New cars – what’s coming in 2026

Britain’s new car market exploded with new badges in 2025, as a host of new car brands set up shop in the UK. Most of these new badges came from China and targeted British buyers with a clear plan – sign up lots of dealers and fill their showrooms with a wide choice of new cars. This will accelerate into 2026, with the result that UK car buyers will face an unprecedented choice of new metal to choose from over the year. The majority of the new cars launching over the next 12 months will be electric vehicles (EVs). Despite concerns about the pace of switching from fossil fuels to electricity around the world, the overall direction of travel remains unchanged. However, plug-in hybrids will continue their resurgence this year, and may even overtake basic (non-plug) hybrids at some point. So read on for BMW’s electrification of a company car must-have, yet more BYDs, revived badges from America and new ones from China, and a whole lot more…   New cars – what’s coming in 2026 You may also like: Abarth Not a lot to report from Fiat’s performance sub-brand, which has been struggling with its UK sales since it went electric-only in 2024. Having shifted fewer than 300 cars last year, there are reports that an Abarth version of the new Fiat 500 petrol model is under consideration, but we’re unlikely to see it in 2026. Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo has been planning a new range of electric models for a while, but has more recently decided that the next Giulia and Stelvio SUVs will also be available with petrol engines. Until then, we’ll see the current models soldiering on for a while yet, probably with various limited-edition specials popping up from time to time. The Alfa Romeo Tonale compact crossover has received a mid-life facelift and the updated models are rolling into showrooms now. It’s the first suite of (mainly cosmetic) changes for the Tonale since launching in 2022, and is available in both petrol and plug-in hybrid forms. Alpine Alpine A390 This year Renault’s performance spin-off brand will wave goodbye to the car that relaunched it, the Alpine A110 sports car. It should disappear by the summer to pave the way for an all-new electric A110 model – although that’s likely not to appear until at least 2027. New this year, however, will be the Alpine A390. This is a five-seat electric crossover, based on a Renault Scenic platform but beefed up with more performance – including three electric motors – and sportier driving characteristics. Audi After the arrival of several new models over the last 12 months, you might think Audi would be slowing the launch pace – not a bit of it, with the newcomers including a smallest and largest car. The smallest is a spiritual successor to the odd but appealing Audi A2 hatchback of the 1980s. The new car will be pitched as an entry-level EV, but not much more is known yet. It will probably be called either the A2 e-tron or A3 e-tron. The venerable Audi Q7 seven-seat SUV is finally set to be replaced around the middle of the year after a decade on sale, with an all-new model that will follow the slightly more rounded styling of the latest Q3 and Q5 models. As with the current model, the new Q7 will offer a range of petrol, plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains. Also expected by the end of the year is an even bigger model called the Q9, a rival for the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS mega-SUVs. Audi is also working on a luxury version, named the Horch after the man who founded Audi. If this comes to the UK it won’t be until 2027. Also potentially arriving in 2026 is a new Audi RS 6, which will be available in both saloon and estate forms. It will be petrol-engined, probably with a hybrid powertrain. Bentley Bentley is gearing up to launch its first full electric vehicle, an SUV almost as big as the Bentayga – but we won’t see that until 2027. The coming year appears to be very much a case of as you were. BMW BMW iX3 The age-old company-car battle between BMW and Mercedes-Benz gets a power boost in 2026 with both brands launching new electric versions of their big-volume models. The new BMW i3 saloon, likely on sale at the very end of the year, is the first fully electric version of the perennially popular BMW 3 Series and the first saloon with the brand’s latest ‘Neue Klasse’ styling treatment. It uses the same underpinnings as the new iX3 electric SUV, which will arrive in showrooms early in the year. BMW claims that the i3 will both offer a battery range of more than 500 miles and all the driving pleasure that has long been one of the