Best new cars coming in 2022 - Kia to Nissan
From electric crossovers to hatchbacks, these are the new models set for debut in 2022
Kia EV4
- Price: From £40,000 (est)
- On sale: Late 2022
Anyone doubting Kia’s ambitions should take a closer look at the brand’s EV plan. Its next model in the ‘EV’ series is slated to be called the EV4, with the rakish machine promising a range of more than 300 miles to rival premium cars such as the Volvo C40 and Mercedes EQA.
The newcomer is expected to be heavily influenced by the larger EV6, and will get coupé-inspired looks plus similar bold headlights, full-width LED tail-lights and heavily sculpted body panels. It’s based on the E-GMP platform, which means a choice of single or double-motor layouts, with the latter delivering four-wheel drive and as much as 321bhp. Also expect a choice of 58 or 77.4kWh batteries, while the advanced 800V architecture means an 80 per cent charge can be achieved in just 18 minutes.
Kia Niro
- Price: From £24,855
- On sale: Now
The Niro has been a smash hit for Kia, so the brand hasn’t messed with a winning formula for the Mk2 machine. That said, with styling inspired by the latest Sportage, it has more kerb appeal than before.
A sweeping dash design, enhanced quality, more space and better tech make it feel a lot more upmarket inside. Under the bold new exterior is a revised version of the old car’s architecture, which means a similar choice of hybrid, PHEV and pure-electric power. Only details of the 139bhp self-charging hybrid have been released, but expect the plug-in and electric versions to benefit from improved ranges.
Kia Sportage
- Price: From £26,765
- On sale: Now
Kia is going for bold with its latest Sportage, which has been designed exclusively for Europe. Now in its fifth generation, the Korean machine has premium rivals firmly in its sights. Underneath its head-turning skin, the new Sportage offers a range of electrified engines, with 48V mild-hybrid, self-charging hybrid and plug-in units joining a conventional diesel option.
Inside, the upmarket feel is enhanced by the curved digital dash and infotainment screen, while the Kia combines accurate handling with a composed ride and impressive refinement. Factor in the seven-year warranty and there’s no doubt the Sportage success story is set to continue.
Lamborghini Countach
- Price: £2,000,000
- On sale: Now
When it comes to the Countach, lightning really can strike twice. Nearly half a century since it pulled the covers off the iconic original, Lamborghini has launched an all-new retro-inspired model in celebration.
Called the Countach LPI 800 and loosely based on the four-wheel-drive Aventador, it combines the first car’s famously wedgy lines with carbon-fibre bodywork and a state-of-the-art, hybrid-boosted 6.5-litre V12. The result is a crushing 803bhp that can launch the Lambo from 0-62mph in just 2.8 seconds and on to a 221mph top speed.
Just 112 examples are planned to roll out of the manufacturer’s Sant’Agata factory, each costing an eye-watering £2.5million.
Land Rover Defender 130
- Price: From £50,000 (est)
- On sale: Late 2022
The latest Defender is the most upmarket and luxurious yet, but the British mud-plugging legend hasn’t forgotten its hard-working roots. Like the iconic original, the current car is soon to be available as a double cab pick-up. Aimed at flagship Ford Ranger trucks, the stretched 130 will be a larger passenger model with 8 seats as standard.
Lexus NX
- Price: From £41,210
- On sale: Now
The all-new Lexus NX marks a big step for the brand, introducing its first plug-in hybrid powertrain in 450h+ form. The 18.1kWh battery offers more than 40 miles of electric range on a full charge, while the all-new infotainment system replaces the infuriating touchpad with a slick touchscreen that has the latest connectivity.
Either way, the new NX (also available in 350h self-charging form) boasts the same brilliant build quality we’ve come to expect from the brand, with first-rate ownership prospects. Plus the latest chassis architecture underneath means it’s comfortable and handles smartly, while there’s strong refinement, as you’d expect from a premium SUV with a big element of electrification.
Lexus RZ
- Price: From £50,000 (est.)
- On sale: Summer 2022
Like many companies, Lexus is embracing the era of full electrification, and its new RZ SUV will usher in this new chapter. It’s based on the e-TNGA platform also used by the Toyota bZ4X, and the 71.4kWh battery gives a claimed range of about 280 miles.
Lexus’s first standalone EV will make its debut in RZ 450e form, so expect solid performance with more of a focus on sporty dynamics than you might imagine. What you can guarantee is superb refinement and quality, and the RZ will aim to carry the brand’s reputation for brilliant build and a fine ownership experience into the next generation of fully electric products.
Lotus Emira
- Price: From £59,995
- On sale: Summer 2022
Under Geely ownership Lotus has big plans for the future, and these have started to take shape in the form of the Emira sports car. Based on a brand-new platform, this mid-engined model will rival the Porsche 911 for performance, handling and ownership appeal.
