{"id":536467,"date":"2026-01-19T12:07:37","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T01:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/?p=536467"},"modified":"2026-01-19T14:41:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T03:41:07","slug":"the-most-anticipated-cars-releases-of-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/cars\/the-most-anticipated-cars-releases-of-2026","title":{"rendered":"The Most Anticipated Car Releases Of 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Every year we get pumped about what lies ahead, and with so many new brands landing in Australia, the choice is almost dizzying. 2026 feels a bit different. Not because the industry has suddenly found its groove again, but because the market is getting squeezed from every angle. <\/p><p>It\u2019s a bit shit show out there.<\/p><p>New Chinese brands keep turning up on our shores. The traditional premium players are fighting to protect their turf. Porsche is in decline. WTF?! EV fatigue is real, but so is the fact that the EV stuff is finally getting good. Faster charging, better packaging, and interiors that no longer feel like someone designed them in an iPad factory.<\/p><p>That said, nobody is driving from Melbourne to Sydney in anything other than a Tesla right now. So Elon still is king on distance down under, but that will change. Hello, Volvo.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-877741\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_2049546025 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_2049546025 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[300,250],[320,100],[320,180],[336,280],[640,360]],\"incontent-877741\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_2049546025.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-877741\");});};adsQueue.push(load_2049546025);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"content-subscribe\">\n        <div class=\"subscribe-box\">\n            <p class=\"subscribe-title\">Curated news for men, <br\/>delivered to your inbox.<\/p>\n            <form class=\"subscribe-form\" method=\"POST\">\n                <div class=\"subscribe-input\">\n                    <label class=\"screen-reader-text\" for=\"subscribe-email\">Email:<\/label>\n                    <input type=\"email\" name=\"email\" id=\"subscribe-email\" placeholder=\"Enter your email\" required class=\"form-control\" autocomplete=\"on\" \/>\n                    <button type=\"submit\" class=\"button button-primary subscribe-button\">Sign Up<\/button>\n                    <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"source\" value=\"article\" \/>\n                    <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"_wpnonce\" name=\"_wpnonce\" value=\"e2df992756\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536467\" \/>                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"form-result\"><\/div>\n            <\/form>\n            <p class=\"subscribe-copy\">Join the DMARGE newsletter \u2014 Be the first to receive the latest news and exclusive stories on style, travel, luxury, cars, and watches. Straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <p>We\u2019ve curated ten cars that feel like they\u2019ll actually matter right now. Both to the consumer and to the brands themselves. Some because they\u2019ll sell in big numbers. Some because they\u2019ll embarrass the establishment. Some because they\u2019re just cool, and there\u2019s still space for that. <\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-10-hyundai-palisade-xrt-pro\">10. Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro<\/h2><p>The Hyundai Palisade won <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/style\/dmarge-awards-2025\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DMARGE Car of the Year last year<\/a>, and for good reason. It\u2019s one of those rare big family SUVs that doesn\u2019t feel like a compromise. It\u2019s spacious, it makes sense, it drives well enough that you don\u2019t hate your life, and it nails the sweet spot of value vs comfort vs \u201cthis will survive our household\u201d.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1072179705\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1496568031 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1496568031 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1072179705\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1496568031.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1072179705\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1496568031);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-1400x788.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-1400x788.png 1400w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-640x360.png 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (max-width: 1024px) 800px, (min-width: 1025px) 1000px, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Now Hyundai\u2019s taken that winning formula and gone a bit more feral with it.<\/p><p>The Palisade XRT Pro is essentially the off-road-flavoured version of the car that already made a lot of luxury buyers quietly nervous. Seven seats, heaps of presence, and that exact vibe that has people genuinely asking the question: do I spend Range Rover or Lexus GX money, or do I buy something like this and keep the change? Buy a burrito or two with the left over.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1871140014\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1641510653 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1641510653 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1871140014\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1641510653.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1871140014\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1641510653);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>For Australian families who do the camping thing properly, meaning the ute has mud on it and the kids have crumbs in places you didn\u2019t know existed, this will be a hit. It\u2019s about being capable enough to go up the mountain and get to the places you actually go, not the places you pretend you go in Instagram captions.<\/p><p>And the best part is the simple part. It looks f*cking fantastic. People buy with their eyes first and their spreadsheet second. This one wins the first battle instantly.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9-polestar-5\">9. Polestar 5<\/h2><p>Polestar has been quietly earning respect the way most brands don\u2019t anymore, by making cars that actually feel considered. The Polestar 4 was our favourite a couple of years ago, and the Polestar 5 feels like the moment the brand stops playing in the \u201ccool alternative\u201d lane and starts swinging properly.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1120\" height=\"747\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-1.png 1120w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-1-960x640.png 960w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-1-640x427.png 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-1-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-1-480x320.