brand’s biggest selling points. The company plans to roll out Neue Klasse updates to every model in its range, with the larger BMW 5 Series family next in line. The current model only launched in 2023, but is expected to be given a major refresh this year. BMW’s high-performance M division is also working on its next generation of models, and has recently been showing off a prototype version of its new electric iM3 saloon – a four-motor rocketship version of the forthcoming i3 saloon. We also expect to see M versions of the new iX3 and rumoured iX4 models. BYD BYD Seal 6 DM-I The rise of Chinese brand BYD on the UK market has been nothing short of astonishing, with lots of new models and a mushrooming dealer network to sell them. Having arrived as what initially appeared to be a typical electric Chinese brand, BYD’s 2026 plans appear to be focused on hybrids. The Seal 6 DM-I, a large saloon and estate revealed at the end of 2025 with the brand’s ‘Super Hybrid’ technology (effectively a range-extender), is arriving in showrooms as these words are written. BYD’s first new car out of the blocks in 2026, and ninth overall, will be the Sealion 5 DM-i. This plug-in hybrid compact SUV sits just above the Atto 3 – the first model BYD launched what seems a long time ago now but which was in fact only in September 2023. Later in the year, we could also get a plug-in hybrid Atto 3 – you are never short of choice with BYD… The electric Atto 2, which arrived in the Autumn of 2025 as a small family car to rival the likes of the Kia EV3, will also go plug-in hybrid, with two battery sizes offering a maximum electric-only range of 56 miles.  The BYD Shark, a pick-up already on sale in Europe and Asia, is also likely to reach UK showrooms to rival the likes of the Ford Ranger. Although it has not been officially confirmed, the brand has dropped veiled hints. Cadillac Cadillac Lyriq Cadillac? Really? Yes, the so-very-American General Motors flagship brand is making yet another attempt to crack Europe with a line-up of electric SUVs. The Cadillac revival has been on the cards for a while, but 2026 is likely to be the year it finally happens in the UK. The two models expected to spearhead the relaunch are the mid-sized Lyriq SUV (as seen above) and smaller Optiq. We’ll have all the details as soon as they’re available. Changan Changan Deepal S07 Changan officially launched UK sales in the Autumn of 2025, but China’s oldest car maker has had an R&D centre in Britain for more than 15 years. The company’s first UK model, the Deepal S07 mid-sized electric SUV, will be joined by a smaller Deepal S05 soon. Changan has also stated that both will eventually be offered with range-extender powertrains using small petrol engines to recharge the batteries. Changan could also launch an entirely new brand called Avatr into the UK in 2026 – described as a ‘sports luxury brand’. Chery Chery Tiggo 4 One of the big Chinese names to reach the UK is the parent to both Omoda and Jaecoo, Chery will follow up its initial Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 7 large and medium SUVs launched last year with at least two more range-bookending models in 2026. The Tiggo 9 seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV was unveiled right at the end of 2025 as the Chery flagship, and in the Spring it is set to be joined by the Tiggo 4. This entry-level compact SUV, targeting the likes of the new Volkswagen T-Roc, will only be available with a petrol engine. Chery also plans to launch its Lepas badge in the UK as a budget brand rivalling the likes of Dacia – this could happen in the coming year. Citroën The big news of 2026 at Citroën is the arrival of the second-generation C5 Aircross, which goes on sale in the Spring as a mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid or the ë-C5 Aircross EV. A big SUV, the new version is said to be stronger and more stylish than its predecessor with more technology. Elsewhere, there’s not much Citroën-related to report. The quirky little Ami electric quadricycle – which has less than 10hp, can only do less than 50 miles between charges and in some versions has side ‘doors’ that look like the gates in your local Tesco superstore – is getting a facelift for 2026, but the changes are basically cosmetic. Cupra Cupra Raval The SEAT spin-off brand that effectively ate its parent, Cupra is set for a busy year in 2026. The major new model will be the Raval, an electric supermini and the first car across the entire Volkswagen Group to use a new and clever chassis. Expected at the end of summer, it will offer around 225hp in standard form. The Cupra Born is going