Best new cars for 2019
These are the best new cars set to arrive in 2019, featuring a particularly fine crop of EVs, hybrids, SUVs and sports cars...
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Peugeot 208
Price: From £16,250On sale: Now
Peugeot’s baby 208 is back, with a fresh platform, new design and a range of new engines and tech. Four trim levels are available at launch, with three petrols, one diesel and a pure-electric drivetrain to choose from, thanks to the lightweight CMP platform. The e-208 has a 134bhp electric motor and a 211-mile range.
Visually, the 208 shows lots of influence from the bigger 508, with sharply defined creases around the grille and headlights, while the rear also takes on the full-width black panel housing the claw-like tail-lights. Inside, the 208 also gets a fresh look, with a debut for Peugeot’s 3D i-Cockpit digital instrument display alongside a central touchscreen. The 208 starts at just over £16k and the e-208 is £25,050.
Polestar 2
Price: £34,000 (est)On sale: Now
Volvo’s electric spin-off brand Polestar is rapidly expanding its model range with the confirmation of this, the Polestar 2. Riding on the group’s electrified CMA platform, the Polestar 2 is a five-door fastback with twin electric motors providing 396bhp and 660Nm of torque. That’s enough to help the 2 to cover the 0-62mph sprint in less than five seconds, while the 78kWh battery pack gives a claimed range of 310 miles under WLTP regulations.
The Polestar 2’s technology includes a digital instrument display and 11-inch Android infotainment screen, while an optional Performance Pack will bring high-specification Ohlins dampers, 20-inch wheels and Brembo brakes. A £49,900 launch edition can be reserved online now with a £1,000 deposit, and first deliveries are expected in July. Cheaper versions are due in 12 months.
Porsche Macan Turbo
Price: From £68,530On sale: Now
Driver involvement and SUVs are two concepts that rarely go hand in hand, but the Porsche Macan Turbo should prove otherwise. The Turbo makes its return to the brand’s compact SUV family after it was updated earlier in the year. Changes include refreshed styling and an improved touchscreen display.
Under the bonnet, the previous Macan Turbo’s 3.6-litre V6 motor has been replaced by a smaller 2.9-litre engine. Power stands at 435bhp, which helps the BMW X3 M rival crack the benchmark 0-62mph sprint in 4.3 seconds and go on to a top speed of 167mph. That power is kept in check by new carbide-coated brake discs, which help to reduce fade and improve response. The Porsche is fitted with four-wheel drive and a seven-speed PDK automatic transmission as standard.
Porsche Taycan
Price: From £115,858On sale: Now
Porsche’s Taycan is set to send shockwaves through the electric car market when it arrives early next year, with next-generation technology that promises to move the electric-car game on. The key is a new electric platform called J1, which houses a 93.4kWh battery and runs at 800 volts, allowing super-quick charging and consistently high performance, so it’s ideal for use on track.
Two versions will be available at launch, with Turbo models producing 671bhp and 850Nm of torque to give 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and a limited top speed of 161mph. Turbo S models have up to 750bhp on overboost and 1,050Nm of torque to achieve a launch-controlled 0-62mph time of 2.8 seconds. The Turbo has a WLTP range of 279 miles, while the Turbo S can run for 257 miles.
Renault Clio
Price: From £14,295On sale: Now
Renault’s all-important Clio is back for a fifth generation, with a big emphasis on safety and technology, and a broad range of powertrains. The new CMF-B platform means less weight and improved crash safety – the Clio has already been awarded five stars by Euro NCAP – and the ability to accept a hybrid powertrain. However, the engine range kicks off with a choice of two turbocharged petrol engines offering 99bhp and 128bhp, with a 74bhp naturally aspirated three-cylinder petrol unit to follow. Early next year a 1.6-litre petrol hybrid will arrive, with a 1.2kWh battery that Renault claims will improve urban fuel consumption by up to 40 per cent.
Renault Zoe
Price: From £18,670On sale: Now
Renault’s all-electric new ZOE features an upgraded drivetrain and extended range. Three trim levels are offered – Play, Iconic and GT Line – with a 52kWh battery pack. Play models have a 106bhp electric motor with 225Nm of torque to give 0-62mph in 11.4 seconds, while the two higher-spec models have 132bhp and 245Nm for a 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds. All versions have a range of 245 miles.
Every ZOE gets LED headlights, air-con, a seven-inch infotainment screen and a digital instrument display as standard, while 50kW DC fast charging support is an optional extra on Iconic and GT Line models. The icing on the cake is a free 7kW wallbox, which can be installed at your home.
Skoda Kamiq
Price: From £17,700On sale: Now
Skoda is stretching out into the compact SUV market with its new Kamiq, revealed at Geneva this year and all set for first deliveries before the end of the year. Taking influences from bigger SUVs in the range and the recently launched Scala hatchback, the Kamiq has strong creases across the bonnet and around the nose, with LED headlights available as an option and a choice of 16 to 18-inch wheels.
The Kamiq will major on practicality, with lots of legroom for rear-seat passengers and a boot that can carry 1,395 litres. Buyers will have a choice of three infotainment systems, while the engine line-up includes three petrols and one diesel.
Skoda Octavia
Price: From £18,000 (est)On sale: Late 2019
Skoda’s next-generation Octavia is about to break cover, and this exclusive Auto Express image shows how it could look. Modest exterior changes, with revised headlights and a new grille, will bring the hatch closer in appearance to the Superb, while vRS cars will get bigger air intakes and a more aggressive front bumper, with a boot spoiler to match.
Engine options will include 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrols, plus three diesels with between 114 and 187bhp. The Octavia will come in hybrid form for the first time, sharing the Superb iV’s powertrain for a range of 40 miles on electric power. A 48V mild-hybrid version is also possible.
Skoda Superb
Price: From £24,655On sale: Now
Skoda’s Superb has been given a major makeover, with sharper looks and a new hybrid powertrain. Buyers can choose from two petrol and two diesel engines at launch, but the main addition will be a plug-in hybrid option using tech shared with the Volkswagen Passat GTE. The 1.4-litre TSI petrol combines with an electric motor to deliver 215bhp and 400Nm of torque, giving an electric range of 34 miles and CO2 emissions as low as 40g/km.
The revamp also sees the brand’s flagship benefit from LED matrix headlights, a refreshed nose and new rear lamps. Inside it gets a digital instrument display and infotainment set-ups shared with the latest Volkswagens.
Smart ForFour EQ
Price: £24,000 (est)On sale: December
A facelifted Smart ForFour EQ is ready to hit the showrooms, with the new-generation car going on sale at the end of this year. Detail changes to the exterior run to a larger grille, new foglamps and a revised front bumper, while the bonnet design has been altered for improved aerodynamics.
Inside, the ForFour benefits from a redesigned centre console, with new cup-holders and a dedicated smartphone storage area. A welcome upgrade of the infotainment system brings an eight-inch screen that connects directly to the driver’s smartphone to share data and app functionality. A new dedicated Smart EQ app allows the driver to check the vehicle’s status and operate its climate control and central locking functions, while 22kW charging is now supported on all models.
