Auto Shows are Back! This is What to See at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show  — or a Show Near You

 

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Plus, you can win one of three Chicco kids car seats from A Girls Guide to Cars!

We love February because that means it’s time to head to Chicago and the Chicago Auto Show. That’s where we get to comb over all the cars we love, climb in, take a look around and get all the details. In Chicago you can ride over off road courses in the Jeep Wrangler, Ram trucks and Ford Bronco, test out the electric Mustang Mach-E, the plug-in electric hybrid version of the Chrysler Pacifica, take a spin around the indoor track in the Hyundai Ioniq5, the Kia EV6 and more. Just try doing that in all in a single day of dealership visits. 

And, an auto show is literally the only place you can you can explore all the cars you might consider buying, compare one to the other, take a deep dive on features, trims and pricing, and compare them back to back in one place. 

Chicago Auto Show Car Seat Giveaway
We went to the Chicago Auto Show and decided to give away some Chicco car seats! Photo: Scotty Reiss

Win a Chicco Car Seat From Us!

We had three objectives at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show: Check out all the important new cars, climb into the electric cars we haven’t driven yet, and test out kids car seats those cars with Kelly @the_car_mom (more on that soon). 

For our car seat installation demonstrations, Chicco sent us three car seats. Now that we’re done with them, we’re giving them away! Keep reading to learn  how to enter to win one. 

Must See Cars at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show 

Nissan Frontier gets Adventurous

Our show experience kicked off with a look at Nissan’s new Hustlers and Hardbodies edition of the Nissan Frontier. Nissan’s designers took a custom approach to this popular mid-size pickup to give it a retro or adventure feel and capability and we can’t wait to drive them—all of them! 

 

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Ram Recognizes First Responders with Special Editions

Ram revealed a new model truck that we can really get behind: First Responder editions. First to roll out will be dedicated to firefighters, and will be emblazoned in an exclusive red color, but there will be editions for police and emergency medical workers. And we love this.

 

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Ford Rolls Out a Bronco Everglades Edition

Bronco has been all the rage this year, with a Bronco for everyone. And just so no one feels left out, those who want over the top can go Raptor, while those who want to seek out Bayou adventures can go Everglades edition, both new and on display this week.

 

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The Most Elegant Electric Car May Be the Kia EV6

We drove the Kia EV6 recently and were really impressed. You’ll need to see this for yourself.

Subaru’s Exhibit Will Inspire Your Next Adventure

The Subaru exhibit may be the best at the show. Designed to look like a national park, it’s gotten bigger and better with more cars, a motorsports park and an interactive, informative museum like space focused on forests and fires. Plus, you can see the new electric Solterra, Subaru’s first electric car.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia Has Been Redesigned

This is one we’re saw recently and can’t wait to drive: The Toyota Sequoia, the brand’s largest family SUV. It’s been fully redesigned with better tech and media, more room and more off road capability. 

 

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How Toyota Envisions the future: Meet the Rhombus Concept

We love it when brands bring their concept cars to a show so we can see what they think the future will look like. This is Toyota’s Rhombus concept pod; it seats 4 and lets 3 of the passengers sit face to face. 

 

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The GMC Hummer is Back and It’s Incredible

We were stunned when GMC decided to bring the Hummer back as an electric car. And we like it: More than 1,000 horsepower, lots of capability and super high ground clearance. This is another we can’t wait to drive.

 

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We Can’t Get Enough of Puppies, Thanks to Subaru

You can’t skip the puppy love at the Chicago Auto Show. Subaru works with local shelters to help drive adoptions, but stop by even if you’re not in the market for a new family member. It’s just too cute to pass up.

 

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The Jeep Grand Cherokee L, One of Our Favorites

This was one of our favorite test drives of the year: The Jeep Grand Cherokee L. It has three rows, space for everyone and the interiors are more like a luxury suite than a 4WD off roader. 

 

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Step Inside Hyundai’s IONIC5 All Electric Car and See What the Electric Life is All About

Another one of our top electric car reviews for its fast charging capability and long battery range, we are even more impressed with the interior space. The rear seats move forward and back, the front seats recline nearly flat and the center console moves back and forth. You can really make this space your own.

 

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Finally…the Much Awaited Nissan Ariya is Here

Nissan learned a lot from building and selling the Leaf, the best selling electric car ever. Now, Nissan’s first premium electric SUV, the Ariya, is soon headed to US dealerships and we can’t wait. The outside is elegant and sophisticated, and the interior is spectacular. 

 

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What Drives Her

During our time at the Chicago Auto Show we were able to celebrate some of the women who are creating big change in the auto industry, including these friends who are also automotive journalists, and What Drives Her award winner for Best in Craft Sue Mead. The other award winners were Linda Zhang chief engineer of the Ford F0150 Lightning and Megan Deters, sales manager of Brilliance Honda. Clearly it was a tough competition.

 

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Get Your Jam on at Nissan!

No auto show trip should go without some fun. Our friends stopped by the Nissan exhibit and picked up some instruments for an impromptu jam session. And to see these ladies jam out makes the wait worth it.

The Chicago Auto Show runs from February 12-February 21 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Tickets and more information can be found here. 

Oh, and that car seat giveaway? Enter here (rules below). Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest rules: Entries must be completed by 12:01AM Central Time February 21, 2022. No purchase necessary; contest open only to US residents 18 and older and subject to the laws of Illinois. Winners will be notified by EMAIL on February 19th 2022. Winners MUST PICK UP PRIZES IN PERSON at the Chicago Auto Show, McCormick Place, 2301 S King Dr, Chicago, IL 60616 on February 21, 2022 by 8PM CT. Prizes WILL NOT BE SHIPPED. Winners who are not able to pick up prizes on February 21, 2022 will be disqualified. Winners may be asked to provide identification to receive their prize. Prize value up to $200 per prize, not exchangeable for cash or other items. A total of 3 seats will be awarded. Child car seats are presented as is, in new condition having been used only for demonstration purposes. A Girls Guide to Cars, The Car Mom, Chicco USA, the Chicago Auto Show and the Chicago Automotive Trade Association shall not be liable for the accuracy of any information presented herein, nor held responsible for any unforseen injuries or damages.

Disclosure: We were a guest of the Chicago Auto Show for this preview; all travel and accommodations were provided. Chicco USA provided these car seats for our installation demonstrations. No compensation or sponsorship was provided and all opinions are our own. 

Scotty Reiss
Scotty Reiss

Journalist, entrepreneur and mom. Expertise includes new cars, family cars, 3-row SUVs, child passenger car seats and automotive careers and culture. A World Car Awards juror and member of the steering committee, Scotty likes to say the automotive business found her, rather than her finding it. But recognizing the opportunity to give voice to powerful female consumers and create a voice to match their spending power, her mission became to empower women as car buyers and owners. A career-long journalist, she has written for the New York Times, Town & Country, Adweek and co-authored the book Stew Leonard, My Story, a biography of the founder of the iconic grocery company Stew Leonard’s. Her love of cars started when her father insisted she learn to change the oil in her MG Midget, but now it mostly plays out in the many road trips taken with her family.

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