Fall is the season when new model-year cars begin arriving in showrooms. In the past, vehicles would trickle in around late summer, with peak season starting when the leaves change color. That’s still the case for 2023. However, there are a number of vehicles not expected until the beginning of 2023, and many of them are worth the wait. Recently Kelly Blue Book listed 10 vehicles that are worth waiting for. Here are five of the best cars from that list.     

5. 2023 Chevrolet Colorado

The redesigned Chevrolet Colorado arrives early in 2023 with a mixture of existing packages and new features. The off-road ZR2 returns as an option package along with a new Trail Boss trim. Both the V6 and diesel engines were discontinued, so all Colorados and their GMC Canyon siblings only get the 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with different levels of tune. Power ranges from 237 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque up to 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. Depending on the engine power rating and transmission, the 2023 Colorado can tow between 3,500 and 7,700 pounds. 

4. 2024 Ford Mustang

One of the most anticipated new car models is the 2024 Mustang. More of a thorough refresh than an all-new car, the new Mustang retains all of the things that make the original pony car iconic. Ford retained the rear-wheel drive platform as well as the 2.3-liter four-cylinder and 5.0-liter Coyote V8. More power is anticipated from both engines, but what looks to be the most entertaining is the electronic drift brake.

Combining the electronic parking brake with the function of a traditional handbrake, the electronic drift brake lets drivers hone their drifting skills. Look for the new Mustang to slide into showrooms early next spring.  

3. 2023 Lexus RZ

Lexus has been highly successful in the luxury crossover market thanks to its blend of features, reliability, and top-shelf quality. Now the company is expanding into the electric car realm with the 2023 Lexus RZ. Equipped with standard all-wheel drive and a 225-mile range, the RZ should start around $55,000. It will compete with a rapidly expanding electric crossover market, including rivals from Audi, Cadillac, and Genesis.

The RZ lacks the electric range of other EVs on the market but should still be a compelling value for buyers looking for a premium electric crossover. 

2. 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6

Hyundai’s new electric platform was designed to allow the company to launch and scale up its electric vehicle lineup. By all accounts, the strategy is paying off. The 2023 Ioniq 6 is a stylish electric sedan that shares its architecture with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. With charging times as low as 18 minutes and up to 350 miles in range, the Ioniq 6 will attract buyers. What is really turning heads is the design. Hyundai says the Ioniq 6’s styling was inspired by the “streamliner” look from the 1920s and 1930s, but it looks like the future. 

The Ioniq is expected to launch in early 2023. Potential owners will have the option to choose between rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and either a 53 kWh or 77.4 kWh battery pack. 

1. 2023 Cadillac Lyriq

The 2023 Lyriq sits at the top of the Kelly Blue Book list. Cadillac is in the middle of another resurgence and hopes to keep the momentum going with its first electric luxury crossover. The beautifully-styled SUV shares a platform with the new gargantuan GMC Hummer EV, but you wouldn’t know it. Two drivetrains will be available, both a single-motor rear-wheel drive with 340 hp and dual-motor AWD with 500 hp.

The Lyric is expected to have 312 miles of range and will include features like GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system and a sleek, all-glass instrument panel. At the time of this writing, the rear-wheel drive Lyriq should be out in showrooms with the all-wheel drive model arriving in the first half of 2023.