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (max-width: 1024px) 800px, (min-width: 1025px) 1000px, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Polestar 5<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>This is their first big sleek four-door grand tourer, and it\u2019s aiming straight at Porsche Taycan territory. That\u2019s serious company. It\u2019s built on an aluminium platform, it has that minimalist Swedish design that somehow manages to feel expensive without screaming for attention, and it sits in that sweet spot where it looks fast even when it\u2019s parked.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1665868729\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1109511812 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1109511812 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1665868729\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1109511812.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1665868729\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1109511812);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>Polestar has always had a strong design signature, but the 5 feels like the car that makes Porsche owners glance twice and quietly go, \u201cHang on\u2026 what is that?\u201d<\/p><p>Massive rims, clean lines, and that modern electric GT shape that looks like it belongs outside a hotel you can\u2019t afford. Number nine, easy.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-porsche-cayenne-ev\">8. Porsche Cayenne EV<\/h2><p>Porsche has had a rough run of it lately, and that\u2019s putting it politely. <\/p><p>The Macan going EV-only has copped an absolute hammering, because people don\u2019t just buy Porsches for the badge. They buy them for the way an engine feels, the way the car moves, and the little emotional payoff you get every time you start it up.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-2-1400x788.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-2-1400x788.png 1400w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-2-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-2-640x360.png 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-2-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-2-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (max-width: 1024px) 800px, (min-width: 1025px) 1000px, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porsche Cayenne EV<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Then the sales numbers landed. Worst since 2009. That\u2019s not a bad month, that\u2019s a proper \u201cwhat are we doing here?\u201d moment.<\/p><p>Which is why the Cayenne EV matters.<\/p><p>The Cayenne is one of those cars Porsche can\u2019t afford to get wrong. And if it drives anything like the Macan, which is still one of the best-driving EV SUVs full stop, then this could be a redemption arc.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-513635224\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_60836479 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_60836479 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-513635224\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_60836479.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-513635224\");});};adsQueue.push(load_60836479);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>It also comes with that new wave of tech, including the wireless charging upgrades Porsche is pushing with this model. If Porsche nails dynamics (which they always do) then hopefully no one\u2019s going to care that it\u2019s electric. <\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-toyota-gr-gt\">7. Toyota GR GT<\/h2><p>This is a real WTF from Toyota and we approve.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1118735922\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_138212422 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_138212422 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1118735922\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_138212422.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1118735922\");});};adsQueue.push(load_138212422);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/toyotagazooracing.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Toyota\u2019s Gazoo Racing<\/a> division has been getting bolder and bolder, and the GR GT looks like a performance statement made by people who got sick of being sensible. Massive front end, proportions that feel retro in the best way, and a stance that looks like it came out of a 60s or 70s fever dream.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-4-1400x788.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536472\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-4-1400x788.png 1400w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-4-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-4-640x360.png 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-4-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-4-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (max-width: 1024px) 800px, (min-width: 1025px) 1000px, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Toyota GR GT<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>It\u2019s ridiculous. In a good way.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1848199033\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_312769948 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_312769948 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1848199033\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_312769948.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1848199033\");});};adsQueue.push(load_312769948);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>There\u2019s also something about Toyota stepping into V8 Supercars that gives this car extra cultural weight, especially for Australians who still think the best motorsport involves actual noise and a bit of arrogance. Whether it lands here in 2026 or drifts into 2027 territory, it\u2019s a car that feels like it\u2019s made for people who grew up on posters, not spreadsheets.<\/p><p>It also taps into that boy racer era energy. Not the cringe \u201ceBay exhaust\u201d version. The good version, where cars had personality and people cared enough to argue about them.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-xpeng-g9\">6. XPeng G9<\/h2><p>I spotted the XPeng G9 at the electric car show in Sydney, and it was one of those moments where you realise the new wave of EV brands isn\u2019t coming, it\u2019s already here.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-5.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-5.png 1320w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-5-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-5-640x360.png 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-5-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-5-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (max-width: 1024px) 800px, (min-width: 1025px) 1000px, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">XPeng G9<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>This is by far one of the better-looking EV SUVs out right now, and it doesn\u2019t rely on gimmicks to get your attention. It just looks premium. Properly premium. The interior quality is the real surprise too. It has that modern clean high-end EV cabin vibe, similar to what Lotus has been doing, where the materials actually feel expensive instead of \u201ctechy\u201d.