2021 was a disaster year for car sales in our country, 2022 could not get worse. That is the tenor of the answers to our telephone survey of about 15 brand importers on the last working day in 2021. Uncertainty is an asset, despite the numerous new models that will be on the market this year.
Better late than never. Before the summer, Alfa Romeo launches the Tonale, the smaller brother of the Stelvio. The compact SUV is 4.40 metres long and sits on the same chassis as the Jeep Compass and will also be available as a plug-in hybrid. The Tonale is the first and probably also the last plug-in hybrid from Alfa Romeo. The next Tonale will be fully electric.
The big news at Audi is a facelift of the fourth generation of the A8, the flagship of the German premium brands that, however, has never known the success of the BMW 7 Series or Mercedes S-Class. Whether the facelift will suddenly boost sales of the A8 is doubtful. This year, Audi is also presenting the Q6 e-tron, based on the Volkswagen Group's so-called Premium Platform Electric (PPE), which is also used by Porsche.
At the Belgian market leader BMW, it is looking forward to the market introduction of the i4, for once not an electrically powered SUV but a sporty 4-door limousine. Less impressive but no less important for sales is the launch of the second generation of the BMW 2 Active Tourer, a front-wheel drive and very user- and family-friendly people carrier, also available with hybrid drive. Without unforeseen circumstances, BMW will also present the i7 at the end of the year, the electric variant of the 7 Series. It has to take up the gauntlet against the EQS and EQE from Mercedes.
Read more below the photoMarket leader BMW is rapidly expanding its e-range. © /
The Citroën C5X combines past and future. The French brand made automotive history with models that played a pioneering role in terms of design and technology. As a Stellantis satellite brand, Citroën wants to reconnect with that tradition, newcomer C5X in turn wants to symbolize French luxury and originality. The interior of the impressive crossover of 4.80 meters is generously sized. Citroën's new flagship offers luxury and comfort features, laminated glass ensures silence on board, steered shock absorbers with hydraulic pressure bearings should evoke the memory of the excellent suspension comfort of the DS and CX models from the sixties and seventies.
Born as a sporty sub-brand of Seat, Cupra puts the Spanish parent brand in the shade with the Formentor VZ5 as the eye-catcher. This year, Cupra is also launching the Born, the brand's first electrically powered model. The Born is a variant of the VW ID.3 but exudes much more sportiness and passion in comparison. Depending on the battery, the Born has a range of 349, 427 or 548 km. The Born is one of the most attractive compact electric cars on the market.
A 7-seater for the price of a city car, that's what the Dacia Jogger offers. It measures the best of each segment: the interior space of a people carrier, the luggage volume of a estate and the look of an all-terrain vehicle, all at the unbeatable price of 14,790 euros. No model on the market offers more value for money.
Read more under the photoCitroën C5 X is the new flagship of the French manufacturer. © /
Hyundai is one of the leading brands and offers all drive systems, up to and including hydrogen. With its wide range of fiscally interesting models, Hyundai is now a formidable competitor for the German premium brands on the fleet market. The Bayon, on the other hand, is tailored to the price-conscious private customer. The South Korean manufacturer is also setting new standards in terms of design, such as the Ioniq 5 and Tucson.
After Jeep became part of the Stellantis merger group, the Renegade Compass SUV models are now also equipped with hybrid drive and the Grand Cherokee is available as a plug-in hybrid.
At Kia, 2022 is all about launching the fifth-generation Sportage. It is available with both petrol and diesel engines or as a plug-in hybrid, in combination with front- and all-wheel drive, manual or DCT automatic transmission. The newcomer is specifically designed for the European market and responds to the expectations and requirements of the European customer in terms of functionality, ease of use and design. The interior has been designed in such a way that it can combine groundbreaking technologies with luxurious amenities, innovative design and high-quality materials.
The Star of Mercedes shines stronger than ever. Once again this year, german premium brands are launching a series of models that set new standards in their segment such as the EQE, EQT and not to forget the Mercedes-AMG SL, a luxurious 2+2 roadster with soft top and all-wheel drive. Under the hood, in the case of the SL 63 4MATIC+, is a 4-litre AMG V8 turbocharged engine with an output of 585 hp. At a later stage, the new SL will also be available with hybrid drive. Characteristic of the body design are the long wheelbase and long bonnet, short overhangs and the far rear passenger compartments with steep windscreen. Inside, the high quality of the materials used stand out as well as the fully digital instrument cluster implemented in a 3D visor.
Read more under the photoMercedes-AMG SL again with fabric roof and for the first time with all-wheel drive. © /
MG, the Chinese brand with British roots, crosses swords with the electrically powered Marvel R with EVs from a higher price range such as the VW ID.4, Skoda Enyaq and Volvo XC40 and strikes a good figure.
After the successful introduction of the Nissan Qashqai in 2021, the Ariya is coming this year, an electric coupe-like crossover with an autonomy of 500 kilometers. The newcomer is labeled as 'the ideal partner for commuting and weekend trips with the family.' The Ariya is on the new EV platform of the Renault-Nissan alliance and is available with front- or all-wheel drive and with batteries with an output of 63 to 84 kWh.
At 4.64 metres, the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer is 6 centimetres shorter than its predecessor, but nevertheless offers more seating and legroom as well as more boot capacity. Opel is part of fusion group Stellantis, but the Astra has its own appearance that is characterized by clean lines and a somewhat enigmatic visor-shaped grille.
The Peugeot 308 is among the seven contenders for the Title of the Car of the Year and is the only non-electric-powered finalist. That can be a handicap in the election but also an advantage. The fact is that the Peugeot 308 drives particularly well, consumes little and looks good, towards the aggressive. A real heart thief in short with a futuristic-looking dashboard.
After the Polestar 1 and 2, it is now the turn of the Polestar 3, a sporty crossover that is technologically closely related to the future Volvo XC90.
Renault is going through a major transition and launches with the Mégane E-Tech Electric the first of a total of 14 new electric models by 2024. The newcomer is a sporty and chic crossover and heralds a new episode for the French brand. The Mégane E-Tech Electric is high-tech both in terms of drive and connectivity, is compact and sporty on the outside and very spacious on the inside and has a maximum WLTP autonomy of 470 kilometers.
Read more below the photoThe Mégane E-Tech Electric heralds a new episode for Renault. © /
The Skoda Fabia is in its fourth generation, for the first time based on the Volkswagen Group's modular MQB-AO platform. Thanks to its favourable value for money, the Fabia is the perfect entry-level model in the Skoda range. With its dynamic look and modern infotainment system, it shakes off its somewhat old-fashioned image and appeals to more and more budget-conscious young families. They can choose from five petrol engines.
Toyota is the number one in the automotive world, pioneer also in the field of hybrid drive and suddenly confesses to pure electric drive. The bZ4X is indeed the first of 30 new EV models from Toyota. In terms of dimensions, the newcomer is similar to the RAV4 but because a BEV consists of far fewer parts and the battery is integrated into the floor of the car, the bZ4X offers much more legroom.