to get a restyle to match the look of the Raval, while there are expected to be special and very limited performance versions of the Formentor and the Leon. Dacia The 2026 plans for the Renault-owned Romanian budget brand focus mainly on updates to its core models, the Jogger and Sandero. The recently launched Spring electric SUV is already getting an update too, with new batteries giving more power in a bid to escape the title of the UK’s slowest-accelerating new car on sale. Around the middle of the year, we should see one all-new Dacia – a large, high-riding family estate based on the recently-launched Bigster SUV. So far, the new model is known as the C-Neo, but that might not be its name by the time it goes on sale. Denza Denza Z9 GT After the rush of new names that arrived in 2025, here’s one for 2026; Denza is being pitched as an upmarket sister brand to BYD – think Audi to Volkswagen, or Lexus to Toyota. Following this theme, the brand will have its own dealers rather than making use of the rapidly growing BYD network. We’re told Denza will launch some three models before the end of its first year, all of which are already sold in China. The first on sale, arriving shortly, will likely be the Z9 GT, a vaguely estate-style EV in a similar vein to the Porsche Taycan, with close to 1,000hp (nope, not a typo)… Then in the summer we will get the D9, which aims to rekindle the currently dormant interest among UK buyers in people carriers, its hybrid drivetrain being pitched to upmarket travel operators, to the extent of including a fridge in its equipment. And then, before the end of the year, the B5 will arrive, a 700hp 4×4 with the Land Rover Defender in its sights.  There is also a strong possibility that Denza could launch a very different car this year, the Denza Z being an electric sports coupe. DS Automobiles Stellantis’ ‘avant-garde’ premium brand has been rather quiet in recent times but hopes to make some noise towards the end of 2026 with the second-generation version of its DS 7 large SUV (which will presumably be renamed Nº7 in line with the updated Nº4 models that appeared last year). The freshened-up Nº7 will apparently only be offered with electric power, along with with sharper styling to try and increase the DS profile amongst buyers. Ferrari Ferrari’s first-ever full-electric vehicle has been much trailed, with the powertrain for the new model previewed in late 2025. The car itself is set to finally be revealed later this year. Called the Elettrica, the newcomer is predicted to be another departure for Ferrari, with a vaguely crossover body style, and have the equivalent of 1,000hp on tap. Fiat Fiat’s 2026 plans include a series of updates. Dealers have been patiently awaiting the Grande Panda, which is predicted to be a big seller for the brand but has suffered big delays. Fiat’s most famous model name, the 500, is also returning with a petrol engine. It’s misleadingly called the 500 Hybrid, but in reality it’s just a petrol engine with mild hybrid assistance (and the same applies to the Grande Panda Hybrid). Something brand new will be a Giant Panda… Fiat is readying a new SUV, dubbed the Giga-Panda and not likely to be revealed until close to the end of the year. But before that, we will likely see another new model, designed to fill the gap left by the end of Tipo hatchback sales, closely related to the Peugeot 308 and Vauxhall Astra but sporting a fastback body style. Finally the much-delayed Fiat version of the quirky Citroën Ami quadricycle should finally arrive in 2026, taking one of the brand’s most historic model names, Topolino. In most other respects, it will be no different to the Citroën. Ford In the past month, Ford has announced that it is going to make a new, smaller electric car directly based on the new Renault 5 – likely to follow the trend established with its Capri and call the new baby a Fiesta. The only problem is we likely won’t see it on the roads until around 2028. So what’s coming in 2026? Apparently not a lot, though in all its publicity over its electric models it’s good to see Ford has not forgotten its ‘proper’ Mustang. The muscle car is about to get an even more potent version with head-turning looks, and called the Mustang Shelby GT500 in tribute to the legendary race engineer Carroll Shelby. Meanwhile, the Puma Gen-E is going to get some minor updates, increasing its range, but apart from that, those awaiting new things from Ford will need to be patient.   