What are going to be the best new cars in 2020? Here at CarGurus we’ve highlighted what we think are going to be the ones to watch, including models form Aston Martin, VW and Ford. With these all-new releases set to be joined by more electrified models than ever before, 2020 is shaping up to be a great year for car buyers and car enthusiasts alike.
HONDA E: THE CITY CAR
On sale: March 2020
Honda describes the diminutive e as the automotive equivalent of the Apple iPhone X. We think it might be bang on with that assessment. That’s because the Japanese car maker’s all-electric supermini offers stunning design, good functionality and a premium price tag.
The price starts from £26,110, for which you might conclude that the performance and range are slightly disappointing. The 33.3kWh battery is said to provide 124 miles between charges, which is far from best in class. Yet when the average daily commute is less than 17-miles, Honda is hopeful that the e will more than satisfy the majority of people.
Fun fact: The Honda e replaces conventional wing mirrors with side view video cameras to improve aerodynamic efficiency.
FORD PUMA: THE BIG SELLER
On sale: January 2020
The Ford Puma fuses the style and swagger of an SUV with the running costs of a more conventional hatchback. Crossovers such as Puma are hugely popular with today’s car-buyers, which explains why nearly every mainstream car-maker offers one. It also addresses why Ford didn’t bring back the Puma as a compact coupe like it was in the 1990s.
That said, just like the original Puma was based on the underpinnings of the Ford Fiesta, so too is this latest model. That makes its practical interior, which includes a particularly roomy boot, even more impressive. The Puma will offer a raft of tech and a range of small, economical engines including mild hybrid options to increase efficiency.
Fun fact: The boot features a drain hole for washing out dog hairs and is big enough to swallow two sets of golf clubs upright.
VOLKSWAGEN ID.3: THE NEW BEGINNING
On sale: April 2020
You have to hand it to Tesla. The California tech company has caused a pretty seismic shift in the motoring landscape with the launch of its all-electric Model S, Model X and Model 3. These three models have helped prove that electric cars can be premium, desirable and boast a credible range.
Now, however, the mainstream manufacturers are fighting back, as you can see from the number of EVs in this list of the best new cars of 2020. In the case of Volkswagen, that means launching a whole new range that is intended to make electric cars a mainstream and affordable proposition.
Its first, the ID.3, is a Golf-sized electric hatchback that will offer plenty of strengths beyond zero emissions. Even the mid-sized 58kWh battery version should offer a range in excess of 250 miles, which will help alleviate range anxiety. And if that isn’t enough, Volkswagen UK has partnered with Tesco and Pod Point to install a further 2,500 charging bays in supermarket car parks across the country. Could this be the year you decide to buy an electric car?
Fun fact: The cabin of the ID.3 features an interactive LED strip that changes colour depending on its usage. For example, a green light signals to the driver that the car is on, charged and ready to drive.
POLESTAR 2: THE MODERN EXECUTIVE
On sale: June 2020
Polestar is a Swedish brand that is shifting from its origins in racing to become a standalone electric car company. Its first model, the Polestar 1, will arrive in the UK this year as a very rare, and very expensive coupe. But it’s the ingeniously titled follow-up, the Polestar 2, that we are more excited about.
This more affordable offering will be aimed at young professionals who may have previously considered driving BMWs or Audis. It is based on the same electric platform as the upcoming Volvo XC40 (Volvo is Polestar’s parent company) and will feature a 78kWh battery pack to produce the equivalent of 402bhp and offer a range in excess of 300 miles. Polestar says the 2 will also benefit from fine handling and have a vegan interior.
Fun fact: Although Polestar will have brand stores known as ‘Spaces’ you can visit, you’ll only be able to order its cars online. This should help prevent discounting and ensure strong resale values.
LAND ROVER DEFENDER: THE OFF-ROADER
On sale: Summer 2020
Just when you thought the Land Rover Defender had all but disappeared – the last model went off sale in 2015 – the company presented an all-new version at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. As has been heavily documented by the motoring press, this is a very different sort of Defender to the original: there’s no ladder frame chassis, no rigid axles, no washable floors… all of which is probably a good thing.
Truth be told, its predecessor was about as prepared for modern life as a rotary dial phone. The new Defender needs to work as well in Southport as it does in the Serengeti, which is why it is being offered in a multitude of flavours, from extreme off-roader to urban runabout. Options for what is almost certain to be among the very best new cars in 2020 will include everything from steel wheels to a roof tent.
Fun fact: The new Defender features 3D camera technology that allows you to see ‘through’ the bonnet when you’re off-roading. It also has a wading depth of 900mm.
ASTON MARTIN DBX: THE LUXURY SUV
On sale: March 2020
Ordinarily, we wouldn’t feature a new car whose monthly repayments resemble a second mortgage. However, it’s difficult to underestimate the importance of the Aston Martin DBX. Aston’s history books may be brimming with beautiful machinery, but they’re also littered with stories of boom and bust. While the British car-maker is revered for its sports and GT cars, it now must turn to the increasingly popular SUV segment as a way of expanding its audience and ensuring long-term survival.
The Aston Martin DBX will initially go on sale with a 542bhp, 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, be available with four or five seats, and offer an arguably more dynamically styled alternative to the Bentley Bentayga or Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
Fun fact: Optional extras for the DBX include a refrigerator, humidor or Aston Martin-branded child car seats.
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