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-629026349\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_198072103 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_198072103 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-629026349\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_198072103.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-629026349\");});};adsQueue.push(load_198072103);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>It\u2019s built around an 800-volt charging architecture, which matters because charging speed is the one thing that turns EV ownership from tolerable to genuinely good. People love talking about range, but what you really want is the ability to get back on the road quickly without having a meltdown next to a charger at a shopping centre.<\/p><p>Great pricing, a visual update coming, and it\u2019s landing in March. That timing is perfect, because once you start seeing these on the road, you\u2019re going to see a lot of them. Australia loves a good SUV, and we love feeling like we discovered something before everyone else did. The G9 ticks both boxes.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-zeekr-007-gt\">5. Zeekr 007 GT<\/h2><p>Personal favourite.<\/p><p>The <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zeekrlife.com\/global\/vehicles\/007\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zeekr 007 GT<\/a> is a shooting brake wagon, and if you\u2019re like me and you\u2019ve got a soft spot for wagons, this is the sort of car that makes you sit forward in your chair. <\/p><p>Wagons have always been the enthusiast\u2019s choice for people who want performance without looking like they\u2019re trying too hard. A wolf in sheep\u2019s clothing. A wagon says: I\u2019m busy, I\u2019ve got taste, I probably don\u2019t talk to strangers at petrol stations and prefer to not fly economy.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1312230637\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_112636826 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_112636826 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1312230637\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_112636826.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1312230637\");});};adsQueue.push(load_112636826);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1001\" height=\"565\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-6.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-6.png 1001w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-6-960x542.png 960w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-6-640x361.png 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-6-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-6-480x271.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (max-width: 1024px) 800px, (min-width: 1025px) 1000px, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zeekr 007 GT<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Zeekr, as a brand, is leading the charge on design right now. That\u2019s what they\u2019re selling more than anything. Aesthetic confidence. And the 007 GT feels like their hit car. Everyone\u2019s talking about it. It looks sharp, it feels modern, and it has the kind of form factor that makes SUVs seem a bit lazy.<\/p><p>Fast charging, serious presence, and apparently due mid-year. It will be fast and furious, and something we\u2019re looking forward to getting behind the wheel of.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1880733373\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1108079277 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1108079277 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1880733373\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1108079277.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1880733373\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1108079277);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-jeep-wagoneer-s\">4. Jeep Wagoneer S<\/h2><p>We\u2019re rooting for Jeep. Low-key hope this helps them.<\/p><p>The Wagoneer S is full electric, yes, but the more important part is the direction. It feels like Jeep finally understood what the future should look like for them. Big, luxurious, properly modern, and not pretending it\u2019s still 1999.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-948578592\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_211976547 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_211976547 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-948578592\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_211976547.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-948578592\");});};adsQueue.push(load_211976547);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1023\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-7.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-7.png 1023w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-7-960x640.png 960w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-7-640x427.png 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-7-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-7-480x320.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (max-width: 1024px) 800px, (min-width: 1025px) 1000px, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jeep Wagoneer S<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Inside, it\u2019s screens and space and that upscale feel you normally associate with the brands Jeep constantly gets compared to. It has a bit of Range Rover energy, and for Jeep, that\u2019s exactly the point. Stellantis has had a rough time lately, and the brand has been drifting. The Wagoneer S is a really solid attempt to stop the drift.<\/p><p>It also feels like the right Jeep product for the world we\u2019re in now. Big car, big comfort, big presence, and the kind of cabin that makes people feel like they\u2019re getting \u201ctheir money\u2019s worth\u201d. Jeep needs a win, and this could be it.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-891462180\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_2127344280 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_2127344280 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-891462180\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_2127344280.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-891462180\");});};adsQueue.push(load_2127344280);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-cadillac-vistiq\">3. Cadillac Vistiq<\/h2><p>Cadillac is back in Australia, and that alone makes the Vistiq very interesting.<\/p><p>The Vistiq is basically the EV era interpretation of that big American luxury vibe. Think Escalade proportions, but electrified. Three rows, proper size, big presence, and a cabin designed to make you feel like you\u2019re in something expensive before you\u2019ve even touched the throttle.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1073462527\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_520083510 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_520083510 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1073462527\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_520083510.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1073462527\");});};adsQueue.push(load_520083510);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"883\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-8-1400x883.