Geely Geely Starray EM-I Geely-badged cars went on UK sale in the autumn of 2025; the Chinese company that owns the likes of Volvo, Polestar and Lotus debuting with a mid-sized electric SUV rival to the Tesla Model Y, the Geely EX5. Geely looks to be following the lead of its Chinese rivals by flooding the UK market with new cars, claiming it will expand to ten different models within three years. Several will be plug-in hybrids and the first, a mid-sized SUV called the Starray EM-I, will go on sale in February. Geely is also expected to launch yet another badge in the UK in 2026, Zeekr, a further upmarket brand rivalling Tesla et al. Genesis Genesis GV60 Magma Hyundai’s flagship brand is going world championship endurance racing in 2026, including at Le Mans, and reflecting this involvement with a new range of more potent Genesis road cars dubbed Magma. The first on sale this year should be the GV60 Magma, with its twin-motor electric drivetrain putting out more than 650hp. Genesis is also launching a big new flagship electric SUV in 2026. The GV90 will offer up to seven seats and is closely related to the Hyundai Ioniq 9.  Honda Honda Prelude Having long claimed electric small cars don’t make economic sense, manufacturers are now finding ways to make them, and in Honda’s case, the trick is to base a new model on one of the many small ‘kei cars’ that are a familiar sight in Japan. Described by its makers as a “funky, cute” car, the Honda Super-N is expected in the summer, many comparing it to the short-lived Honda e. Efforts to build its image will include providing the EV with a fake manual gearbox and equally fake exhaust sound. The Spring will also see the arrival of the latest Honda Prelude, reviving a model name not sold in the UK for 25 years. The sports coupe will come only in petrol-engined, manual gearbox form and is not likely to sell in huge numbers.  Hyundai Hyundai’s most significant launch of 2026 will come towards the end of the year, the Ioniq 3. Closely related to the Kia EV3 from its Korean sister brand, it’s a five-door electric hatch with slippery styling and is predicted to become Hyundai’s biggest seller. Another major seller will get a new and somewhat reinvented version this year, the perennially popular Tucson compact SUV. We’re told the curves of previous-generation Tucsons will be replaced by a new more angular design inspired by the larger Santa Fe, and the car is expected on sale in the second half of the year. Other Hyundai updates during 2026 will include a refresh for the i30 hatch to keep it competitive against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf. Ineos There’s unlikely to be anything particularly new from Ineos this year, with the most pertinent move being an updated version of the slow-selling Grenadier, particularly addressing its steering, which has attracted the biggest criticism. The planned Fusilier electric and range-extender 4×4 is apparently still on hold, with Ineos blaming the delay on what it claims is the indecision of politicians over the speed of the switch from fossil-fuel to electric power. Jaecoo Jaecoo 8 Chery-owned brand Jaecoo has been a roaring success since launching in the UK at the start of the year, and is chasing after BYD for the accolade of fastest-growing Chinese brand on our roads. The brand added the new petrol Jaecoo 5 and electric Jaecoo E5 to its line-up at the end of 2025, and will hope to boost sales further in 2026 with its largest car so far, the Jaecoo 8. On sale in the Spring, the Jaecoo 8 will aim to take sales from the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tayron. It will be offered with either petrol or plug-in hybrid drivetrains. Jaguar This is the year in which we will see the fruits of Jaguar’s complete reset, that has resulted in the brand stopping making cars altogether for more than a year while it transforms into an electric brand. After showing concept cars that attracted very mixed reviews, the first electric Jaguar, the Type 00, will finally be revealed in 2026, likely at the very end of the year. Prototypes of the Type 00 have been seen out testing, but so far they have all been heavily camouflaged. It’s predicted that the car will follow Polestar’s lead in replacing the rear window with cameras. Jeep Jeep Compass Two new models for the traditionally American SUV producer in 2026. The third-generation Compass, a strong seller for Jeep since first launching in 2006, is already in showrooms with petrol, plug-in hybrid and fully electric options. Set to join it later in the year is an all-new version of a signature Jeep model, the Cherokee. Completely changed over its predecessor, the next Cherokee will be larger and with a new styling treatment, potentially also gaining an electric powertrain option. Right at the end of the year we could see Jeep going back to its roots with the Recon – a version of the Wrangler described as the brand’s first electric vehicle built specifically for off-roading. KGM The 4×4 maker is expected to add an electric drivetrain to one of its longest-lived models, the Musso pick-up. It’s expected to offer close to 250 miles of range and all of the off-road capability of the combustion-engined Musso. Meanwhile, the Actyon and Torres SUVs are both getting new ‘Dual Tech’ hybrid powertrains, promising to make them feel much more like EVs to drive but with no compromise on range.   