Incoming: Australian new-vehicle launches in 2022

AUSTRALIAN new-car sales topped the one-million mark in 2021 despite the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including extended lockdowns in the country’s most populated areas, international supply issues and the current shortage of microprocessors globally. 

Although stock shortages are unlikely to be resolved soon, car-makers are continuing to work to strengthen their supply chains and are determined to launch a plethora of new products in the Australian new-vehicle market during this year. 

Toyota topped Australia’s new-vehicle market for the 25th year – and its 19th consecutively – while claiming five of the top 10 places on the sales ladder.

Utes accounted for the top two and four out of the top 10 best-selling models (23.2 per cent of the market), with the top-selling Toyota HiLux ending the year narrowly ahead of the ageing Ford Ranger, which is soon to be replaced by an all-new model.

This notable swing in buying behaviour toward utes in the domestic market makes the mid-year introduction of the new-generation Ranger the most anticipated launch of 2022. 

What’s more, given that sales of SUVs accounted for more than half of all new vehicles sold in 2021 (an increase of 16.9 per cent on the previous year), it should come as no surprise that most new vehicles earmarked for a local release in 2022 are spread throughout the SUV segments. 

Lastly, although sales of hybrid (70,466), battery electric (5149) and plug-in hybrid (3372) passenger vehicles trailed far behind those of petrol (580,495) and diesel (346,990) cars, the arrival of a slew of hybrid and plug-in hybrid offerings in the more affordable segments of the market should ensure those ratios look a bit better for electrified models by the end of 2022. 

Here we take a segment-by-segment look at what is coming to Australia in the next 12 months.

Light Cars

IN THIS most price-sensitive segment of the passenger vehicle market, the MG3 hatchback offers highly compelling value for money, so much so that it garnered a whopping 32 per cent of sales in the sub-$25K light-car market in 2021.

With Toyota pushing its Yaris upmarket and the Mazda2 being rather long in the tooth (despite numerous updates), the Volkswagen Group cousins – the all-new Skoda Fabia and facelifted Volkswagen Polo are likely to improve on their long-serving predecessors’ 2021 market performance this year. 

Both models are based on the MQB-A0 platform, which means the new Fabia will be bigger, therefore more spacious and refined than its predecessor, but both the Skoda and VW will offer fresher styling and improved onboard sophistication than before in combination with small-capacity turbo-petrol engines and dual-clutch automatic transmissions.

The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol GTI will again sit at the summit of the Polo line-up and the facelifted version of 1.5-litre turbo-petrol Ford Fiesta ST will await its arrival. Incidentally, both produce identical outputs (147kW/320Nm). 

What’s coming:

Small Cars

THE Toyota Corolla continued to dominate the small-car market last year, although its Hyundai i30 rival finished about 3000 units behind it – those models accounted for 29.1 and 25.8 per cent of the market respectively.

For 2022, the movements in this part of the market will be on the premium end, however, with Audi introducing its A3 range of hatchbacks and sedans, which are topped off by the S3 and RS3 derivatives.

Honda will introduce a petrol-electric hybrid version of its new Civic hatchback, which, like the Peugeot 308 and its station wagon variant, will trade on their boutique appeal.

There will be a particular performance emphasis in this segment too; BMW has tweaked its flagship M135i 1 Series variant, Volkswagen will introduce hatch and wagon versions of its bahn-storming all-wheel-drive Golf R and, the long-serving Subaru WRX will be replaced by an all-new model in sedan and Sportswagon guises.

This segment also marks the debut of a new marque – Cupra, which used to be an offshoot of Spanish brand SEAT, but is now an independent VW Group subsidiary. The Leon, a cousin of the Golf 8 and Audi A3, will arrive in 140kW, 180kW and 221kW petrol guises plus a 180kW plug-in hybrid.

Cupra notably intends to launch the Born – the first MEB-based VW Group EV in Australia – by year-end and it has been reported that GWM Haval may introduce its Ora EV sub-brand during 2022, starting with a version of its Good Cat (as it’s known in Europe) small car. 

What’s coming:

Medium Cars

LAST year, in the Above-$60K segment of the medium-car market, the BMW 3 Series eked out a slightly bigger lead over the Mercedes-Benz C-Class compared with the previous year, perhaps aided by the much-delayed arrival of the three-pointed star’s W206-generation sedan, which, judging by what else is in store for this category, might be one of the last internal-combustion-engine-dominated Benz ranges to be introduced in Australia. 

