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The star cars of 2022: our experts bring you this year's hottest wheels
Here's the best new models arriving this year, from the luxurious new Range Rover to VW’s retro-styled electric microbus
We raced into 2022 full of excitement and anticipation thanks to a bumper crop of new cars winging their way to showrooms in the coming months. Without giving the game away, there’s something to suit all tastes and budgets, from a plethora of fully electric contenders to a brace of scintillating British sports cars, from an ingenious city runabout to go-anywhere four-wheel drives.
The motor industry rarely fails to impress with its ingenuity, yet all the analysis confirms that this will be another difficult year. No prizes for guessing that Covid has had a significant impact, and will continue to do so, but perhaps less well known is the effect of continued computer chip shortages on vehicle supply. And all this in addition to the regular daily pressures of environmental, legislative and competition issues facing car manufacturers all over the globe.
As far as computer chips are concerned, most makers are now signing long-term supply contracts, which will alleviate the issue – but only slowly. No one is expecting normal service to be resumed until at least the back end of the year. Good news, then, for the used-car market, where prices are peaking. Indeed, such is the frenzied nature of the market that the values of some low-mileage used cars have risen above the recommended retail price of a brand new example.
Long-term pressures will continue to squeeze the industry, however, including the forthcoming Euro 7 emissions standards, which are expected to be implemented from 2025. The cost of internal combustion-engined (ICE) cars could go up in order for them to comply with the more strict legislation, which bears out the industry claims that private motoring is likely to become more expensive in future.
This scenario could include road charging in addition to, or even instead of, the current system of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). Charging for road use is one way around the emerging issue of the growing number of zero VED-rated electric cars, massively reducing the estimated £33 billion vehicle tax revenue to the Treasury. But on a more positive note for the UK’s drivers, such a scheme’s likelihood of turning into a four-wheeled poll tax could be a massive deterrent to any government.
Also positive are the developments in battery technology, as manufacturers cut back on the number of internal combustion cars in favour of hybrids and battery-electric models. Tesla, Ford and Volkswagen are looking at lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for cheaper models, but will we see them this year?
Here, the Telegraph’s motoring correspondent Andrew English and regular contributor Alex Robbins reveal the 15 new cars that they are most looking forward to driving this year.
The best cars of 2022
Dacia Jogger
This part estate, part SUV design is the spiritual successor to the Matra Rancho of the 1970s. The big difference is that the Jogger offers seven seats, which should make it an instant hit among young families on a budget. In fact, the Jogger will be the cheapest seven-seater on the market, with prices starting at only £15,000.
It’ll have a perky petrol engine at first, with a hybrid option later. It looks great, too, with just the right amount of off-road-style bodywork addenda to make it look functional yet not overtly aggressive. Dacia’s safety ratings in recent crash tests have not been all that rosy, but if it can get over that particular hump, the Jogger will have a lot going for it.
Lotus Emira
Publicity shots for this new model show Gavan Kershaw, Lotus director of attributes and product integrity (industry-speak for chief test driver), giving the mid-engined coupé what might be termed “a good workout” on the test track at the company’s headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk.
This is Lotus’s last-ever combustion-engined car so it had better be good, but the Chinese-owned specialist so far hasn’t failed to provide mid-engined fireworks.
At £60,000 the Emira is competitively priced to take on the Porsche Cayman, Toyota Supra, BMW Z4 and Jaguar F-Type, although Lotus’s sales target of 4,800 cars per year is modest.
BMW Concept CE 02
The battery-electric CE 02 recalls diminutive, fun two-wheelers of yesteryear such as the Honda Dax “monkey bike” as well as the recent Grom. Its 56-mile range and 56mph top speed limits it to use in the suburbs, but the 15bhp power limit means it can be ridden by learners and those with A1 licences. And that styling is irresistible.
Larger motorcycle makers have shied away from battery power so far, feeling the technology is limiting and calling for e-fuels to maintain production of larger, long-distance machines.
That might be so, but these urban bikes are set for a boom and if the big bike firms don’t get involved, the Chinese will take the prize.
Citroen Ami
It seemed doubtful whether Citroen would import this two-seater which looks almost identical at front and back, but it’s here. The Ami’s classification as a quadricycle rather than a “proper” car means that in some European countries (but not in the UK) it can be driven by 14-year-olds.
A 5.5kWh battery gives a range of 43 miles and recharging takes three hours on a UK domestic supply. It accelerates to its top speed of 28mph in 10sec.
In other words it’s slow, but then it’s also cheap. In France it costs only £5,350 to purchase outright and £17.80 per month to lease. Admit it, you want one, don’t you?
Morgan Three Wheeler
Before the Second World War, the replacement of the V-twin engine in Morgan’s idiosyncratic three wheeler with a Ford four-cylinder unit was accompanied by a falling off in the trike’s popularity, despite the fact that the four-cylinder models were more efficient, reliable and economical.
A similar thing has now happened with the modern iteration of the Three Wheeler; Ford’s 85bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine is compact and efficient, but it lacks charisma compared with the air-cooled motorcycle V-twin it replaces.
I’ve seen and heard this new car testing; it looks and sounds good. We’ll be driving it in the latter half of 2022.
Volkswagen ID Buzz
VW has played around with designs for a retro-styled microbus for almost 20 years but never quite managed to get a green light. Now the economies of scale provided by the group’s electric-only MEB chassis platform means that the Transporter van will be launched in the second half of the year. It is a VW Commercial project, but expect there to be electric camper van (shown here in concept form) and microbus versions.
The ubiquitous MEB platform will mean that there will be a range of lithium-ion battery options from 48kWh to 111kWh and ranges up to 340 miles. The first examples will be rear-wheel drive, but a 4x4 is planned.
