This site may earn chapter commissions from the links on this page. Terms of use.

DETROIT — Trucks, trucks, trucks. And SUVs. Oh, plus some cars. The introductions at this yr'south Northward American International Auto Testify (NAIAS) were farther proof that the U.s. is moving abroad from sedans. Most of the key introductions were pickup trucks and crossover/SUVs. New versions of ii of the three top-selling vehicles were introduced: the Chevrolet Silverado and the Dodge Ram, both pickups, both selling more than than a half-million units each last year.

The show also included the tertiary generation of the Acura RDX compact crossover, at present designed in the U.s.a.; another minor BMW SUV, this one the X2; and what may exist the all-time Buick ever built: the Toyota Avalon. Here's our 10 favorite cars shown in Detroit, those with likely customer appeal and solid tech offerings. Plus a couple off-the-wall concepts.

Measuring Detroit's Clout Confronting Motorcar Shows, CES

The Detroit Auto Testify puffs out its chest every Jan to testify how big it is. How large? Answer: pretty big. But not at dominant as NAIAS was a generation ago. CES, held the week before, once again stole some of Detroit's thunder with both car tech and new-car announcements, and the Los Angeles show got in its licks, also, at present that it'south safely settled into a late-November slot. LA and Detroit were more or less on top of each other through 2006, both with early January dates, to the detriment of LA. Detroit would have benefited more than (for press days at to the lowest degree) than LA from moving to late Nov — less chance of snowfall. But it'southward the automobile testify'southward public days that matter virtually to the show organizers, which are typically the local motorcar dealers' clan, since they see the dead of winter every bit a good fourth dimension to accept a show and bulldoze some buyer traffic. Now Los Angeles stands on its own equally a top-tier prove (but in a cramped convention center) that's on par with New York, Detroit, and the machine portion of CES.

Einride democratic transporter at Detroit's AutoMobiliD

Both LA and Detroit have benefited from adding CES-similar convention and conference features, at least during the media/merchandise days preceding the public days. LA chosen those days Connected Car Expo and then AutoMobility LA, while Detroit calls information technology AutoMobiliD. Detroit sees this as belongings CES at bay. Some Detroit media ran stories suggesting NAIAS has beaten back the "challenge" of the CES motorcar exhibits, keynotes, and car introductions. If the number of new-motorcar intros is a barometer, Detroit 2022 was soft: There are 2 Detroit show press days for intros, Monday and Tuesday. This yr, the next-to-last new-machine intro took place at 1:xxx pm Monday; the last was a Jeep unveiled Tuesday as the eight a.m. media breakfast.

Chevrolet Silverado storage in truck bed wall.

Detroit's New Pickups Have the Features Anybody Wants

A pickup truck may not exist the offset choice of people who use on-street parking or have pocket-sized garages, or who think they're gas hogs (undercut when the 30 mpg versions get in this year). But the design teams listen well to pickup focus groups, who say they want things like bigger dashboard buttons and more storage.

Consider the Chevrolet Silverado: It uses big, rubbery knobs on the dashboard, there are plenty of cupholders and USB jacks, there'south storage under the back seat and within the seat dorsum, and there's even atmospheric condition-sealed storage available in the truck bed. (Ram has that, too.) The Ford Ranger will take waterproof storage under the rear seats; if this isn't quite high tech, it's a place where your tech gear won't become damaged by water.

Chevrolet Silverado rear seatback storage.

It will be interesting to see how much Ford tin can grow the midsize-pickup market now that the Ranger is back (a year from now) afterward eight years away. The midsize market topped out at 1.three million 30 years ago, in 1987, and hasn't been above 500,000 in the past decade.

Car, SUV and Truck of the Year: Honda, Volvo, Lincoln

Detroit is also the site of the unveiling of the 2022 North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) awards. Not surprisingly, the Honda Accord was named Car of the Yr. It was our selection, likewise, every bit ExtremeTech Machine of the Twelvemonth, given Honda's improvements in applied science, ride and handling, beast comforts, and in fixing Display Audio past bringing dorsum the buttons and knobs.

Honda Accord, the 2022 Due north American Car and Truck ofd the Yr contest car of the yr.

Enthusiast-oriented Motor Trend did pick the Alfa Romeo Giulia equally its COTY, and the Giulia is a good choice if you're looking for a automobile that'south a blast to drive on country roads and places where the enthusiastic exhaust sounds won't badger the neighbors or the auto's occupants. Think of the Giulia every bit a passionate summertime romance, the Accord as a long-term relationship.

2018 Volvo XC60.

The Volvo XC60 was the crossover of the year, beating out the Honda Odyssey, the all-time-ever minivan, and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Both Volvo and Honda would have been worthy winners.

2018 Lincoln Navigator.

The truck of the year was the Lincoln Navigator, beating out the off-road-capable Colorado ZR2 (our selection every bit the best truck), and Navigator'southward cousin, the Ford Expedition. With both the Silverado and Ram new this year, the 2022 competition volition probable be a lot stiffer.