Battery-electric models such as the BMW 4 Series-based (but EV-optimised) i4 and Polestar 2 – the first model from Volvo’s EV sub-brand to be made available Down Under – sets the tone for what is to come at this end of the market in years to come.

Even Peugeot, which has achieved but moderate success with its 508 GT, will introduce a plug-in hybrid version of its premium fastback. The Citroen C5 X, meanwhile, might arrive in petrol-electric guise too.    

What’s coming:

Large & Upper Large Cars

LARGE luxury cars are well known for being rolling test beds for cutting-edge automotive technologies; they feature the kinds of innovations that could reasonably be expected to feature on high-volume models in the foreseeable future.

Suffice to say, hybrid technology is nothing new in this segment but given what’s in store for this rarefied niche of the new-vehicle market in 2022, it’s fair to suggest that a dedicated battery-electric platform rather than hybridisation has now become integral to manufacturers’ flagship products.

The transition from talismanic legacy models to products that will ultimately supersede them is clear in the case of Audi, which will introduce a facelifted version of its A8 and S8 grand saloons, followed by the delayed e-tron GT battery electric sports sedan shortly thereafter. 

Cousin to the e-tron GT’s – the Porsche Taycan, meanwhile, is at the very centre of the Zuffenhausen-based brand’s future focus. After all, the Taycan outsold its 911, Cayenne and Boxster Cayman/Boxster siblings in Australia in 2021 and, with the addition of three variants this year, that trend looks set to continue.

Genesis, for its part, will soon introduce a Sport version of its G80, but the sedan’s starring attraction will undoubtedly be the arrival of the all-electric Electrified derivative in H1.

Mercedes-Benz is winning the battle of electrified-model proliferation, however. Apart from the GT63 S E Performance – Mercedes-AMG’s first series-production plug-in hybrid and the most powerful (620kW/1400Nm) 4-door model Benz’s Affalterbach-based division has ever produced – the three-pointed star will introduce the Mercedes-AMG EQS53 4Matic+ EV, providing peak outputs of up to 560kW/1020 Nm (with optional AMG Dynamic Plus package) and an optimal WLTP range of up to 580km.

Then, in the latter half of 2022, the EQS’s E-Class-sized sedan sibling, the EQE, is expected to make its local debut. Beyond that, Mercedes-Benz Australia will add to the EQA range as well as introducing battery electric versions of the GLB (EQB), V-Class (EQV) and Vito panel van.

What’s coming:

Sportscars

THE sportscar segment of the new vehicle market will, by and large, be focused on the arrivals of the next iterations of iconic rear-wheel-drive Japanese sportscars from Subaru, Toyota and Nissan, although the BRZ’s arrival is largely ceremonial – because the entire first consignment of 500 units are already pre-sold – while initial demand for its cousin, the GR 86 (also powered by a 2.4-litre naturally aspirated flat-four) is also likely to outstrip supply. 

The next-generation Nissan Z (packing a 298kW/475Nm twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 with either a purist-pleasing 6-speed manual or 9-speed automatic transmission) is also eagerly anticipated, while, on the more luxurious end of the market, the AMG-developed new-generation Mercedes-Benz SL promises a return to form for the marque’s iconic roadster and cross-town rival Porsche has lined up a couple of rather special Cayman and 911 models as well.

What’s coming:

Light & Small SUVs

AUSTRALIA’S small-SUV segment, which was led by the MG ZS, followed by the venerable Mitsubishi ASX and Mazda CX-30 last year, looks set to be disrupted by the arrival of the Toyota Corolla Cross in the second half of the year.

Whereas the dominant Japanese brand’s Yaris Cross and its boutique C-HR sibling appeal to young urbanites without offspring or mature buyers who are scaling down, the Corolla Cross promises to be a more affordable, yet small family-oriented proposition for those who cannot justify a RAV4. Crucially, the Corolla Cross will be available in petrol and petrol-electric hybrid guises, which will broaden its appeal.

Another newcomer to be offered with hybrid options will be the next-generation Nissan Qashqai, which will be here early in 2022, and new the Honda HR-V that could be the most impactful of Honda’s new products since the Japanese brand adopted the agency model.

