A new year brings a lot of motors. 2022 will continue the transition from internal combustion engines to electric cars.
There will be a new model next year, with petrol or diesel engine options as well as fully hybrid and electric powertrains.
We’ve picked out 22 top choices for ‘mainstream’ cars you can get your hands on for the first time in 2022 – from dinky battery-powered city vehicles that cost £6,000 to Britain’s latest luxury SUV that will set you back £100,000.
1. Alfa Romeo Tonale
Price: approx £30,000
To create an SUV line for Italy, the Tonale will be placed below the Stelvio. The Tonale will feature plug-in hybrid tech.
Alfa Romeo is an iconic brand in dire need of revitalization. The range includes the Giulia saloon or SUV, and it also has the Stelvio crossover and Stelvio SUV. But the lineup is quite limited. Recent years have seen the Giulia hatchback and supermini Mito disappear from the market.
It should add the Tonale SUV to its lineup for 2022. This will be below the Stelvio, and share a platform likely with Jeep’s Renegade. However, the Tonale is tuned to offer a more engaging driving experience that the compact offroader of its sister brand.
Alfa suggests that the vehicle will be equipped with plug-in hybrid technology, but not fully electric. It will arrive in 2023 with the Brennero as its first EV.
2. Citroen Ami
Price: approx £6,000
The cheapest new ‘car’ coming to the UK market in 2022 will be the dinky Citroen Ami electric quadricycle, which has a range of up to 46 miles and a starting price around £6,000
This technicality needs to be clarified first. The Ami isn’t technically considered a car, as it’s classified as a quadricycle. The Ami is likely to be used by many people living in big cities as a transportation solution, with a range of 46 miles (on a full battery) and a speed limit up to 28mph.
The French maker, having confirmed that it will sell the tiny battery model in Britain from 2022, took over 1,000 online reservations for the Ami within a fortnight, at the cost of a £250 deposit.
These were in addition to 14,000 others who registered an interest in Ami’s arrival in the UK this spring.
> Read our latest report on the Citroen Ami
3. Cupra Born
Price: from £33,735
Cupra’s first electric car, the Born will closely follow the VW ID.3. However, it will have sharper driving dynamics as well as styling to appeal more young customers.
Cupra is a Spanish brand that spins off from Seat. It will soon offer a completely-electric model of the Born in showrooms. Next year will see the debut of The Born, a hatchback that is essentially a rebadged Volkswagen ID.
Cupra is proud to say that the Born will be more responsive than its VW sibling model. The new marque also wants to draw younger customers with its bronze-colored features and sustainable-sourced materials for the cabin.
The production of the Born in Martorell (Spain) – Europe’s largest electric vehicle plant – signals the beginning of a new period for the brand. It is characterized by its ambition to become a fully-electric car maker by 2030.
4. Dacia Jogger
Price: from £14,995
This is a great deal! The Dacia Jogger is a family estate car with seven seats that will start from a shade under £15,000 in the UK
We are extremely excited about this car. A seven-seat family car that costs less than £15,000 should not be sniffed at – and it looks pretty good too.
It is called the Jogger, and comes from Dacia. The estate car is essentially an extended version of the Sandero and will start from a staggering £14,995 – that’s £1,650 less than the entry Ford Fiesta, which has been the best-selling car in Britain for the last 12 years.
The first deliveries will arrive in the early part of next year. When they do, the MPV-styled crossover car with seven seats will be the most affordable in British showrooms. The price will be about half that of the nearest most affordable model.
> Read our full report on the Dacia Jogger’s arrival
5. Fiat Panda
Price: approx £11,000
Fiat showed us the 2020 Centoventi concept as a clue to what the 2022 Panda would look like – should we ever see it in person next year
Although there is not much information, Fiat’s Panda long-running car will be replaced by an electric-only 500-city car next year.
The Italian marque teased us in 2019 with the preview of the Centoventi concept, which hinted at how the Panda could look in 2022. The Bosses stated that it would remain faithful to the original roots: low-cost, affordable motoring with an emphasis on value for money.
The platform will be shared with Stellantis brands, so it is likely that parts of the vehicle will also come from other models.
6. Honda Civic
Price: approx £20,000
After the closing of the factory this summer, the next generation Civic won’t be constructed in Swindon for some time.
We are excited for the new Civic. However, we also feel a little sad. This is because, in spite of being the most recent Civic in years to not be built in Britain after the Japanese company closed its Swindon facility earlier this year.
The Japanese-built Civic, which was built at Burnaston in Japan, will be available as a hybrid for 2022. Its sharp exterior design will remain the same, but it will also be offered as a hybrid. This is to take on the Toyota Corolla, which was made in the UK.
Do not be deceived by images of the brand new vehicle that were already displayed by the manufacturer. While it may appear like a saloon car, the hatchback has a boot. This is important for UK customers.
7. Hyundai Ioniq 6
Price: approx £50,000
Hyundai will soon add the Ioniq 6 performance electric car to its expanding range. This model was previewed in the Prophecy concept (pictured).
The Prophecy concept was unveiled by Hyundai in 2020. It was also displayed again at the Munich Mobility Show, September 2018. This previews the Ioniq 6 performance electric vehicle, which will be revealed in 2022.
The same platform is used in the Ioniq 5 family vehicle, which received rave reviews since its debut. Consider it sportier, so Hyundai will likely crank up the power of the electric motors in order to make the Ioniq 6 match the Porsche Taycan.
The production car could look very similar to the one that debuted in Munich. This week’s show floor saw a lot of attention due to the stunning design of five-spoke wheels, its grooved profile and raked roofline. This model also features an integrated rear spoiler, which is clear and sits over a large LED rear cluster with brake lights.
8. Ineos Grenadier
Price: from £48,000
Ineos Automotive will finally begin production of the much-anticipated Grenadier 4X4 next year
This one has been long overdue. It has actually been years in development, after Land Rover tried to stop Sir Jim Ratcliffe from bringing it to market.
Buyers have been able to pre-order the new Ineos Automotive Grenadier 4X4 since the end of September, with prices confirmed to start from around £48,000.
Production had been scheduled for this year. However, due to the pandemic in France and the holdups at the French-German border factory, production will not begin until July 2022. First deliveries to UK customers are expected to be made towards the end of 2019.
9. Kia Sportage
Price: from £26,745
The all-new Sportage will arrive in UK showrooms early next year with bold looks and an asking price starting at just under £26,750
It could become a big hit in the UK. The previous generation Kia Sportage was a hit with drivers thanks to its striking looks, standard equipment and practicality.
Version 2022 features an unusual styling twist, a more bold design and will be available in UK showrooms in early 2019.
Also, it has been larger in dimension to allow for batteries for the plug-in hybrid variant and the conventional hybrid version. The good news is that traditionalists won’t be afraid – the engine can also run on petrol or diesel.
10. Lotus Emira
Price: approx £60,000
The Lotus Emira is a sports car that the Norfolk brand believes will give new life to its name.
Lotus, the Norfolk sports-car manufacturer is one brand which will try to make a comeback. While its £2million Evija hypercar that’s making the biggest headlines, the Emira is the model that bosses hope will spark the marque back to life.
Priced from around £60,000 and set to rival the Alpine A110, Jaguar F-Type and Porsche Cayman, it will be Lotus’ final hurrah for the internal combustion engine with a performance-focused real-wheel-drive setup.
The mid-mounted engine will be a choice of a 3.5-litre V6 with a manual gearbox or a Mercedes four-cylinder petrol with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The former – the one you really want – is claimed to reach 62mph from rest in under 4.5 seconds and be capable of up to 180mph.
11. Mercedes-Benz EQE
Price: approx £60,000
Mercedes’ solution to the electrified E Class luxury sedan, The EQE. It should be priced around £60k
For years the Mercedes E-Class was a staple of its range. It will now be an EQE-electric saloon, with a range up to 410-miles.
It is marginally longer than the E-Class, which has a combustion engine. This makes it look like a smaller version of the EQS luxury car that’s available in the UK. The top models of the higher-end model will have the MBUX Hybridscreen fitted, which is an OLED panel with full width that spans the entire dashboard.
Mercedes claims that there will be two versions of the EQE 350, but it only has information about one. It is the EQE 350 equipped with a 90kWh lithium-ion battery. The battery will power an electric motor producing 288 bhp. It can also provide a range of around 410 miles on a single charge. You can get a full-hour of charging at 170kW. That means you will have plenty of range. Prices are expected to start from £60,000.
12. Nissan Ariya
Price: from £41,845
First deliveries of the Nissan Ariya are due to arrive in summer 2022, with prices to start from just below £42,000
Nissan began its new SUV offensive with the Juke, a revised 2020 model, and the Qashqai, a 2021 version. The Sunderland-based Juke and Qashqai were both produced there. In 2022, the Ariya will arrive in Japan.
Order books opened for the coupe-crossover in December, with prices starting from £41,845 for the entry-level Advance variant. The top-of-the-range Performance version will cost Britons £58,440, with deliveries arriving from summer next year.
The claimed ranges vary depending on whether the battery is two-wheel-drive or four-wheel drive. They can be anywhere from 211 to 310 miles.
13. Ora Cat
Price: approx £25,000
If order books are finally opened next year, the Ora Cat could be Britain’s best-selling electric family car.
Great Wall Motors from China has said it will start entering Europe and the UK markets in 2022. It will do so with two brands: Ora, and Ora. This retro supermini, the Cat, will be one of the first to become available.
The product will be first sold in Germany in the next year, with UK orders opening later in 2022. Prices should be in the region of £25,000 to £30,000.
Manufacturer promises an impressive range, acceleration of 31 mph in just 3.8 seconds, and total power output of 169 bhp with a single electric engine.
14. Range Rover
Price: from £94,400
This is the new £95,000 Range Rover, which goes on sale next year and should be the most luxurious example of the premium SUV we’ve ever seen
Range Rover’s next generation will be available in showrooms by 2022. It also features a few firsts for the model which was launched in 1970.
You can choose from a seven-seat layout and all-wheel steering. From 2024 onwards, you will also find a fully-electric Land Rover.
Although the new Range Rover’s design is described as ‘more evolutionary than revolutionary’, there are a few standout features – not least the rear styling and ‘hidden until lit’ lights, which have the brake lights in the vertical section of the dark panel and the indicators in the horizontal part.
> Read our full report on the new Range Rover
15. Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric
Price: approx £30,000
The all-new Mégane family car will look very different in 2022, with a raised platform and an electric drivetrain
Another mainstream EV that will be hitting the market in 2022 is Renault’s Mégane E-Tech Electric – a five-door family hatch that will rival Volkswagen’s ID.3, Mazda CX-30, Nissan Leaf and – to some extent – Tesla Model 3.
Prices are set to start from around £30,000 in the UK when it goes on sale around February 2022. A 40kWh or 60kWh battery are available to buyers, offering maximum ranges up to 186 miles and 292 respectively. They can also charge at 130kW.
The most powerful version can travel at 62mph in 7.4 seconds. It also has a maximum speed of 99mph. It will be class-leading in interior space thanks to its flat floor and the wheels that are closer to each corner. Renault will use it for the launch of its all-new infotainment platform, OpenR Link. It has a 12.3-inch touchscreen digital dashboard and an iPad-like 12 inch infotainment touchscreen.
16. Skoda Fabia
Price: from £14,905
The Skoda Fabia, a new model that offers an affordable option to the Volkswagen Polo and shares the same platform, will be in the showrooms next year.
The next Skoda Fabia will follow in the wake of this year’s Volkswagen Polo. It will arrive in Britain in 2022.
The Volkswagen MQB platform is used to build it. This means that the car offers a mature driving experience and larger dimensions.
You will have a choice of engine options, although most will come in three-cylinder petrols. The exception is the four-cylinder 1.5-litre model. Although the first delivery to Britain is expected this month, many of these engines won’t arrive with customers until 2022.
17. Tesla Model S Plaid
Price: from £118,980
The family car can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2 seconds. Tesla Model S Plaid is coming to customers this year.
Tesla fans will have the opportunity to purchase the 2022 model that is the US’s most powerful and efficient. The Model S Trimotor ‘Plaid’ is the name of the new electric car. It will have the greatest range when it arrives on British shores.
The Model S’s range-topping variant is available for purchase in the UK. It has a 396 mile range. This Tesla is all about acceleration. It can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2 seconds.
It is powered by the company’s most potent three-motor electric powertrain – which delivers a claimed output of 1,100bhp.
18. Toyota bZ4X
Price: from £41,950
Toyota’s first electric car, the bZ4X, will be in competition with Skoda Enyaq IV and Volkswagen ID.4 once it arrives in showrooms by 2022
Toyota has been the pioneer of electric cars since the dawn of the 21st century, and this is their first full-fledged model. This SUV has a sleek design and a terrible name: the bZ4X.
A 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery will provide the engine with a range exceeding 280 miles. Toyota even took measures to upgrade its heating system, which will only cause a slight decrease in range when it is colder.
The charger can run at 150kW and can reach an 80 percent charge in 30 minutes. It will be a strong contender for the Skoda Enyaq.4 and VW ID.4 when it comes to market in 2022.
19. Toyota GR86
Price: approx £28,000
This is the stylish new GR86 – Toyota’s forthcoming new sports car that has been developed by its competition division – Gazoo Racing – and could cost below £30,000 in the UK
The GR86 – a new Toyota model that is set to replace the GT86 in Britain’s showrooms – will be available from the Japanese company Gazoo Racing.
The new Toyota GR model will join the already exciting GR lineup of Toyotas on sale. This includes the GR Yaris hot car and GR Supra coupe.
The GR86 is designed for motoring enthusiasts who want to keep petrol power as long as it’s available. It has rear-wheel drive with power derived a flat-four 2.4 litre motor that produces 230 bhp. It should be able to go from 0-62mph in just 6.2 seconds. When deliveries are made, it might be the most affordable and fun car.
20. Vauxhall Astra
Price: from £23,275
The new Vauxhall Astra Mk8 will start from just over £23,000 in the UK, with deliveries arriving early next year – and an all-electric version coming in 2023
The penultimate car in our list is going to be a hugely popular one – the eighth-generation Astra, which is confirmed to be priced from just over £23,000. Although order books have opened, first deliveries will not be made until the beginning of next year.
The once-popular model’s sales are now declining so engineers went to work to upgrade the Astra to be more competitive. This was in an effort to recoup sales from premium competitors like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf, while also taking on the Ford Focus, which has been a long-standing rival.
Astra E electric versions will become available starting in 2023. Vauxhall’s Corsa and Corsa-e will be Britain’s top-selling cars in 2021. This is a proven fact.
> Read our full report on the eighth-generation Astra
21. Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Price: approx from £50,000
VW’s electric ID.Buzz camper will be unveiled in 2022. It is an updated version of the 1950s VW van. One was first proposed by the German manufacturer in 2017.
After four years of teasering its new twist on the 1950s Type 2 van, Volkswagen finally brings its electric camper recreation to markets in 2022.
The German brand confirmed at the start of December that the new model will be built at the company’s Hannover factory on a specific new assembly line – and production has already started.
The vehicle will be available with several battery options, including a 111 kWh model that should give you up to 340 miles. As you would expect, it will have a modified interior with beds and kitchen appliances.
22. Volkswagen T7 Multivan
Price: from £43,160
Volkswagen’s sleek new seven-seat MPV is now available. This Volkswagen T7 Multivan, a bus designed for families and designed to lure buyers away from larger SUVs. It will be priced from £43k and arrive in March 2022
The T7 Multivan, which will cost from just over £43,000, is the replacement for the T6 Caravelle and shifts to VW’s more car-focused platform, rather than being based on a commercial van as its predecessors have been.
It will be available with an electric hybrid powertrain as a result of the German manufacturer’s transition to its extended MQB platform. This is the same platform that underpins the Skoda Kodiaq, Seat Tarraco, and Volkswagen Tiguan SUVs.
That gives an electric-only driving radius of approximately 30 miles, which is more than sufficient to cover the school day. In March, the first deliveries will begin.
> Read our detailed initial report on the new T7 Multivan here