The Citroën C5-X, the facelifted Audi A8, the Skoda Enyaq Coupé: they will all come on the market in 2022, but they do not make it to our top 10. Serving chip shortages and covid, many blistering models with and without plugs are appearing. A Dutch car that runs on solar cells, for example, and a BMW that makes the whole family feel nauseous. And would there really be a new Alfa Romeo after five years?
1 – Nissan Ariya
From a pioneer in electric cars (Leaf), Nissan has become a rearguard player. The Ariya needs to smooth out the dents in the ailing Nissan’s confidence. There will be many different versions of the ‘Qashqai among electric SUVs’, with a range that varies from 360 to 500 kilometers. Fast charging is possible with a maximum of 130 kW. Nothing but praise about the appearance, the production version of the Ariya is very similar to the concept car that the brand presented in 2019. But in advance we can already name a downside: the Ariya no longer has buttons on the dashboard …
2 – MG5
The Chinese brands are eager to crush Europe. For example, MG comes on st(r)oom. In 2021, the non-descript Marvel R came on the market, which looked so ordinary and drove so well that we have almost forgotten about it. But we see a bright future for the MG5. It is the first fully electric station wagon and MG promises that it will cost less than 30,000 euros. It is a pity that the appearance is soporific like the music on hold at your telecom provider and that the range of 400 kilometers is no more than average. We get nostalgic for the days when MG had a British beating heart…
3 – Alfa Romeo Tonale
This Italian was also on the list for 2020 and 2021 … Alfa Romeo’s postponement policy is notorious. The Stelvio and Giulia also came many years after the original schedule and were already outdated before they were well and truly in the showroom. Would it finally really happen for the Tonale in 2022, five years (!) after the last new Alfa Romeo model? It won’t be because of its beautiful appearance. In terms of engines and chassis, the Tonale is identical to the Jeep Compass. This means that it will be marketed as a plug-in hybrid with 190 hp and 240 hp.
4 – Mercedes EQE
Later in this issue we discuss the EQB, which actually performs a bit too average to wear the Mercedes star with pride. But with the also electric EQE, Mercedes is putting things on edge. It looks like two drops of water on the larger EQS and has an impressive range of 660 kilometers. The EQE is the same size as an E-class, but its wheelbase is no less than 10 centimeters longer. That is the advantage, if you do not have to lose a huge six-cylinder in the front. AMG is already working on its own version of the EQE, Mercedes itself promises an SUV version before 2022.
5 – Volvo XC90
The XC90 is an important car for Volvo; it traditionally marks the beginning of a new design era. You can therefore assume that many elements of the XC90 will later also be seen on other models. Volvo is increasingly presenting itself as an environmentally friendly brand. All versions of the XC90 are therefore fully electric, or at least have hybrid technology. Diesel engines already went to the Swedish grovavfall (bulky waste). Striking: the electric XC90 gets its own platform. Unfortunately no images have been released yet, but with the Concept Recharge we get a sneak peek of the Swedish veil.
6 – Lightyear One
When a Dutch company causes a stir in the car world, the fame spreads to all of us. We follow the developments of the Lightyear One as if we had designed it ourselves. If everything goes according to plan, the electric car with solar panels will be on the market in the summer. Where is it built? Maybe in Born, where no more Minis will roll off the production line soon? Or will Helmond, the city where it was developed, get a supersonic factory? No, the production takes place in Finland. During test laps on a German circuit, the Dutch sun king was able to show off 710 electric kilometers on one battery charge.
7 – Kia Niro
Who would have predicted five years ago that the Kia Niro would become the best-selling car in the Netherlands? It was a typical case of peaking at the right time. Kia offered the Niro as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric car, with a favorable addition and a large range. Both calculating business drivers and private individuals lined up for the Niro. The motor success recipe is repeated in its successor, which also comes in three flavors. Most striking detail: the D-pillars in a different color, a design trick that Smart also applied. The new Kia Niro will hit the market in mid-2022.
8 – BMW M3 Touring
We dug into our memories: is this really just the first Touring version of the iconic M3? Yes! Until now, you had to buy an Alpina B3 Touring if you wanted to thunder with the whole family including luggage as quickly as possible over public circuits and mountain passes. But finally M GmbH has taken care of the station wagon of the 3-series. The three-liter six-cylinder produces 480 or 510 hp (M3 Competition). The regular version gets a six-speed manual gearbox, the Competition an eight-speed automatic. We recommend that you do not bring any breakable items.
9 – Toyota Aygo X
You don’t have to possess Jomanda-esque gifts to predict a golden future for this little Toyota. The Netherlands is crying out for affordable models, Toyota is the only one who has heard this call and comes with a hypermodern car in the A-segment. Everything is good about it: its base price under 16,000 euros, its nicest appearance, its considerably increased space (the Aygo X grew by no less than 23 centimeters), and its arsenal of safety systems. Even adaptive cruise control is standard.
10 – Volkswagen ID. buzz
Oh, that iconic Volkswagen van. The longer it’s been since it drove around, the more people say they had one. And the wilder the anecdotes get from the era of love and peace. The ID.Buzz nods to the famous Typ 2, but does not have a bubbling boxer engine under the floor. The electric bus will have several versions, which will largely correspond to the offer of the ID.3 and ID.4. In terms of appearance, the ID.Buzz is in any case the nicest of Volkswagen’s zero-emission couple.