The 10 Most Important Cars of the 2014 New York Auto Show

The best-selling car in the country is all-new, and Toyota's trying to add some excitement to its staid family sedan. That means a giant grille, similar to the face on the latest Corolla and Highlander, plus some athletic-looking creases on the bodywork. The powertrains carry over from before, including the hybrid model that is capable of 43 mpg in the city, but elsewhere Toyota has made major efforts to give the Camry a sportier feel. The body structure has been stiffened, there's a retuned suspension, the electric steering has been reprogrammed for better feel, and the SE model comes with a larger antiroll bar for more aggressive handling. Expect to see the Camry in showrooms this fall.

Hyundai's answer to the Toyota Camry is also new, taking the sinuous lines of the old Sonata and straightening them for a more sophisticated look. As much as we like the new styling, we're even more excited by the interior, which comes with Bluelink 2.0, Hyundai's version of connected services that includes remote start from a smartphone app and Google search built into the navigation system. On top of that, the Sonata will likely be the first car on sale in the U.S. with Apple's CarPlay, which mimics iOS experience on the 8-inch touchscreen.

With the exception of the limited-edition Chevrolet SS, no other automaker has followed Dodge's (and Chrysler's) decision to make a large, affordable, rear-wheel-drive car. But even though the Charger is unique, it still needs to keep up with the times. So the 2015 model has been scalloped at the corners, and the wraparound headlights and taillights make the big car look a little more tidy. You can still get the 3.6-liter V-6 or the 5.7-liter V-8 with all-wheel-drive, and now every model comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission to improve fuel economy.

The M4 Convertible is probably more flashy, and certainly faster, but the X4 is more significant for BMW for a few reasons. Riding on a shared architecture with the X3 (which itself is derived from the 3 Series sedan), the X4 is yet another model that will be made at the Spartanburg, S.C., plant. And it's evidence of just how important the SUV market is right now. Adding a slightly more stylish model that is largely the same as an existing offering (engine choices will be identical to the X3) shows that BMW wants to capture every single potential customer.

We can't really say no to a 645-hp convertible, especially when it looks as good as the new Z06. It's essentially unchanged from the coupe version, which means you can get all the extra performance parts like the crazy front winglets and giant rear spoiler that come as part of the Z07 performance package. As with the hardtop, you can now have Chevy's highest-performance Corvette ever with an automatic transmission.

It's hard to believe, but of all the debuts at this year's New York show, this is the only concept car. But as is common with most concept cars these days, the Discovery Vision is pretty close to what the next Discovery (also know as the LR4 in the U.S.) will look like. Sadly, we won't get the clamshell doors that give a barrier-free view of the interior, but the Vision concept does use Land Rover's aluminum architecture that helped the Range Rover shed 700 pounds of curb weight.

The Q70 (the car formerly known as the M) gets what's known as the mid-cycle refresh—minor updates that happen a few years after a new model comes out, to keep things interesting until the next generation. In addition to new styling on the front and rear, Infiniti has also added a long-wheelbase model that adds an impressive 6 inches of rear legroom. We took a brief seat in the back during the show and found so much space that we were tempted to go camping inside the car.

Subaru's best-selling model follows the introduction of the Legacy sedan, with similar styling and an identical interior. It's slightly bigger, but the biggest change is the quality look and feel of the interior—this is definitely the fanciest Outback ever. Further deepening the wagon's ritziness are available features like a power liftgate, adaptive cruise control, and combination blind-spot warning and cross-traffic alert.

SUVs tend to be pretty bland, and the new Murano is an attempt to shake up the segment with a look that's instantly recognizable. So if you don't like the boomerang headlights or the flowing sheet metal, well, that's the idea. Nissan's trying to stand out, which means the look isn't for everyone. Subjective opinion aside, we support that kind of risk-taking.

Sales of small SUVs are skyrocketing, and the Trax is Chevy's attempt to cash in on the boom. Underneath the sheet metal it's identical to the Buick Encore, with the same 1.4-liter turbo engine and front- or all-wheel-drive.