Since 1907, more than a century ago, the Los Angeles (LA) Auto Show has held tradition by being an annual display of new cars from different companies. It was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from Nov. 21 to 30 and featured almost 30 official car companies, along with privately-owned cars.
As people entered through the South entrance, they were greeted by Hyundai and other sponsors such as Dave & Buster’s and Fox. Going into South Hall, a Hyundai test drive track was set up for attendees to experience the smooth rides of new Hyundai models.
To the left of that, Toyota displayed its new 2025 cars and was giving out free bags with their logo. If you participated in their game show, rewards included free socks, a phone stand, or sunglasses, all branded with the Toyota logo. Toyota employees were stationed around the cars and were promoting the RAV4, a new 2025 model in hybrid and gasoline options since it was a bestselling car for Toyota in 2024.
Companies like Jeep, Dodge, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, and Fiat and Ram were also present, all owned by the car manufacturer Stellantis. Jeep had a test drive obstacle course that consisted of a giant ramp, stairs, and a 45-degree incline for potential customers to experience the smooth handling of their new Jeep models.
Volvo, Maserati, Lucid, and Nissan were all present as well, but had smaller spaces in the convention center. Meanwhile, Chevrolet focused on their 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, which is an electric vehicle (EV), and updated its price, range, and charging for customers.
Furthermore, Genesis, Lincoln, and Volkswagen were also present but did not have many significant new vehicles and their spaces in the show were small. However, Volkswagen did have a new version of its old, classic van.
John Ward, who has been attending for several of the previous years, said, “I love looking at the old Volkswagen van, the new version of it… but in general, I like to see what’s coming out, the new technologies coming out.”
Subaru had a whole different theme altogether; instead of sleek and cool, they advertised their cars as vehicles for off-roading, camping, and family activities: a car for all spheres of life. They were also displaying new prototypes for future Subaru cars for consumers to comment on. One prototype, of the 2026 WRX, was painted in a bright yellow color. Surprisingly, the color wasn’t too jarring.
Alberto Carrillo, a car enthusiast who grew up playing a lot of racing games and drives his own Subaru, said, “Seeing all the new cars, it’s basically heaven for me. The new Subaru prototype is good, and it’s cool that this is a special color specifically for this one.”
To walk from the South Hall to West Hall, one went through the Hall of Sparq. The Hall of Sparq featured showrooms that had performance and legacy vehicles from both private owners and donors. Classic and vintage but refurbished cars sat under bright lights that displayed their unique features. More than several old Japanese cars were present as well, such as a minivan with a manual shift. Sparq, the host of these showrooms, is an AI assistance app that connects to one’s car via a plug-in piece and tells you all about the car.
Entering near the West entrance, were brands GMC, Cadillac, and Buick showing off new and improved features of their 2025 and 2026 versions of cars such as Cadillac’s VISTIQ SUV and GMC’s.
Finally reaching near the entrance of West Hall, were a Porsche exhibit and a showcase hall. The Porsche room did not display new car releases but instead touched on old Porches from the early 2000s for a trace of nostalgia.
“My favorite exhibit here is the Porsche exhibit. I just think they’re so cool, they have such a sleek and unique design,” said Mason Sinh. “All the engineering that goes into it, the countless amounts of engineering, really shows in their handling,” he observed.
The Showcase Hall featured even more vintage vehicles. Many of these were classics and were one-of-a-kind and exotic models.
Stepping into the West Hall, there was a big KIA exhibit. A big KIA exhibit that revealed a 2027 KIA Telluride, which featured a bigger screen, new additions to the seats, and a hybrid version.
Behind the KIA space, Ford and Bronco were exhibited. They also had a giant ramp to showcase the smooth handling of their 2026 60th Anniversary Edition of Ford Bronco, similar to Jeep.
Next to Ford and Bronco, Honda and Rivian had a space for their products. Honda announced their new 2026 Pilot, which improved seating, paint options, and amenities. To the very side of the Hall, campervans were on display, ranging from just-above-glamping to pure luxury experiences. Several even came with a shower and working toilet already installed.
“I really like the outdoor devices, you know, very convenient, a little over the top, but the camper vans, they’re wonderful,” said Henry Su, observing the luxury camper van on display.
And finally, back near the South Hall, the Underground displayed classic cars and pop-ups. Nearly all cars were privately owned and taken care of, with most of them being up-kept lowriders, complete with custom line art and engraving, and some general older cars with really specific paint jobs and wraps.
“My favorite exhibit is probably the custom cars at the bottom, the painted lowriders…I love seeing the unique designs people come up with,” said Satyam Naik.
In-N-Out was selling themed merchandise along with showcasing a customized car and truck. The most modern car was a Cybertruck with its matte metal sides fully replaced with a shiny mirror-like material.
The 2025 LA Auto Show displayed new cars, SUVs, trucks, and vans while also bringing a nostalgic and old-timey touch through its vintage car displays.
