The 2021 Chicago Auto Show is underway right now. It is being held between July 15-19 at McCormick Place south of Downtown, Chicago. Pretty much all of the mainstream auto manufacturers will be present at the venue. Considering how the EV trend has really taken off, there will also be a slew of electric vehicles on display, from legacy and EV manufacturers alike. The Chicago Auto Show is the first major auto show to return since the pandemic began, and these are the cars to watch out for!
Ford F-150 Lightning
The Ford F-150 Lightning made headlines earlier this year when Ford positioned the base model at just under $40,000. Ford claims a range of up to 300 miles on the long-range model. Get a chance to see Ford’s EV truck up close - what you really want to see is that enclosed frunk with an extra 14 cubic feet of cargo volume.
Read our full review on the Ford F-150 Lightning
BMW iX
The iX is the Bavarian brand's foray into the crowded luxury EV crossover market.
Read our full review on the BMW iX
Volkswagen ID.4
The ID.4 is Volkswagen’s push to take its EV game mainstream. Aimed directly at the Mid-Size SUV buyer, the Volkswagen ID.4 promises up to 250 miles of range on a single charge.} You can choose between rear-wheel (201 horsepower) or all-wheel drive(302 horsepower). The VW seems to strike the right balance between comfort and value, offering a great cabin with prices starting at just under $40,000.
Read our full review on the Volkswagen ID.4
Kia EV 6
For Kia’s very first all-electric vehicle, the EV6 is a brilliant effort. The car made its American debut at Times Square in New York City back in May.
Read our full review on the Kia EV 6
Nissan Ariya
With so much action in the EV crossover space, Nissan can’t really be left behind. The brand debuted its new Logo with the Ariya last year. Nissan has played it safe with the exterior and the design follows the lines of a traditional crossover. The same however can’t be said about the interior. The touch controls for the HVAC controls are something you’ll have to check out in person to truly appreciate. The estimated range on the Nissan Ariya is around 310 miles with prices starting around $40,000.
Read our full review on the Nissan Ariya
Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
Toyota’s mid-size pickup is not just about work but also about play. The truck does look brawny and epic in that shade of lime green, exclusive to the TRD model. The TRD sits a couple of inches higher when compared to the standard Tacoma on beefier shocks and 16” bronze rims.
Read our full review on the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
Jeep Grand Wagoneer
The Grand Wagoneer name is back after decades and is Jeep’s full-size three-row SUV. It’s called Grand for a reason. This is a luxury offering from Jeep aimed at families. There are screens everywhere you look inside. While the rest of the auto industry is raving about electric power, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer comes with a good old 6.4-liter V-8 that produces 471 horsepower and 455 foot-pounds of torque. } The Grand Wagoneer can tow up to 10,000 pounds. As this Jeep is going after the premium end of the market, prices aren’t cheap with the base MSRP at $88,995.
Read our full review on the Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Volkswagen Golf GTi
The eighth generation of the VW GTi has received some significant updates to both the exterior and the interior. The hallmark GTi trademarks, like the plaid seats and the along with the red trim on the grille and GTi badges, are all present. However, the interior has received a complete makeover with more tech than ever. VW’s sporty hatchback is packing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 241 horses 273 pound-feet. The best part, you can still get the Volkswagen GTi with a manual transmission.
Read our full review on the Volkswagen Golf GTi
Nissan Proto Z
The launch of the next Nissan Z has been hyped about for a while now and thankfully, the Z Proto that’s showcased at the Chicago Auto show is pretty close to what the production version of the car will likely look like. A 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, V-6 has been confirmed with either a 6-speed manual or a 7 speed Auto. The car will have its formal launch at the New York Auto show later this year.
Read our full review on the Nissan Proto Z
Ford Maverick
Ford says that the Maverick is a truck for non-truck people. Its target customers are people who dwell in the urban areas, who need the versatility of a truck, but find most to be a tad too large for their purpose. It features a versatile and well-thought-out bed. With the Maverick Ford is looking to attract a whole new audience to the Built Ford Tough family. The base XL variant of the Ford Maverick comes with a 2.5-liter hybrid and starts at $21,400.
Read our full review on the Ford Maverick
What else can you do at the Chicago Auto Show?
Apart from all the cars on display on the show floors, one can also get a chance to experience some of them with automakers like Jeep & Ford who have set up off-road courses where you can ride in cars like the Wrangler 4xe or the new Bronco. You can test drive a few models from VW and if you’re an animal lover, Subaru is back with their pet adoption event.
You can buy tickets for the Chicago Auto Show here.