Hot new SUVs and 4x4 cars coming soon
There’s a whole host of exciting new SUVs and 4x4s on the way, and we’ve picked out some of the highlights
The weather is starting to get colder and the roads are becoming more treacherous with the prospect of frost and ice. In these conditions SUVs and 4x4s really have the chance to shine and show why they are so popular at the moment.
Whatever the winter weather brings, all-wheel drive vehicles have the tools to deal with it. However, before you rush to the nearest showroom and buy one of the current SUVs on sale, why not take a look at some of the new models on the way.
• Best SUVs and 4x4s to buy now
A quick look at the list of cars coming to the market in 2019 and beyond, and you can see that there are plenty of 4x4s due to come on sale in the next couple of years. Almost every car brand is trying to fulfil the growing consumer demand for high-riding SUVs.
Although there are so many off-roaders on the way, we’ve rounded up the ones worth waiting for. From hotly-anticipated all-electric models such as the Audi Q4 e-tron, BMW iX3 and Tesla Model Y to more traditional models such as the Land Rover Defender, there should be something for everyone in our selection of hot new 4x4s to suit everyone.
Scroll down the page for our pick of the hottest coming your way from a variety of top top car brands...
The hottest new 4x4s and SUVs coming soon
Alfa Romeo Tonale
The Stelvio brought something new to the large-SUV market, but it’s out of reach of most Alfa Romeo fans. Next year, though, there will be a far more affordable Alfa SUV in the shape of the Tonale.
It was shown as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year, and sits on the same platform as the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X. However the chassis will be reworked to make it handle like an Alfa, while brand-new plug-in hybrid tech will make it the brand’s first hybrid.
If Alfa gets it right, this will be a compelling alternative to a MINI Countryman or Audi Q2.
Aston Martin DBX
Aston Martin is also joining the SUV party in 2020, and the company has been gradually teasing us for the past year with pictures of its new DBX testing. It’s not a hardcore off-roader, but it is expected to have reasonable ability in the rough stuff, including being able to drive through wintry weather that would leave any of Aston’s current range squirming in the snow.
The car will be built in a new factory in Wales and the first models will use a tuned version of the firm’s twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, which is already used in the Vantage and the DB11.
Audi e-tron Sportback
If the freshly launched Audi e-tron isn’t sporty enough for you, perhaps a coupé version would be better? The company revealed a prototype of the e-tron Sportback in Geneva, but the camouflage couldn’t hide the chopped roofline. When the new car arrives late in 2020, this will be used to take on sporty rivals like Mercedes’ GLE PHEV, BMW’s plug-in X4 and Jaguar’s all-electric I-Pace.
Like the e-tron, the Sportback will be powered by three motors: two for the rear wheels and one that powers the fronts, with the powertrain producing a combined output of 496bhp.
Audi Q4 e-tron
Audi’s first model on the VW Group’s MEB electric-car platform will be the Q4 e-tron, due at the end of 2020. A rival for the Tesla Model Y, it was shown as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
The coupé-like crossover has an 82kWh battery pack and a pair of electric motors, giving quattro four-wheel-drive. They develop 302bhp and a range claimed to exceed 280 miles between charges.
There’s no word yet on how much the new car will cost, but using the shared MEB architecture could mean it will be surprisingly affordable.
BMW iX3
BMW has been something of a pioneer of electric cars, with models such as the i3 and i8. Those proved a little too radical-looking for some buyers though, so the next BMW EV will look just like an X3 SUV. It’s not a plug-in hybrid though; this will be a pure-electric version called the iX3, and it’s due to be launched next year.
First shown as a concept car in 2018, the iX3 featured a 266bhp motor and a 70kW battery. That should be good for a range of around 249 miles, and in common with rivals such as the Audi e-tron, the i3X will be capable of super-rapid 150kW fast-charging.
Cupra Formentor
SEAT’s spun-off performance brand, Cupra, will launch its first dedicated model in 2020, the Formentor coupé-SUV. The car was previewed at the Geneva show in March and is basically a slicker, low-roof version of SEAT’s Ateca crossover. It’s clearly sporty, but the design also takes some inspiration from the new SEAT Tarraco flagship.
Cupra is meant to be a performance brand, so the Formentor will have plenty of power, thanks to a plug-in hybrid powertrain producing 242bhp. The launch of the Cupra Formentor will be quickly followed by SEAT-badged versions with more familiar powertrains and lower price tags.
Ford Puma
Somewhat controversially, Ford has dusted off its ‘Puma’ badge and fixed it to the rear of this – a new crossover designed to rival the Renault Captur, Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008. Like the original Puma, it’s based on the same platform as the Fiesta, but that’s where the similarities end.
This new Puma has a tall body, a commanding driving position and a boot capacity of 456 litres, which is one of the largest in its class. From launch, it will be offered with either a 123bhp or 153bhp version of Ford’s turbocharged 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine – and both will be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.
Land Rover Defender
It’s no exaggeration to say that the Defender could be the most eagerly anticipated car since the ‘new’ Mini in 2001. Fans finally got their first glimpse at Frankfurt in September and although the hardcore enthusiasts gave it a mixed reaction, it got a big thumbs up from potential buyers.
Rather than produce a retro design, Land Rover has cleverly incorporated some nods to the past into a thoroughly modern look. A massive testing programme should ensure that the car is good enough off road to carry the badge while also being far more refined and capable on Tarmac.
Mercedes GLA
It was widely assumed that Mercedes would take the wraps off its new GLA at the Frankfurt motor show last month, but the car didn’t appear on the company’s stand, leading to rumours that it has been delayed. However, the new car is badly needed to replace the existing, aged model.
No details or pictures have been released yet, but spy shots of the car have shown us that it will retain off-road styling features, yet be even more car-like, with a minimal difference in ride height compared to the A-Class on which it’s based. The engine range will include a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol unit developed with Renault and Nissan.
Mercedes GLB
The range of Mercedes SUVs has an obvious gap between the GLA and GLC. The all-new GLB, due in December, will fill that hole, and is aimed squarely at families, with every model having seven seats.
It’s based on the same platform as the GLA, with power from a four-cylinder diesel engine mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. Front and four-wheel-drive versions will be sold, and a plug-in hybrid is expected later in 2020. The car is already available to order, with prices starting at £34,200 and rising up to £45,950 for the range-topping all-wheel-drive versions.
Nissan Juke
Nine years after pioneering the small SUV Crossover, Nissan is launching an all-new version of the Juke, which is due to go on sale by the end of the year. It is longer, lower and wider than the outgoing model, giving it a much sharper look, but there are clear Juke family links, such as the three-deck front lights.
As you may expect, the Juke’s tech is bang up-to-date and it’s said to be the most connected Nissan. But the engine range is small: only a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo with 115bhp will be on sale at launch.
Tesla Model Y
Tesla knows how to shake things up. The Model 3 saloon was a top-three seller in the UK during the summer, and the Model Y could prove even more popular when it is launched next year.
In contrast to the Model 3, the Y is shaped like an SUV and features a full seven-seat capacity, making it far more attractive to family buyers.
Like the 3, there will be three versions available, offering a choice of range or performance. Choose the maximum range and the Model Y will be able to go 336 miles between changes, whereas the performance model will dash from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Expect the car to be a real game-changer.
Which future SUV are you looking forward to the most? Let us know below...