The Emira will be available with a Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6 and a six-speed manual gearbox, or the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine from Mercedes-AMG’s A 45 S, and we’ve already felt the car’s ability from the passenger seat with former F1 champ Jenson Button driving. Things bode well for Lotus’s new sports car, with lightweight technology at its heart.
Lotus Evija
- Price: From £2m
- On sale: Sold out
With a maximum of 1,972bhp from its twin-electric-motor powertrain, the Evija is a Lotus for a new era. The performance stats alone are eye-widening, with a 0-62mph sprint in less than three seconds, a top speed of more than 200mph and a range of 215 miles from the 70kWh battery – which can be topped up in as little as 18 minutes thanks to its rapid 350kW charging tech.
Standing as a halo model, the Evija’s styling will influence elements of Lotus’s future vehicles, including an SUV and a new all-electric sports car. The Evija is an exciting model that sets the template for the brand’s future under Geely.
Maserati Grecale
- Price: From £58,000 (est)
- On sale: Summer 2022
In some ways, the Grecale is a ‘nearly’ car, because it’s been on the cusp of launch for a while. But we’ll finally get to see Maserati’s new Porsche Macan rival in full later this month. Like the Grand Tourer, it’ll come with combustion engines and should also feature electrification. A full EV is part of the plan, too, and will rival future all-electric models such as the next-generation Porsche Macan EV and Audi’s Q6 e-tron.
We’ve already seen from Maserati’s official teaser shots that the oversized trident badge will sit in pride of place on the gaping grille. Expect strong performance and sharp handling.
Maserati MC20
- Price: From £190,275
- On sale: Now
Maserati is back with the MC20. It’s a thoroughbred sports car that uses an all-new 621bhp twin-turbo V6 in the middle of a brand-new carbon-fibre chassis. It steers superbly, offers the level of driver focus you want from a low-slung model and even rides comfortably.
It’s pricey, at £190,000, but the MC20 has real pedigree and competes on an equal footing with McLaren and Lamborghini. It feels authentic, a key factor in this market, and it’ll have exclusivity on its side, too. Given how much it costs, the cabin might be a little spartan for some, but at least the tech works and it’s functional, so you can get on with what the MC20 is all about: having fun.
Mazda 2 Hybrid
- Price: From £20,300
- On sale: Now
As part of its deal with Toyota, Mazda has rebadged its rival’s Yaris Hybrid, selling the Mazda 2 Hybrid alongside the old internal combustion-engined version of the car. Superminis are still big business in the UK, so it makes sense for Mazda, because its range is currently limited when it comes to electrified options. The Yaris’s mechanicals also make it one of the best hybrid superminis on sale.
The Mazda adopts Toyota’s tech wholesale, including the interior design and infotainment. It offers up to a claimed 74.3mpg, but with prices starting at more than £20,000, it’s also pricey.
Mazda CX-5 facelift
- Price: From £29,610
- On sale: Now
While Mazda has new SUVs on the way – which are in the development phase – the Japanese brand has also been hard at work updating its family-favourite CX-5 SUV with sharper styling, a revised trim structure and more technology.
We’ve already driven the updated model and can confirm it still offers the same great steering and balance of ride and handling that the CX-5 is known for. But a lack of meaningful electrification and turbocharged petrol engines means performance and refinement, not to mention efficiency, are a little more limited compared with the latest rivals in this class.
Mclaren Artura
- Price: From £185,500
- On sale: Now
McLaren’s Artura PHEV broke cover last year, but we’re still yet to drive it. It promises 671bhp, 0-62mph in 3.0 seconds and an all-electric range of 19 miles. A new architecture to house the 7.4kWh battery means more weight, but we’re sure the Artura will have typical McLaren traits, such as precise steering and great handling.
The styling has a shrink-wrapped look and lots of voids like its 720S bigger brother, while the cabin is an evolution of the brand’s former Sport Series models. Extra efficiency and a performance boost from the electrification on offer will usher in a new era for McLaren.
Mercedes A-Class facelift
- Price: From £26,000 (est)
- On sale: Late 2022
Given that Mercedes has a fleet of all-electric cars on the horizon, the mid-life facelift heading the way of the big selling A-Class hatchback – the fourth most popular new car in Britain in 2021 – appear to be minor on the surface.
Our spy shots highlight only minor revisions to the car’s styling front and rear, including new headlights and tail-lights. Meanwhile the rest of the package of updates is likely to focus on new technology and infotainment when the updated car goes on sale towards the end of the year. Both AMG models – the 302bhp A 35 and the 415bhp A 45 S – will be retained in the line-up, along with the plug-in hybrid 250 e model.
Mercedes EQE
- Price: From £65,000 (est)
- On sale: Summer 2022
The EQE is an all-electric saloon the size of the E-Class, and Mercedes hopes it will reignite interest in a segment that’s losing more and more sales to SUVs. The sleek EQE taps into the style of the larger EQS, as well as borrowing its platform, interior design and equipment, along with its battery and motor technology.
