The editorial team at Chasing Cars give you their picks on the best new car releases in 2022, from fire-breathing supercars to the hottest electric cars
Despite the hindrances of the coronavirus pandemic, 2021 was still a great year for new cars with some great models finding their way onto showroom floors – including the new Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series, the Hyundai i20 N and the Mk 8 Volkswagen Golf.
But 2021 was in many ways a quiet year compared to how 2022 is quickly shaping up, with a tonne of fantastic new car releases on the horizon for Australia.
We whipped around the Chasing Cars editorial team to quiz our writers on their most-anticipated new car releases of 2022.
The RS3 was a popular pick among the team as one of the highlights for the new year
Editor and founder Tom Baker’s top 10 cars for 2022
BMW i4: Germany’s answer to the Tesla Model 3 arrives on the scene
Porsche Taycan RWD: today’s best production EV gets a rear-drive purist’s spec
Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86: the first iterations taught a generation to drive with more precision – now the power is dialled up
Audi A3, S3 and RS3: the last generation was the standard for build quality in a small luxury car. There’s considerable weight on the shoulders of the new ones
Cupra Born: an all-electric RWD hot hatch with instant torque? That sounds good
BMW 2 Series: the smallest, lightest rear-drive BMW looks like it could be a modern classic – and we’ll see the next M2 this year too
Mercedes-Benz EQB: this boxy three-row electric SUV with AWD makes perfect sense for Benz in 2022.
The Nissan Z coupe is highly anticipated and could be one of the best drives of the year
Deputy editor Nathan Ponchard’s top 10 cars for 2022
Range Rover: elegance takes a new form with the next-generation Range Rover
Audi RS3 (and A3/S3): luxury hatchback from Audi now has even more performance (and rear drive dynamics) in new RS3 form
Subaru BRZ/Toyota GR 86: Second generation sports coupe gets more power and better tech
Cupra Formentor: midsize SUV gains popular VW turbo engine to belt out 228kW – should be a fun time
Mazda CX-60: new rear-drive architecture should improve on driving dynamics
Mercedes-Benz C-Class: New C-Class adds hybrid tech, new C63 incoming with hybrid four-pot power
Ford Ranger: one of Australia’s most popular utes gets diesel V6 power for the first time, has been completed overhauled for the new generation
Kia EV6: Kia’s first fully electric model is on its way and it promises to be a real contender in the EV space
Nissan Z: 298kW in a relatively light, RWD sports coupe? Sounds like a heap load of fun!
Lotus Emira: last ICE Lotus sports car will have Mercedes-AMG four pot or supercharged Toyota-sourced V6
Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS 53: the brand’s first performance EV arrives in the first half of 2022, packing 484kW
Nissan Z: one of the most highly anticipated cars of 2022, twin-turbo V6 good for 298kW
Just look at it … a car worthy of a bedroom wall poster
Staff writer Tom Place’s top 10 cars for 2022
Nissan Z: Playing right to the heart of the enthusiast Nissan has equipped the Z with stunning retro looks and twin-turbo V6 power. It looks bloody quick and it could be a lot cheaper than its Supra rival.
Kia EV6: The first dedicated EV from the Korean brand looks to be hugely impressive from a practicality and affordability standpoint – plus the GT model can hit 100km/h in a breathtaking 3.5 seconds.
Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ: Arguably the only affordable RWD sports car on the market that you can live with every day, the siblings have cleaned up their act and appear to have pushed the boundaries even further.
Honda Civic Type R: After arguably leading the hot hatch segment in its last generation the Civic is back for more but this time around the styling has been toned down about 10 notches.
Polestar 2: Tesla has been smashing it out of the park with the Model 3 but the Polestar 2 looks a similar level of capability matched with a fair price, and I reckon I will be a huge hit with buyers in 2022.
Peugeot 308: The last generation was an unappreciated gem and the next one looks to bring stylishly-integrated modern tech and some potent plug-in hybrid powertrains to the fore.
Ford Ranger: With a stonking V6 turbo-diesel powertrain, full-time four-wheel drive and a bigger tray the new Ranger is getting bigger and seemingly better for every purpose.
Subaru WRX: While the numbers don’t hint at any huge increase in performance the switch to a new platform could mean great things for the WRX. Plus, you can now get one in ‘Sportswagon’ guise.
Mercedes-Benz EQB: If the pricing falls where we think it will this seven-seat SUV could be a relative bargain for EV buyers despite the luxurious badge on the bonnet
Range Rover: Somewhat of a segment leader in the past, the Range Rover has evolved its formula yet again to offer an absurd level of sophisticated luxury.
The team are also excited for the new Civic Type R, which could be more toned down in style than the last car
Staff writer John Law’s top 10 cars for 2022
Toyota GR86: A front-engine rear-drive sports car with the grunt it should have had from the start, and it should cost less than $50K!
BMW i4: – The electric sedan from Germany that I hope will take the reins as the next generation’s 3 Series.
Lotus Emira: – Hethel is back! And Lotus’s last combustion car ever is shaping up to be awesome.
Honda Civic Type R: – The last one was perhaps the greatest hot hatch we’ve ever seen, so the new one has big shoes to fill.
Kia EV6: Perhaps the coolest looking Kia ever? We hope this EV drives as well as it presents in pictures.
Porsche Cayman GT4 RS: This one is self explanatory.
