It’s the year of electric in 2019. Hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and pure electric cars, pick-ups and vans will all be piling into the showrooms. As shapes go, it’s still all about the SUV – seven-seaters, luxury ones, high-performance ones, crossovers, urban utility vehicles and big mud pluggers. Or buck the trend (please do) and go estate, hatch, coupe or saloon.
The electric car everyone has been waiting for (until the next one). An SUV sitting between Q5 and Q7 in size, with cameras instead of wing mirrors, that relay the images onto the inside of the doors.
Crewe’s flagship saloon gets a new look, but hopefully retains the iconic 6.0-litre W12 engine.
Arrives in March with a range of petrols, diesels and an M340i. Plug-in hybrid arrives in July.
A Range Rover competitor, this luxurious, large SUV borrows tech from BMW Group sibling, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
Hydraulic suspension and “Advanced Comfort Seats” give this large French SUV its main selling point: comfort.
Who says convertibles aren’t for petrolhead? Chopping off the roof hasn’t dented the 0-62mph time of 2.9 seconds.
More hiked-up, bumped-up hatchbacks to take on rough terrain: this time an off-road styled Focus, although without four-wheel-drive.
The family SUV occupies a very crowded space, so the addition of a plug-in hybrid powertrain is essential to appeal to as many customers as possible.
A hot coupe building on the success of the fab hatchback version.
See above… not as overtly powerful as the i30N Fastback, but a great looking car and possibly more comfortable.
A brave redesign, and a good one in our books, which makes this hatchback an appealing proposition, especially in that red.
A convertible version of the great-handling 720S, the first of McLaren’s new generation of supercars? What’s not to like about that.
Polished and practical, and easy to operate. A step up from its predecessor.
The first of Mercedes’ pure EVs to come from their EQ electric sub brand. Jaguar I-Pace and Audi E-tron watch out. Smart wallboxes.
The plug-in hybrid Countryman has been around for a while, but here comes the electric version of the hatchback, which should prove popular around town.
What can Porsche do to improve on every previous generation of a true icon? If it ain’t broke… Expect lighter, faster, more frugal and minimal design changes, but hello hybrid versions.
A super saloon and Porsche’s first full EV. It’ll be fast and powerful, and possibly the EV of the year.
It may not look that different from its predecessor, but it sits on a brand new chassis, and takes some tech from the Velar. A hybrid system joins the powertrain line-up.
Sibling to the Nissan Juke gets a facelift and prep for a hybrid powertrain. We love Renault’s clean, modern take on interior design and connectivity.
The big seven-seat SUV from Seat completes the VW Group line-up. Bigger than the Skoda Kodiaq. It’s big.
A hatchback rival to Ford’s Focus, it’ll offer the usual huge range of VW Group petrols and diesels.
Bye bye Auris, hello again Corolla. Looking sharp, with the new platform from the Prius.
The one we’re all waiting for. Turbocharged 3.0-litre engine and good balance assured. That or a Cayman or Z4?
It may not seem like one of the most exciting cars, but it remains one of the most popular. Electric version coming in 2020.
Basically an off-road styled Polo, and none the worse for that. Great looks, but probably only two-wheel-drive, which is a shame.
Volvo can do no wrong right now. Best of all, this saloon will be available on the Care by Volvo scheme, meaning you can hire one on a monthly basis.
best of
Audi
e-tron
Bentley
Flying Spur
BMW
3-series
X7
Citroën
C5
Ferrari
488
Ford
Focus
Honda
CR-V
Hyundai
i30
Kia
Ceed
Mazda
3
McLaren
720S
Mercedes-Benz
B-class
EQ C
Mini
Porsche
911
Taycan
Land Rover
Range Rover
Evoque
Renault
Captur
Seat
Tarraco
Skoda
Scala
Toyota
Corolla
Supra
Vauxhall
Corsa
Volkswagen
T-Cross
Volvo
S60