The Kia Niro, which arrived here very late in its product cycle, will be replaced by a new model (also available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric guises) while the brand’s smaller petrol-only Seltos is due for a facelift. 

Updates to the MG ZS EV and addition of a hybrid version of the Haval Jolion are also notable.

In late 2022, Volvo will roll out its crossover-flavoured dedicated EV, the C40 Recharge and

lastly, VW Group’s Spanish newcomer Cupra will bring the Ateca – with a 221kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol motor and all-wheel drive – will have the Hyundai Kona N in its sights.       

What’s coming:

Medium SUVs

DESPITE being hamstrung by stock shortages – as was the case with many manufacturers – Toyota’s RAV4 still comfortably outsold its Mazda CX-5 rival last year; both models will receive minor updates in 2022, but competition is bound to heat up in the sub-$60K segment when plug-in hybrid versions of the Mitsubishi Outlander and Peugeot 3008 arrive along with hybrid versions of the, Haval H6 and Kia Sportage.

The new-generation Nissan X-Trail and Mahindra XUV700 are also on their way this year, while Volkswagen’s Tiguan R and its cousin, the arrestingly styled Cupra Formentor (in 228kW AWD guise) will present intriguing performance-car options. 

However, a barrage of new battery-electric vehicles, such the Kia EV6 – the brand’s first standalone EV model – the Genesis GV60 and recently unveiled Electrified GV70, as well more variants of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (released in limited numbers last year), will see Korean manufacturers field a very attractive range of medium-sized electric SUVs in the above-$60K segment that German marques have traditionally dominated.

Also worth a look is the new second-generation Lexus NX range; handsomely styled and luxuriously appointed, the newcomer features a broad line-up comprising 2.5-litre petrol, 2.4-litre turbo-petrol, petrol-electric hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants plus a choice of two- and all-wheel-drive guises.

What’s coming:

Large & Upper Luxury SUVs

WITH the market anticipating the arrival of a new-generation Ford Ranger, it stands to reason that the SUV derivative of Ford’s top-selling ute, the Everest, will follow soon thereafter. 

Although not revealed in production form at the time of writing, the new Everest will make its debut early in the second half of the year, where it will compete with the second-generation Isuzu MU-X and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (of which the range was recently expanded).   

In terms of less off-road-oriented models, there will be a new-generation Nissan Pathfinder in the second half while petrol-hybrid derivatives of the Hyundai Santa Fe and its Kia Sorento cousin will significantly broaden the Korean pair’s appeal.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee will also finally arrive Down Under in five- six- and seven-seater formats plus plug-in hybrid guises.

New arrivals in the upper-luxury SUV niche will include the new-generation Range Rover and Lexus LX (the cousin to the Land Cruiser 300), the latter to be offered for the first time in a four-seater “VIP” guise, as well as the expanded Bentley Bentayga line-up. 

New brands to look out for are Ineos, with its re-engineered and modernised take on the classic Land Rover Defender and GWM Haval’s Tank off-road line-up that is reported to be preparing to launch in Australia.    

What’s coming:

Utes, LCVs and People Movers

IT IS a tremendous credit to Ford Australia that the current 11-year-old Ranger ute, although regularly revised throughout its lifespan, was the second-best selling vehicle in Australia last year – it finished 2021 only a couple of thousand units behind the dominant Toyota HiLux. 

However, around the middle of the year, the new, fifth-generation Ranger, the creation of which was again led by Ford’s Product Development Centre in Australia, will make its local debut.

Replete with bold, distinctive styling, a significantly revised chassis and suspension package and extensively updated technology and equipment levels, the ute will launch locally with five core models – XL, XLS, XLT, Sport and Wildtrak (the Raptor will be added later).

The new ute’s wheelbase is 50mm longer and its tracks 50mm wider than those of the outgoing model and its headline powertrain is a 3.0-litre V6 Power Stroke turbo-diesel engine with 10-speed automatic transmission. The rest of the range will feature updated single- and twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesels, in combination with either a 10-speed or six-speed shift-by-wire automatic transmission. 

Ford Australia president and CEO Andrew Birkic told GoAuto last year that the new Ranger’s higher sophistication had not come at the cost of agricultural, trade and fleet buyers, nor the level of capability they demand.

Meanwhile, an updated version of the Ssangyong Musso ute, replete with performance upgrades, electrically assisted steering, and a suite of new safety features, is in the pipeline.

What’s coming: