2025 was an enormous yr for brand new mannequin launches, and 2026 is about to see one other inflow of contemporary product on Australian shores – and never all of it’s from China.
There’s all the things from new generations of top-selling automobiles just like the Mazda CX-5, Subaru Outback and Toyota RAV4by to high-end fare like the primary electrical Porsche Cayenne and the Aston Martin in Valhalla.
Throw in some intriguing new choices just like the Honda Tremendous-One and Xpeng X9in addition to the return of the
Honda Preludeand there’s one thing for everybody.
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Listed below are the brand new automobiles, utes and SUVs that the members of the CarExpert crew are most excited to get behind the wheel of in 2026.
Paul Maric: Ford Ranger Tremendous Obligation
I’m excited to spend some extra time with the Ranger Tremendous Obligation.
It’s a important car for Ford – it’s the model’s probability to steal enormous market share from Toyota within the LandCruiser 70 Sequence house.
It would in the end depend on reliability – one thing that Ford has struggled with up to now and that fleets paying this type of cash received’t stand for.
Alborz Fallah: Toyota Century
I’m ready to put my order on a Toyota Century. Failing that, I’m eager to see the supercars coming from Hyundai and the plethora of Chinese language manufacturers.
Marton Pettendy: Ford Ranger Tremendous Obligation
On the very least, the hardest manufacturing facility Ranger ever is a flex for the ingenuity and perseverance of Australia’s ongoing automotive engineering business.
On the very most, the primary Tremendous Obligation-badged Ranger has obtained so many upgrades at a elementary chassis stage that it in all probability deserves its personal distinctive mannequin identify and exterior design, nevertheless it’s comprehensible why Ford would wish to leverage the nameplate of Australia’s best-selling mannequin for the previous two years.
Both method, it’s excessive time that Toyota’s trusty – however successfully 40-year-old – LandCruiser 70 Sequence had some competitors, and that Aussies who want or need an outback-, mine- or farm-ready workhorse had another choice.
James Wong: Cupra Formentor VZ5
In a world the place distinctive engine notes are quick changing into a factor of the previous, Cupra Australia has dedicated to releasing the five-cylinder Formentor VZ5 subsequent yr.
As we’ve come to like from Audi Sport’s ‘RS’ secure, the two.5-litre five-cylinder turbo-petrol engine within the VZ5 will provide a particular five-pot soundtrack to go along with its hyper hatch-rivalling efficiency. If something, this engine is finest suited to the Formentor’s baby-Lamborghini seems.
Zero to 100km/h tempo in simply over 4 seconds mixed with the Formentor’s eager dealing with must be a bloody hoot. The opinions out of Europe for the unique have been overwhelmingly constructive, and I hope to get a steer of 1 – ideally on a racetrack (trace trace Cupra Australia) – in 2026.
William Stopford: Cadillac Lyriq-V and Lexus ES
Okay, so the Cadillac Lyriq-V isn’t the kind of V-Sequence Cadillac I’ve been hoping would come right here for over 20 years – it’s not a sedan and there’s no spicy combustion engine below the bonnet.
Nonetheless, the Lyriq-V takes Cadillac’s already spectacular middle-child electrical SUV and dials up the efficiency whereas maintaining aesthetic adjustments to a tasteful minimal.
It’s the one one of many three Cadillacs due right here subsequent yr – the others being the superb Optiq and Vistiq – that I didn’t get to drive within the US again in June. Common Motors has some proficient engineers, so I’m eager to see how nicely they’ve crafted a high-performance electrical SUV.
I’m eager to drive the brand new Lexus ES as nicely. I do get pleasure from a nice luxurious sedan, and I discovered myself surprisingly taken with the newest Toyota Camry.
The brand new ES is the primary era to supply a alternative of each hybrid and electrical energy, and the dual-motor all-wheel drive ES500e sounds significantly attention-grabbing.
However I’ve some critical reservations in regards to the new ES. Its exterior is by some means a mixture of overstyled and generic 2020s Chinese language sedan; its inside has gone full Chinese language with an enormous display screen and nearly no buttons.
Beggars can’t be choosers, although. Lexus nonetheless doesn’t have a brand new era of IS, and we haven’t even gotten the present one for a number of years in Australia. With the LS limo seemingly on its method out (sacrilege!), this can be Lexus’ solely sedan right here quickly.
I’ll additionally throw in a point out to the Denza Z9 GTan opulent sports activities wagon by BYD’s premium model, provided with plug-in hybrid or electrical energy. Denza Australia hasn’t formally confirmed it but, nevertheless it certain looks like a fait accompli, and I’d like to expertise China’s reply to the Porsche Panamera and Taycan.
Damion Smy: Jaguar Kind 00, Honda Prelude
Who is aware of if it’ll seem in 2026, however I’m completely fascinated with the reinvention of Jaguar and what that can deliver.
Of automobiles which are really locked in, the Honda Prelude could possibly be the beginning of some nice new showroom battles, even when the primary abroad opinions aren’t raving about it. Whats up Celica, MR2…
Sean Lander: Ford Ranger Tremendous Obligation
No remark required, I simply need one.
Josh Nevett: Genesis GV60 Magma and Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
Efficiency EVs are nonetheless a tough promote for many individuals together with myself, however Hyundai is likely one of the few manufacturers to have efficiently reduce by that skepticism with the bonkers Ioniq 5 N.
And subsequent yr, the Korean automaker guarantees to enhance on that recipe.
For one, it’ll introduce a sedan model – the Ioniq 6 N – which brings sleeker seems and superior aerodynamics.
Then there’s the Genesis GV60 Magmaa barely softer, extra luxurious, and really orange model of the Ioniq 5 N that we’ve come to know and love.
Neither are prone to promote in nice numbers, however the few who do make the leap aren’t prone to remorse it.
Ben Zachariah
Toyota has but to substantiate precisely what’s within the pipeline, however there are rumours of the corporate reviving the Starlet – doubtlessly to exchange the Yaris – with unconfirmed reviews of a spicy GR Starlet in growth.
Although it’s unlikely to make it into dealerships in 2026, it’s attainable we’ll see some thrilling reveals from Toyota and Gazoo Racing within the new yr, and I’m right here for it.
Max Davies: Lexus ES
Maybe I’m an outdated man at coronary heart.
When the next-generation ES was revealed on the Shanghai motor present in April, I used to be excited that Lexus wouldn’t solely be constructing a brand new sedan at the same time as sedans decline in recognition, however that it might additionally make it electrical.
I’ve been saying a luxurious electrical sedan from Lexus can be a improbable prospect since I reviewed the UX300e small electrical SUV in 2024, and I’m glad the model clearly took my recommendation to coronary heart.
We already know that Lexus Australia will provide each hybrid and totally electrical powertrains within the new ES; the one factor that may make it higher is bringing the all-wheel drive choice on prime. Wishful pondering maybe, nevertheless it’s the closest we’ll get to a brand new rear-drive luxurious Lexus sedan.
However anyway, the poise of the current-gen ES certainly signifies that Lexus will have the ability to make a stunning motorcar as soon as once more. The one factor I can grumble about is that it isn’t as attractive because the mannequin it’ll exchange.
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