Kia Kia K4 The Kia EV range expands further this year and gains its smallest model yet, the EV2. The car will arrive in the summer, pitched as an affordable electric vehicle rivalling the likes of the Renault 4. Sharing a platform with the Hyundai Inster, it will join Kia’s formidable electric line-up (Niro, EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6, EV9 and PV5 people carrier). There is plenty of combustion-engined news too. The K4, replacing the Ceed, is already heading to showrooms and is set to be joined by an estate version later in the year. A new Niro-sized SUV will launch towards the end of the year – called the Seltos, it will be available with petrol or hybrid propulsion. Among Kia’s other plans for 2026 is an additional variant of the mid-sized EV4, with the semi-estate body style known as a fastback, and potent GT variants of the EV3, EV4 and EV5. Land Rover New electric offerings are on the cards from Land Rover in 2026, particularly in the upmarket Range Rover line. We finally expect to see the second-generation Velar, which will only be available with electric power. Joining it in showrooms should be at last an all-electric variant of the Range Rover itself – the model is seen as crucial to Land Rover’s future prospects and has suffered a few delays. An electric Range Rover Sport is also in the pipeline, possibly launching this year. As for Land Rover, we know that a smaller version of the Defender, the Defender Sport, is on the way with an electric powertrain and potentially replacing the Discovery Sport, but we likely won’t see it until 2027. Leapmotor Leapmotor B10 The new Stellantis electric brand was yet another to arrive on the UK market in 2025, with initially two electric models, the T03 small car and C10 mid-sized SUV, which quickly gained an additional range-extender version. The brand starts 2026 by adding another smaller sister to the C10, the B10 coming in full-electric form only and sized to rival the likes of the Ford Puma Gen-E. Also on the way in 2026 is the B05, a mid-sized electric hatchback, and the B03X, of similar size to the B10 but with a much more boxy, SUV look about it. And at the end of the year we could see the A05, another ‘affordable’ electric supermini. Lexus Lexus ES Not the most exciting of years in prospect for Toyota’s upmarket brand, with the biggest news likely to be the latest incarnation of the long-lived mid-sized executive car, the ES. The eighth-generation ES, which visually looks rather more dramatic than predecessors, was unveiled in May last year and will be on sale in the Spring, although UK buyers will only be offered electric versions. Mazda Mazda CX-6e It’s a big year for Mazda in 2026 with the arrival of its second electric car and one without the range limitations that restricted the appeal of the MX-30 crossover when it launched in 2024. The Mazda 6e also revives the model name of Mazda’s mid-sized saloon, which, despite being in a declining sector, sold well for many years. A new electric SUV sister to the 6e is also on the way, unsurprisingly in Mazda parlance called the CX-6e. This could also arrive before the end of 2026. Away from electricity, Mazda will launch an all-new version this year of its best-selling car, the CX-5 mid-sized SUV. The third-generation model, due in the summer, is said to offer more space and higher levels of safety and technology.   Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ Mercedes-Benz is set for an equally busy year as its closest competitor BMW, headed by the launch of an all-electric version of the rival to the BMW 3 Series, the C-Class. The company-car favourite is expected on sale sometime in 2026 as the C-Class EQ and set to offer a range between charges of more than 400 miles. A host of new or updated SUVs are also in the mix, including a third-generation GLA offering both petrol and electric drivetrains, as will the new Mk2 GLB seven-seater,. There will also be major refreshes for the GLE and GLS.  Potentially earning most headlines, however, will be the GLC EQ, an electric version of the best-selling Mercedes SUV, while also on the calendar is a significantly updated version of the long-lived S-Class executive saloon. In the Mercedes performance department of AMG, work on adding potency to the recently launched GLC SUV is almost complete and the car should appear this year. With three electric motors, it’s set to be the most powerful AMG model yet, with more than 900hp on tap, almost double that of a stock GLC. MG MG S9 EV The Chinese car maker that was in the UK long before any of the other Chinese brands, MG will have three new models to attract customers with in 2026. In Spring, we’ll see an update for the successful MG 4 electric hatchback, along with a smaller MG 4 Urban model. Later, we’ll get the MG S9, the brand’s first seven-seat SUV and boasting a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. There are still suggestions that a coupé version of the Cyberster electric roadster could be revealed this year. A concept was shown at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, with plenty of positive response. Mini Mini has totally reinvented its model range over the past couple of years, so it’s perhaps no surprise that there’s nothing significantly new planned for 2026. Nissan 2026 Nissan Leaf Nissan’s big electric arrival in 2025 is the latest third-generation of its pioneering EV, the Leaf. Now reinvented with a crossover body style, production in Sunderland has already begun and it will be in showrooms in February. Also hitting showrooms in the first months of the year will be the new Micra, based on the Renault 5 and unveiled late last year. Later in the year, we should see the all-new Nissan Juke, once again being built here in the UK at Nissan’s Sunderland factory alongside the Leaf and Qashqai models. Finally, the Ariya electric SUV will get a mid-life update, primarily to match its styling to that of the Leaf. Omoda Omoda 4 The first of Chery’s brands to launch in the UK, Omoda has been rather overshadowed by sister brand Jaecoo but still shifted close to 20,000 cars in 2025. The fourth new model, on sale soon, is the Omoda 7, a plug-in hybrid SUV and closely related to the Jaecoo 7. Next in line, in the Autumn, will be the Omoda 4, a Renault Captur-sized SUV with futuristic styling, apparently inspired by lightning bolts and science fiction. Details are currently scarce but it will likely be available with both petrol and electric power. Peugeot Peugeot 408 (facelift) The Peugeot 208, historically one of the French brand’s most popular cars, is set for a radical reinvention, potentially appearing right at the end of 2026. The first car to use a new platform designed for all the small cars offered by the Stellantis group, the 208 will be electric-only and brimming with technology. There will also be a hot hatch model, the first Peugeot in many years to use its once legendary GTi badge. The much-delayed all-electric version of Peugeot’s strikingly styled family car, the e-408, only went on sale in 2025, but at the Brussels motor show this month, Peugeot unveiled a facelift for the 408 range. Though mainly cosmetic, it could include a bigger battery, and therefore longer range, for the e-408. Polestar Polestar 5 Much of the news from Volvo’s performance spin-off brand has been long-trailed – we should see more Polestar 4s, instantly recognisable from their lack of rear windows, on the road this year, and the Polestar 5 will arrive in showrooms in the Spring as the range’s new flagship model.  A large ‘grand tourer’ with the Porsche Taycan in its sights, the Polestar 5 will have close to 900hp in its most potent form. And it also replaces the rear window with cameras. Back in more sensible territory, 2026 versions of the Polestar 2 are getting an update that will add more range and more technology.  Porsche Porsche Cayenne Electric Porsche was supposed to reveal the next generation of the Cayman and Boxster models as electric vehicles in 2025, but various delays put their debuts back. They should finally arrive in showrooms this year, but in another example of the industry slowing its rush to electrification, the new versions will also be sold in petrol-engined form. This year is also seeing the long-awaited arrival of the Cayenne Electric SUV, which was also affected by delays as Porsche assessed the slowdown in EV take-up. As such the newcomer is an addition to, rather than a replacement for, the combustion-engined Cayenne range.  Renault Renault Twingo E-Tech The Twingo is coming back – the fourth incarnation of Renault’s small car is expected towards the end of the year as the cheapest of the brand’s EVs, with potentially a price of less than £18,000. Based on the Renault 5, it will have a range of around 160 miles. Renault’s electric vehicles have attracted a lot of praise but the Megane E-Tech has been somewhat overshadowed by its siblings, in decline for a while with sales slipping back. A bid to give it a boost should see a major update this year including a new performance version called the RS, an electric hot hatch. Also this year the Renault 4 EV is set to gain a higher-riding crossover-styled version dubbed the Savane. SEAT There’s been little news of note from Volkswagen Group’s Spanish brand for several years now, and 2026 will be little different, with only subtle updates to the Arona crossover and Ibiza supermini on the cards. Skoda Skoda Epiq There’s a new electric compact SUV coming from Skoda in 2026 – the Epiq is a sister to the forthcoming Volkswagen ID. Polo and already-revealed concept versions should morph into production reality during the year. Meanwhile, with the likes of Kia and Hyundai launching big new seven-seat electric SUVs in 2026, Skoda does not intend to be left out. Its offering will be based on the Vision 7S concept first revealed in 2022 and while it is set to become Skoda’s flagship, we currently know little else about this new model. Other happenings in Skoda-world include a new and most potent Fabia yet. Already heading for showrooms, it has around 175hp on offer. Skywell Skywell Q Skywell launched its first UK model, the BE11 electric SUV, at the start of 2025, and its frustrating tech, poor driving characteristics, and dated safety specification marked it out as what buyers might have initially expected of a Chinese brand but generally didn’t get. The reviews were suitably damning and less than 30 BE11s were sold all year. As these words were written, Skywell announced a 2026 model year BE11 with “significant technical upgrades” including a UK-developed suite of ADAS driver aids – safety being one of the car’s biggest criticisms among reviewers. The new BE11 is also £5,000 cheaper. Before the end of 2025 we were supposed to see the Q, an electric hatchback described as Skywell’s first model specifically designed for Europe. There’s still no sign of it while the brand’s website still describes it as a ‘future product’ that is expected to be launched “in quarter 3 2025”… Smart Smart’s newest model, the flagship #5 SUV, is only just arriving in showrooms and so 2026 is likely to see only significant updates to the #1 and #3 models. Right at the end of the year one of the number gaps will be filled by the Smart #2, a two-seater that will be closest in looks to the original Smart. The brand is also reputedly considering a direct successor to its Forfour model last sold in 2021, but if it happens we won’t see it for a few years. Subaru Subaru Uncharted Two new electric models are on the way from Subaru in 2026, though one of them is an updated version of the Solterra, originally launched in 2022 and a rebadged Toyota bZ4X. It’s still rebadged, but has a more Subaru look about it, along with significant power and range increases. Before that the second new model will arrive with the odd name of Uncharted. This one is a rebadged Toyota C-HR+ and, as its name suggests, is aimed at those who want to go off-road. We also expect to get the Subaru E-Outback in 2026. Replacing the Outback off-road estate, it’s an electric vehicle designed entirely by Subaru, rather than jointly developed with (or borrowed from) Toyota. Suzuki Suzuki e-Vitara Suzuki’s first proper EV arrives in showrooms at the start of 2026 – the e Vitara is the latest collaboration with Toyota, which will launch its own version called the Urban Cruiser. The e Vitara has the basic style of its combustion-engined compact SUV sister and will be one of the few such EVs available with two motors and all-wheel-drive. Tesla Tesla Roadster Part of Tesla’s 2026 plans appear to involve trying to shift some more cars by cutting prices. A new ‘Standard’ version of the Model Y is going on sale with £3,000 slashed from its cost, by slimming down the equipment list. A similar move may be applied to the Model 3. Tesla’s much-delayed Roadster hypercar is also now said to be launching in 2026 – first announced as long ago as 2017, the car is now, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, endowed with a 0-60mph time of under one second… Toyota Toyota Urban Cruiser Toyota’s first big launch of 2026 is already heading to showrooms, the Aygo X city car being reinvented with a hybrid powertrain replacing the previous petrol-only engine. The resultant fuel economy and emissions figure have the Aygo X being pitched as a realistically more economic alternative to buying a small EV. Coming quickly behind will be the second all-electric Toyota, the C-HR+. It’s not particularly closely related to the similarly named C-HR small SUV, and runs an electric powertrain instead of the petrol/electric hybrid unit in the regular C-HR. Deliveries of the third EV will also start in the Spring – the Urban Cruiser is the latest evidence of Toyota’s deal with Suzuki, as buyers will be able to get the same car as the Suzuki e Vitara. Other Toyota newcomers set to arrive this year include an estate version of the electric bZ4X SUV called the Touring, with a third greater loadspace than the regular model, and the all-new RAV4 – the sixth generation of Toyota’s long-running family SUV. One potent new model from Toyota could be a GR (Gazoo Racing) version of the Corolla. While made for some time, production this year will switch to Toyota’s UK plant which could make UK sales a more attractive prospect. Vauxhall Much of the 2026 focus for Vauxhall will be on updates, especially to the Astra. It will get a new look matching other recent Vauxhall releases, more equipment and an extended range for the electric version. The Mokka SUV is also expected to get an update this year but the next big thing from Vauxhall won’t arrive until at least 2027, the next-generation Corsa supermini. Volkswagen A major new arrival from Volkswagen in 2026 is the second-generation T-Roc, the stylish mid-sized SUV being VW’s third best-seller behind the Golf and Tiguan. It goes on sale with petrol engines, but Volkswagen looks set to add hybrid variants to both the T-Roc and the Golf before the end of the year. A newcomer to the electric range will be what was going to be the ID.2 but is now set to take a rather more revered name, being dubbed the ID Polo. The supermini will arrive towards the end of the year and the plans also include giving it the crossover treatment. The ID Cross X will have a higher ride, and an option for those who favour the likes of the VW T-Cross but want to go electric. There will also be a potent version of the ID Polo, possibly on sale by the end of 2026 and bearing those famed three letters, GTI. It should have around 225hp. The ID.4, meanwhile, will undergo a major refresh, to the extent of pitching it as an electric alternative to Volkswagen’s mid-sized combustion-engined SUV by giving it the new name of ID Tiguan. A small car pitched as an ‘affordable’ EV is also coming from Volkswagen, but the ID 1 won’t arrive until at least 2027. Volvo Volvo ES90 Volvo’s biggest-selling model for some years has been the XC60 mid-sized SUV. In 2026 it is set to get an electric sister in the EX60, the Swedish brand’s first model to use a very advanced and clever new chassis setup. Volvo is pinning a lot of hopes on the EX60 being a hit. This time last year we were describing the ES90, Volvo’s first electric saloon to rival the likes of the BMW i5. After delays caused by the software in its complex tech, the car should also finally arrive in the first half of this year. Xpeng Xpeng X9 Xpeng arrived on the UK market in 2025 with somewhat less fanfare than several of its rivals, but with a launch model, the G6 coupe-SUV, which earned several positive reviews. In a bid to place even more pressure on Tesla’s biggest selling car, the Model Y, the G6 is already getting an upgrade – the highlights are a longer range, faster charging and a more powerful all-wheel-drive version. Xpeng will follow the example of rival Denza and launch a people-carrier on the UK market early in 2026, though its makers describe the X9 as not an MPV but “a seven-seat Starship” thanks to its head-turning styling. It will be potent too, with around 500hp on tap. Also due towards the end of the year is the Xpeng G9, a mid-sized electric SUV.  Zeekr Zeekr 7GT Another Chinese newcomer, Zeekr will announce its official arrival in the UK with the launch of its electric 7GT family car which is said to be coming towards the end of 2026. Aiming to compete in the premium category against brands like Tesla, BMW, and Audi, the 7GT will pose a left-field challenge to the Tesla Model Y. Zeekr, a Geely-owned brand like Volvo, Polestar and Smart, hasn’t yet revealed its UK plans beyond the launch of the 7GT, but it already sells three other models in mainland Europe. The line-up includes the electric X and 7X SUVs and the electric 001 executive hatchback, all of which could be coming to the UK from 2027 onwards. More car buying advice from The Car Expert:

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