actually has quite the ground clearance, giving it more attitude. That also means it's harder to get in and out of unlike the low-riding 500L that is languishing on dealer lots.
JW: Winner
Agreed. It doesn't have top-grade materials, but the front-door treatment is at least a half-step better than the Renegade's hard plastic. The backseat is perfectly usable. Perhaps more important, I think this is the first nicely styled Fiat 500. The little one's an ugly little booger, and the 500L is, well, a bigger booger.
AB: Loser
I liked the idea of the 500X until I saw the competition, which was also introduced at the L.A. auto show. The Honda HR-V has a much more versatile interior, and the Mazda CX-3 looks just as stylish inside and out. The Fiat seems a little cheap inside and cramped, and the rear seats are usable but rock hard and uncomfortable. I think the Renegade looks far better.
JB: Winner
The 500X's stature and styling have potential to give it mass appeal; more so, I think, than the diminutive 500 and misshapen 500L. Add in the all-wheel drive and this opens up a whole new audience for Fiat in the U.S.
2016 Ford Explorer
DT: Winner
I was ready to give the Explorer the Loser treatment after reading about it and seeing photos of it, but once I sat in the upgraded cabin, it won me over. No, nothing is groundbreaking, but the interior looks modern and contemporary with enough of a high polish to the materials to justify the price. Shoppers continue to buy the current generation and I'm pretty sure they'll buy this one, too.
JW: Winner
It's a handsome new design, with interesting grilles. Ford earns major points for dumping the touch-sensitive buttons, though it could have made more use of the blank space on the panel. It's not the roomiest SUV given its exterior size, but I appreciate how high off the floor the second-row seats are. Even the third row is usable, though nothing like those in the Flex.
AB: Loser
For taking nearly five years, this isn't much of an update. It's great that the buttons are back instead of the touch-sensitive panels, but the buttons themselves are cheap. How hard is it to make nice buttons? The nose job looks like the old Taurus X, which has ancestral links to the Explorer, and the supposedly improved seats are still uncomfortable. At least it looks (and smells!) nicer inside with the new Platinum edition, but that's going to be a pricey option.
JB: Loser
The Explorer's new huge front style makes the SUV look even heftier than before. Typically that's not a bad thing for a muscular SUV, but as mentioned above, the Explorer is already small on the inside for how large it is on the outside. That unfortunate attribute is accentuated even more with the new front and rear styling.
Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang
DT: Winner
I'm still on the fence regarding the new Mustang's design, but there's no denying the awesomeness of this GT350. It's got an awesome new engine, awesomely gigantic brakes, kind of awesome bodywork and those awesome iconic stripes. Who doesn't want to drive this thing?
JW: Winner
This is the second time at this show where the performance treatment makes a car much better looking. Beyond that, there's little to argue with. Who doesn't love a good, old-fashioned horsepower war?
AB: Winner
It looks mean; it has a truly unique engine, and despite its not-quite-Hellcat exhaust note, it's going to be atrocious fun on a racetrack, I'm sure. I'm glad Ford didn't make us wait a year to see the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28-fighter in its Mustang lineup. Now I hope it doesn't make us wait a year to drive one.
JB: Winner
The GT350's engine is going to be a screamer, no doubt. I'm most excited that the Mustang finally has a proper set of rollers with wider wheels and tires, plus more than just a single-piston rear caliper out back like the previous GT500; now it has a four-piston.
Honda HR-V
DT: Winner
The HR-V on the show floor is decked out in rich leather that is far nicer than the top CR-V trim. This little fella definitely has more style inside than out, but it also has lots of practicality and a surprising amount of room inside, too. Out of every car I saw this show, I think this one will be the big seller.
JW: Winner
The Fit has been a remarkably space-efficient platform for years, and this model is overdue. The interior quality exceeds expectations. I have no doubt this model's roominess and versatility will make it the CR-V of subcompacts — that means big sales numbers, folks.
AB: Winner
This one was a surprise — I expected typical American Honda lackluster interior materials, but that's not the case here at all. It has a premium, upscale interior since this car is not sold as an entry-level model in the foreign markets from whence it comes. The flexibility of the rear cargo area, thanks to the Honda Fit's Magic Seat, creates a cavernous area to haul things. The only blemish - touch-panel controls everywhere, just as all sensible automakers are abandoning them. Ugh.
JB: Winner
My expectations that the HR-V would be space efficient and one of the roomiest of the new class of subcompact SUVs was easy to foresee since it's Fit-based, but what I didn't see coming was how nice the little 'ute was on the inside. Almost all touch points were covered in well-appointed materials, and the craftsmanship was nearly as good as a higher-end Accord. Way to go, Honda.
2016 Kia Sorento
DT: Winner
See, I'm being too nice. The Sorento's styling could be more daring, and it doesn't look good in white, but as an overall package it's pretty remarkable. Kia does practical well, and the interior room and ergonomics are stellar. The big surprise is the level of refinement inside. Along with the Sedona minivan, this is where Kia makes the leap to serious competition for Honda and Toyota.
JW: Winner
I have just one negative comment in my notes: Second row is too low. But experience suggests this doesn't break the deal for many buyers, and the Sorento otherwise oozes class and quality.
AB: Winner
Here was another surprise. It may not look all that distinctive on the outside, but the interior is top notch. The styling and materials choices make it feel almost like a Mazda product. It's also spacious inside, with plenty of room for front or rear seat passengers. The only issue with the new Sorento: I walked right past it on the display floor, thinking it was just the new Sedona minivan.
JB: Winner
I know you guys are swooning over the interior, which is a great improvement, but I was equally as smitten with the exterior. The dark cherry color on the show floor displayed the Sorento's broader and more confident shape wonderfully.
2016 Mazda CX-3
DT: Loser
The CX-3 wins on style and interior refinement, but I still can't wrap my head around why folks need the added ride height versus a Mazda3 hatchback and have to give up interior room as well. Why don't I say the same about the HR-V from Honda? Because that doesn't sacrifice roominess to give people what they want ... presumably everyone wants a high-riding economy car. Right, Kia Soul?
JW: Winner
This thing looks great outside and looks and feels great inside. The sad fact is Americans are weenies about wagons and hatchback cars, and if you do what Dave suggests — to paraphrase, make it look more like an SUV — you can diminish some of the positive aspects and still sell more of them than you would the low-rider.
AB: Winner
This show was all about the tiny cute-utes; three were introduced here and the segment is going to have at least seven on sale by this time next year. The CX-3 may just be the best of them, at least from the initial look. Stylish inside and out, excellent material quality, plenty of room, a versatile cargo space and the promise of Miata-inspired driving dynamics all make me wonder how Chevrolet is going to sell any of its upcoming Trax.
JB: Winner
The CX-3 is hands-down the most attractive small 'ute on the show floor. Mazda's attention to detail almost makes the SUV feel like a premium product compared to other competitors, as well as the Mazda3.
2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
DT: Winner
While the new MX-5 Miata didn't officially debut at the L.A. auto show, it's the place most folks will lay eyes on the definitive roadster of the past quarter century. I was not sold on the looks based on photos, but again this is one you have to see in person. What I thought was an awkward front end looks really cohesive when you can take in the car's actual size. There isn't anything like the current MX-5 Miata on the road, and there won't be anything like this next one, either.
JW: Winner
Based on the current Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-5, etc., I was hoping for more from the new styling, but it's an improvement over the current generation. The car has also gotten lighter, and everything else I love about the MX-5 Miata remains.
AB: Winner
I don't know why Dave wasn't moved by the pictures we've all seen. Do nothing else but swap the badge on the hood to one with a cat and you'd have a theoretical Jaguar XC. It looks that good.
JB: Winner
Like Dave, I also wasn't in awe of the car from photos. Was it rounded, was it edgy? I couldn't tell if the car was having an identity crisis. In person, though, the design works. The MX-5 retains everything that's great about it, like the perfectly placed gear shifter and a seating position that's ready to race.
Scion iM Concept
DT: Winner
Scion needs a hit in terms of sales: There are only so many FR-S buyers out there. The iM, when it goes on sale, should be the practical yet youthful-feeling car that has always appealed to those less than 30 years old, not just today's millennials. The radical auto-show body cladding on this concept will disappear, but enough of the sharp looks should remain when it makes it to dealerships.
JW: Winner
I'm calling this a contextual winner. The context is Scion has nothing like it and needs it. Badly. All it has to do is not deliver a product with a lesser interior than the one I saw here at the show.
AB: Loser
Snore. Scion has been losing its way for some time now, visibly struggling to find a new raison d'etre now that bargain-seeking retirees have become more numerous than young, trendy hipsters in its showrooms. An overstyled European-market Toyota import with a cheap interior isn't likely to help.
JB: Winner
I see a glimmer of a possibly interesting product in the Scion concept, which is less of a concept and more of a custom car you'd find on the Specialty Equipment Market Association show floor. Sure, we're not going to get the slammed, big-wheel, body-kit car on display, but here's to hoping the future car isn't as boring as its international counterpart. Make the stance aggressive, fill the fenders with a stylish wheel and give us something with the spirit of an FR-S in a more practical daily driver.
2016 Toyota Mirai
DT: Winner
I already know what my colleagues will say, but I kind of liked the Mirai. First of all, it's a hydrogen-powered car that is real. You sit in it and it feels like something you would come across at a dealership. A dealership in California, of course, because its packing a hydrogen power plant. The car will have limited availability when it eventually goes on sale, but it will stand out even more than the second-generation Prius did. Everyone will know your car is only emitting water vapor.
JW: Winner
Were it not for the devotion of some true believers at Toyota, Honda and Hyundai, I'd be as skeptical as I was 15 years ago. The price is predictably higher than promised, but Toyota made good on as purpose-built a fuel-cell car as we've seen from Honda — and one that accommodates both people and cargo in decent proportion. Yes, the road ahead is a long one - especially with gasoline averaging around $3 per gallon — but I say give it a chance.
AB: Loser
You people are nuts. I don't care that it only emits water vapor — it could emit single-malt scotch and people still wouldn't buy something this hideous. Whose bright idea was it to take the company's most amazing technology in 20 years and wrap it in a car that looks and feels like a design-school joke? This thing makes a Prius look like a Hollywood starlet. Volkswagen showed off a lovely Golf Sportwagen fuel-cell car at the auto show, and Honda showed us a truly gorgeous FCEV concept a year ago — if they all cost the same, what possible reason is there to buy the nauseating Mirai?
JB: Winner
Looking at the Mirai, I had to remind myself, it's not a concept, it's not a concept, it's not a concept. The Mirai is an ugly piece of automotive history, but it's at least real and Californians can buy or lease one starting next fall.
2016 Volvo XC90
DT: Winner
If Volvo wants to be a "real" luxury player starting with its once-popular XC90 is a smart move. The fact that it has executed luxury refinement over every inch of the XC90's cabin is relatively astonishing. The touch-screen is iPad-sized and blazingly fast in demo mode, and there's still plenty of safety innovations, too. Shoppers who sit in it will gladly pay Mercedes-Benz GL-Class prices for it.
JW: Winner
Bravo. The exterior doesn't floor me, but it's a beautifully executed interior with the giant vertical screen in the style of the Tesla Model S. Some shoppers are sure to object to handing so many control functions over to a touch-screen, but I'll take this over touch-sensitive buttons any day. New Volvo powertrains have impressed us mightily. I predict a renaissance.
AB: Winner
It's the inside that blew me away, too. Metal mesh trim, minimalist styling and a unique orientation to its touch-screen controls, all add up to a fresh approach to vehicle interiors. I hope it filters down through the rest of the Volvo lineup, as this truly is outstanding.
JB: Winner
Wowsers. I'm still in awe that this is a production car and not a concept. The quality of every interior material is top notch, and Volvo didn't stop there. Innovative features like the massive touch-screen and a ton of interesting textures and styling choices thrive, inside and out. The XC90 has the potential to be one of the premier luxury SUVs when it debuts.
Cars.com photos by Evan Sears and Joe Bruzek
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