While it may be the third largest city and is nicknamed the Second City,  Chicago was first in innovations both large and small: It brought us the world’s first skyscraper, the first nuclear chain reaction and the first brownie. It’s fitting that the 2023 Chicago Auto Show brings a slew of new vehicles that range in size from subcompact to supersized and are packed with innovative features.

Related: More 2023 Chicago Auto Show Coverage

Cars.com’s Editorial team got an early look at the show on its media preview days held prior to the public show that starts Saturday. Our expert coverage gives you an up-close look at new and newsworthy models from BMW, Chevrolet, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen. Meanwhile, a set of electrified concept cars preview what the future holds for brands like Buick, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram. To help shoppers and show attendees prioritize, our editors cast their votes for the Best in Show vehicle and round up all the winners and losers from the show floor.

Chevrolet hasn’t been shy about innovating its iconic Corvette sports car in recent years, and the 2024 Corvette E-Ray continues the recent breaks with tradition. The E-Ray is the first all-wheel-drive and gas-electric hybrid Corvette. A 6.2-liter V-8 engine paired with a 1.9-kilowatt-hour battery pack yields a total of 655 horsepower, a 2.5-second 0-60 mph time and a quarter-mile run of 10.5 seconds at 130 mph, making the E-Ray the fastest production Corvette in history. Visually, the E-Ray doesn’t stray far from the current 2023 Corvette Z06, but it differentiates itself with unique five-spoke wheels and E-Ray badging on the body.

Redesigned and refreshed SUVs of all sizes descend on Chicago with upgraded tech and safety features that aim to boost their appeal in a competitive class. The redesigned subcompact 2024 Subaru Crosstrek gets subtle exterior styling tweaks for a more rugged look. Inside, the SUV sees bigger upgrades including a newly available 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen, optional wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and an updated version of Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist suite. The Crosstrek’s standard manual transmission is a goner for 2024, but the starting price for the base model with a continuously variable automatic transmission remains similar to the outgoing 2023 model.

Larger SUVs like the mid-size 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and its two-row, fastback-styled Atlas Cross Sport sibling get new front-end styling, updated LED lighting with an illuminated VW logo and a full-width light bar in the rear. Even bigger changes are found inside with a classier interior, newly standard features added on the more affordable trims and revamped tech across the board.

The Toyota Highlander is a popular mid-size family SUV, but it’s also one of the smallest in its class with a third row that’s not exactly accommodating for adults. Enter the all-new 2024 Grand Highlander: The three-row SUV sports a boxier shape and stretches 6 inches longer than the standard Highlander. Its dimensions notably improve occupant space, especially in the third row. Inside, standard creature comforts include heated front seats and second-row sunshades; the SUV is also well equipped on the tech front with a 12.3-inch touchscreen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and standard wireless charging.

The 2023 BMW XM, a high-performance plug-in hybrid SUV, was unveiled in 2022 and makes its auto show debut in Chicago. The SUV is the first electrified model in the brand’s performance-oriented M division. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 engine with a hybrid-electric powertrain, the SUV lives up to the M moniker with 644 hp, 590 pounds-feet of torque and a 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds.

Unlike the currently available XM (for those willing to spend roughly $160,000), the EV concepts on display in Chicago can’t be purchased, but instead are designed to showcase future electrification plans of their respective brands. The Buick Wildcat, a 2+2 coupe, and the Chrysler Airflow Concept, a sleek four-door EV, are purely design exercises for Buick and Chrysler’s future electrified lineups. Meanwhile, the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept represents the likely replacement for the gas-powered Charger and Challenger muscle cars, and the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept is expected to closely resemble the all-electric Ram 1500 REV that’s slated to arrive in 2024.

See all the coverage you missed from the 2023 Chicago Auto Show below:

The 2023 Chicago Auto Show returns to McCormick Place (2301 S. King Drive) Saturday and runs through Feb. 20. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Saturday to Feb. 19, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 20. Tickets can be purchased on the show’s website; they run $15 for adults (age 13-61), and $10 both for seniors (age 62 or up) and children (age 4-12). Kids 3 or younger are free with a paying adult family member.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.