The EQE 350’s 90kWh battery enables a range of up to 410 miles on a full charge. Hot AMG versions have been confirmed, too, with the range-topping EQE 53 delivering an all-wheel-drive electric set-up that serves up a maximum of 677bhp, with 0-62mph taking 3.3 seconds.
Mercedes G-Class facelift
- Price: From £110,000 (est)
- On sale: Late 2022
Amid Mercedes’ flood of new electric SUVs, an update is heading the way of an old favourite: the G-Class. The current model, introduced in 2018, marked a radical ground-up redesign of the iconic off-roader underneath, so we’re not expecting a huge number of revisions under the metal.
With 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance likely to make its debut in the G-Class, this mid-life refresh will mainly focus on updated colour and trim options, minor styling and tech revisions, plus the introduction of the new 4x42 variant. This G-Class model, like the previous iteration, will use portal axles for significantly more ground clearance than the regular G.
Mercedes-AMG SL
- Price: From £100,000 (est)
- On sale: from £108,030
The new SL lays down an important marker for Mercedes, because it shows the brand trying to reboot a struggling sector. Sales of the last SL – once a staple of the firm’s range – had collapsed, so it might surprise some to see the badge live on.
However, it does so in sportier style, offering up AMG GT-like thrills in a 2+2 package and a flexible suspension set-up that means the SL still promises to be comfortable cruising along, yet has more potential on a circuit. Power is provided by a thundering turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine developing 577bhp in the SL 63.
Morgan Plus 8 GTR
- Price: N/A
- On sale: Sold out
Not content with rolling into 2022 with plans for just one wild sports car, Morgan also showed us the Plus 8 GTR. This menacing-looking iteration of the Malvern marque’s iconic shape is inspired by the original Plus 8 GTR, which competed in endurance racing in the mid-nineties.
Extreme aero, a louvred bonnet and centre-lock wheels help it stand out from other Morgans, while under the bonnet lurks a BMW-derived 4.8-litre V8 making upwards of 362bhp.
Thanks to its side-exit exhaust, the GTR should also produce a suitably thunderous soundtrack. But, if you’re tempted, the bad news is that you can’t have one, as only nine examples will ever be made.
Morgan Super3
- Price: From £41,995
- On sale: Now
One of the wackier cars due out this year is the Morgan Super3. It is offered with what the firm calls ‘personalities’: a range of different colours and themes, many inspired by adventure and racing cars from the mid-20th century.
But bringing the latest three-wheeler well into the 21st century is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine from Ford that takes the place of the old car’s 2.0-litre twin-cylinder unit. While that required some serious re-engineering to fit, the basic formula is much the same: one driving wheel at the back, two skinny tyres at the front, and lots of pure-driving fun to be had.
Nissan Ariya
- Price: From £43,845
- On sale: Now
One of the first car brands to the EV table has really kept us waiting for its second pure-electric model. Almost 12 years after the debut of the Mk1 Leaf, Nissan has released the Ariya; an all-electric family crossover that competes head-on with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Skoda Enyaq iV. Will be it successful? We certainly think so as we've named it our 2022 Car of the Year.
Buyers can choose from a 63kWh battery with a 223-mile range, or an 87kWh model that promises up to 310 miles. Rapid 130kW charging should ensure swift top-ups, while Nissan says the 389bhp Performance model will do the 0-62mph sprint in 5.1 seconds.
Nissan Qashqai
- Price: From £23,535
- On sale: Now
We reviewed the latest Nissan Qashqai in depth in 2021, but we will be getting our hands on the most intriguing – and certainly the most advanced – powertrain option in the crossover’s range later this year.
The Qashqai e-Power has a 1.5-litre engine sitting under the bonnet, but it doesn’t drive the wheels directly. Instead, it generates energy for a battery, which then powers a motor on the front axle. In theory this gives the smooth response of an EV, the modest electric-only range of a hybrid, and the versatility of a combustion car, not to mention the potential for low running costs. If the technology works out, it should make the Qashqai one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the family crossover class.
Nissan X-Trail
- Price: From £30,000 (est)
- On sale: Late 2022
Following hot on the Qashqai’s heels will be the fourth generation of its big brother, the X-Trail. Rivaling the likes of the Kia Sorento and Peugeot 5008, the X-Trail shares much of its mechanical make-up with the Qashqai, such as the e-Power hybrid powertrain and advanced driver-assistance tech.
But it has much chunkier styling, thanks to a bluff bonnet, a squared-off roofline for added practicality and a more imposing front grille, while the cabin will offer space for seven people, courtesy of a third row of seats. Up front the cabin will feature an overhauled dashboard design, complete with a new infotainment set-up that will most likely be shared with the Qashqai.