VW hopes that the ID Buzz will persuade Americans that it is serious competition for Tesla. It just might.
Fiat Centoventi/Panda
This year’s small cars include the next Toyota Aygo, which is a courageous attempt to supply low-cost internal combustion-powered transport for the masses, but this innovative car, conceived in 2015 and shown as a concept at the 2019 Geneva motor show, takes another direction.
With add-on battery packs, the range options run from 62 to 310 miles, while the car can be change visually and given more or less equipment. It is rumoured that this year’s fourth-generation Panda small hatchback will debut these clever ideas. Let’s hope that Fiat is able to make it profitable.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
The Korean firm says its Ioniq 6 will take after the Prophecy concept pictured here: a glorious, teardrop-shaped four-door family saloon.
We can expect the visual drama to be dialled down a little for production, although if the spectacular Ioniq 5 is anything to go by, it won’t be diluted by much.
As is par for the course with both Hyundai’s and sister company Kia’s electric cars these days, you can expect a long range, excellent handling and a smart interior, not to mention potent performance.
All of which should give the Ioniq 6’s prime target – the Tesla Model 3 – something to think about.
Polestar 3
Polestar’s third model will, it says, be one of the most climate-responsible cars ever made. It’ll also further diverge Polestar’s battery-powered cars from parent company Volvo’s visually, with a new front-end treatment aping the Precept concept.
Polestar’s last new car, the 2, provides a blend of effortless pace, excellent body control and a gorgeously tactile interior. If that’s anything to go by, the 3 will be pretty good.
The 3 will sit above the 2 in the range, and therefore go head-to-head with the Jaguar I-Pace, Mercedes-Benz EQC and the Tesla Model Y. But Polestar has always cut its own groove; one that feels cool and collected.
MG E-Motion
Affordable two-door coupés have been replaced by an ever-burgeoning slew of SUVs. But MG has revealed it’s going to make a production version of its two-door E-Motion concept.
As the name suggests, it’ll be electric – and if the concept is anything to go by, it’ll be a bit of a looker. MG knows how to make a car fun to drive, as evinced by its engaging ZS, so if it can bring its chassis knowhow to bear on the E-Motion we’re in for an interesting car.
Recent MGs have been built down to a price, but a coupé will need to have more panache. So will this be the start of a move upmarket? It will be fun finding out.
Alfa Romeo Tonale
Alfa’s new boss Jean Phillipe Imperato held back the launch of this lovely looking family SUV/crossover, which was shown as a concept at the Geneva motor show as long ago as 2019. It is based on a Jeep Compass platform; reports say that the biggest issue that needed addressing was with its 1.3-litre/11.4kWh petrol/electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
This will be the first all-new Alfa Romeo since the larger Stelvio SUV in 2016 and the company is calling it a “milestone on the road to a new Alfa Romeo”. It will be built in Italy and is the first of two new Alfa SUVs to begin the fightback for this storied marque. No pressure there, then.
Range Rover
The fifth-generation version of Jaguar Land Rover’s flagship luxury SUV raises a lot of difficult questions, as these big SUVs are starting to attract serious ire from everyone, yet they are still some of the most comfortable, long-distance, all-weather vehicles around.
It is on sale now priced from £94,400 to £137,800, with the first deliveries in spring, and will be cleaner yet more luxurious than the outgoing model. There are two plug-in hybrids, capable of up to 62 miles of electric-only driving. This new Range Rover is also destined to become the first-ever all-electric model from the Land Rover marque.
Citroen C5 X
Saloons and estates from most mainstream makers haven’t sold well in recent years; the C5 X will reveal whether a large, conventional-ish car with a Citroen badge can still sell if it isn’t an out-and-out SUV.
It’s slightly odd-looking, but the C5 X grows more handsome with familiarity. I rather like the fact that it offers something a little bit different to the usual crowd of large SUVs, too.
You’ll be able to specify a choice of petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrains, and with most of them it’ll be quick and efficient; as long as Citroen can maintain the famed comfort of the C5 Aircross, on whose platform it’s based, it’ll be cosseting, too.
BMW M2
It’s not all about electric propulsion in 2022, there are also some astonishing performance cars to look forward to. Perhaps I could have gone for the eagerly anticipated Lotus Emira or Toyota’s new GR 86 sports coupés, but after careful thought I’m most looking forward to driving the new version of one of my all-time favourite cars – and arguably the best model BMW makes.
Unlike the front-wheel-drive 2-series, the rear-drive M2 will have a cut-down chassis from the larger M3 along with a slightly detuned version of its straight-six turbocharged petrol engine rumoured to deliver more than 400bhp. It’s not all sturm und drang with the nimble M2, though, as the chassis balance is astounding, thanks in part to an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential. Toyota and Lotus are going to have to go some to beat it.
BMW hasn’t confirmed any details yet but says that the next M2 will be based on the new 2-Series Coupé which will be released earlier in the year.
Ineos Grenadier
After what seems like an interminable wait, the rugged 4x4 utility vehicle bankrolled by Ineos CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe goes on sale this year and hopefully, after being thwarted at every turn, we’ll be allowed out of the country to drive the French-built off-roader.
It’ll be available at first as a £48,000 two-seat commercial version as well as five-seat commercial and shooting brake models priced in the low 50s. More than 17,000 people have registered an interest in this big off-roader that takes over the mantle of the much-loved old Land Rover Defender, which went out of production in 2016.
Ineos reckons break-even quantities will be between 25,000 and 35,000 sales per year. Can they pull it off, or is the market too niche? We’ll see.
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