The most important new cars of 2022

Alfa Romeo Tonal

In February, Alfa Romeo pulled the curtain on its first new model since the Stelvio presented in 2016: the Tonale. That is a competitor of the BMW X1 and has a typical Alfa design, with an aggressive muzzle and the characteristic Scudetto. It is also available as a 280 hp plug-in hybrid. It is striking that the Tonale is not on a Stellantis platform.

Alfa Romeo Tonal.

BMW Feast: 7 Series, i7, M3 Touring, XM, X1, iX1

BMW couldn’t hold back this year. The brand introduced the brand new 7 Series hand in hand with its i7 christened electric equivalent. In addition, the Germans came for the first time with an M3 Touring. And what about the extravagant XM – a monstrous plug-in hybrid SUV – and the brand new X1, which also has an electric version?

BMW 7 Series.

Ferrari Purosangue

Following brands such as Lamborghini and Aston Martin, Ferrari is also going for the SUV, but in its own way. The Ferrari Purosangue is a dynamically lined high-legged with a powerful V12 that generates 725 hp. Electrified? Forget it!

Ferrari Purosangue.

Ford Mustang

Due to the popularity of the electric Mustang Mach-E, you would almost forget that Ford still sells a real Mustang. You know, that one pony car with 5.0 V8. A completely new one has now appeared, with a very recognizable design and it will simply come to the Netherlands. With eight cylinder!

Ford Mustang.

Honda Civic

Who says Honda, says Civic. This year Honda introduced the new eleventh generation of the model and that Civic looks much calmer than its predecessor, laced with wild angles and creases. It is available as a hybrid e:HEV and as a mighty Type R with 329 hp.

Honda Civic Type R.

Hyundai Ionic 6

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 gets its hands together and so the expectations for the Ioniq 6 were high. The car that may cause Elon Musk to sweat, looks extremely extravagant and, like the Ioniq 5, comes on the market with various electric powertrains. It is remarkably cheaper than the Ioniq 5, where it is one step above when it comes to the type designation.

Hyundai Ionic 6.

Jeep Avengers

Ferrari to the SUV, Jeep to the compact electric crossover. This is the Jeep Avenger, a technical brother of Stellantis products such as the Peugeot e-2008 and Citroën ë-C4 with its own design. Its range is up to 400 kilometers.

Jeep Avengers.

Lexus RZ and RX

Lexus introduced two new SUVs this year, each with its own DNA: the RX and the RZ. The new fifth-generation RX is the first with plug-in hybrid powertrains, and the RZ is Lexus’ first fundamentally developed electric SUV. A big brother for the UX 300e!

Lexus RZ

Mazda CX-60

This is the Mazda CX-60, the first of a new line of Mazdas on a rear-wheel drive platform. It gets six-in-line petrol and diesel engines and is the first plug-in hybrid Mazda in Europe. The Japanese is a direct competitor of the BMW X3.

Mazda CX-60.

Mercedes’ shower of stars

Just like BMW, compatriot Mercedes-Benz also came with mountains of news. From the GLC to the SL and from the AMG One to no fewer than two electric SUVs: the EQE SUV and EQS SUV. They cannot sit still in Stuttgart. By the way, did we mention the Mercedes-AMG C 63 SE Performance? The 680 strong top AMG version of the C-class with a plug-in hybrid powertrain and a four-cylinder? No? Now it is!

Mercedes Benz EQE SUV.

MG4 Electric

The MG 4 Electric is the car that has kept a certain car manufacturer in Wolfsburg awake. The ID3-sized electric hatchback offers similar performance for over €7,000 lower starting price!

MG4 Electric.

Opel Astra Electric and Peugeot e-308

Opel and Peugeot introduced electric versions of the Astra and 308. The Astra Electric and e-308 can travel about 400 kilometers on a charge and can not only be charged, but also fully charged. Station wagons appear from both models.

Vauxhall Astra Electric.

Peugeot 408 and Citroën ë-C4 X

Do cars look too similar these days? Forget it. These are the Peugeot 408 and the Citroën ë-C4 X. The former falls exactly between the 308 and 3008 with its concept, but the ë-C4 X is even more contrary. It is, in fact, an all-electric ë-C4 sedan-without-X.

Peugeot 408.

pole star 3

Polestar already had the electric 2 and this 3 is now above that. The Polestar 3 is a large electric SUV with 489 or 517 hp and has a more distinctive look than the successful 2.

pole star 3.

Toyota Prius

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the year was the new Toyota Prius. Not only was it unexpected, but it also looks remarkably sleek! Gone are the busy design jokes of the outgoing model. It only comes as a 223 hp Plug-in Hybrid with which you can travel up to 69 kilometers electrically.

Toyota Prius.

Volvo EX90

This is the Volvo EX90, the fully electric SUV that should make you forget about the XC90. The technical brother of the Polestar 3 has a range of up to 600 km and is said to be the safest Volvo ever.

Volvo EX90.

Volkswagen ID Buzz

Volkswagen has been showing previews of a new retro-like ‘Volkswagen van’ since 2001 and now it’s really here. It’s called ID Buzz, is completely electric and comes not only as a passenger car, but also as a commercial vehicle. He is remarkably playful for the often down-to-earth Volkswagen.

Volkswagen ID Buzz.

China plugs in

Rarely have we seen so many new Chinese EVs in one year. Aiways came with the U6, Hongqi brings the E-HS9 to the Netherlands, Nio comes with the ET5, ET7 and EL7 and via Louwman the BYD Han, Tang and Atto 3 come to our country. Do you still keep the overview? That will probably be difficult, because Ora and Wey are also among the newcomers!

Nio ET5.

Packed

Was that all? no! For example, Renault came up with Kadjar successor Austral, Nissan with the new X-Trail and Rolls-Royce introduced a fully electric coupe with the Specter. Lotus also embraced the EV and has a large electric SUV with the Eletre. More EV violence came not only from Smart, which presented its largest and most powerful car ever with the #1, but also from the Vietnamese VinFast, which fired a veritable avalanche of EVs at us. On to 2023!