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536476\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-8-1400x883.png 1400w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-8-960x606.png 960w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-8-640x404.png 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-8-768x485.png 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-8-480x303.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (max-width: 1024px) 800px, (min-width: 1025px) 1000px, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cadillac Vistiq<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>There\u2019s also something genuinely exciting about Cadillac entering Formula One this year. That\u2019s not a side note, that\u2019s a statement. It drags the brand out of the \u201cold luxury\u201d category and forces it into modern relevance.<\/p><p>We get to drive the Cadillac Vistiq in March, down in Melbourne as part of the Grand Prix, and that\u2019s the exact environment a car like this needs. Big week, big energy, big impressions, and a car that\u2019s designed to look like it belongs outside the best hotel in town.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-92419122\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1626823490 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1626823490 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-92419122\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1626823490.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-92419122\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1626823490);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>I can\u2019t wait to drive it. This one has proper momentum behind it.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-audi-rs5-avant\">2. Audi RS5 Avant<\/h2><p>Audi has done what Audi loves doing: confusing everyone for no reason.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-359887827\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_341510392 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_341510392 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-359887827\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_341510392.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-359887827\");});};adsQueue.push(load_341510392);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>They\u2019ve changed the numbering, so the RS4 is now an RS5, and I don\u2019t know why the fuck they did that. Nobody asked for it. Nobody benefits from it. It just makes it harder for normal people to know what they\u2019re looking at.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-9.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-9.png 1200w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-9-960x640.png 960w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-9-640x427.png 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-9-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-9-480x320.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (max-width: 1024px) 800px, (min-width: 1025px) 1000px, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Audi RS5 Avant render<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>But the car itself is what matters.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-79896156\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_553355111 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_553355111 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-79896156\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_553355111.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-79896156\");});};adsQueue.push(load_553355111);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>Audi hasn\u2019t fully revealed what the RS5 Avant will look like yet, but if it\u2019s built off what we\u2019re seeing with the S5, it\u2019s going to be a hit. I drive an RS4. I love the thing. It\u2019s the perfect mix of practicality and menace, and it still feels like a proper driver\u2019s car even though it\u2019s also a wagon you can live with.<\/p><p>The RS5 Avant is that same promise: fast, usable, sharp, and aggressively good-looking without trying to be a TikTok trend. This is the kind of car that makes you feel like you\u2019ve won at life without needing to announce it.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-bmw-ix3-neue-klasse\">1. BMW iX3 Neue Klasse<\/h2><p>The iX3 Neue Klasse feels like the most important BMW EV in years because it\u2019s the one that resets the whole identity. It\u2019s not just a new model. It\u2019s a new posture. A total vibe. New exterior language, new interior philosophy, new tech approach, and a clear intention to beat the Chinese brands at their own game without copying them.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1023\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-10.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-10.png 1023w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-10-960x640.png 960w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-10-640x427.png 640w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-10-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-10-480x320.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 640px) 600px, (max-width: 768px) 700px, (max-width: 1024px) 800px, (min-width: 1025px) 1000px, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">BMW iX3 Neue Klasse<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>BMW needed a big aesthetic change, and this is it.<\/p>                <div class=\"row row-center collapse\">\n                    <div class=\"column\">\n                        <div class=\"dmg-ad\"><div id=\"incontent-1815438220\" class=\"ad-container\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var load_1258627675 = function () {googletag.cmd.push(function () {var slot_1258627675 = googletag.defineSlot(\"\/1017963\/DMarge\/incontent\",[[250,250],[300,100],[300,250],[320,100],[336,280]],\"incontent-1815438220\").addService(googletag.pubads()).setTargeting('refresh', 'true');if (gamData && gamData.sizeMap && gamData.sizeMap.hasOwnProperty('incontent')) {slot_1258627675.defineSizeMapping(gamData.sizeMap['incontent']);}googletag.display(\"incontent-1815438220\");});};adsQueue.push(load_1258627675);<\/script><\/div><\/div>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <p>What I love about this car is that it nods back to the late 70s BMW era, the CSL vibe, the clean, purposeful shapes, the kind of cars that looked right because they were drawn by people who cared about driving, not just moodboards. It even hits me personally because it reminds me of my first car, a 318i. That old-school BMW feeling of \u201csimple, sharp, sorted\u201d is baked into this, even though it\u2019s packed with modern tech.<\/p><p>This is the next big thing in EVs for BMW. It feels like a home run.<\/p><p>It\u2019s due out in Australia mid-year-ish from what I\u2019m hearing, and when it lands, it\u2019ll be one of those cars people instantly start benchmarking against. Not because it\u2019s the latest and greatest but because it finally feels like BMW decided what it wants to be again.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-word\">Final Word<\/h3><p>Yes, the list is heavy on EVs. That\u2019s not because petrol is dead, it\u2019s because the most interesting product momentum right now is happening in the electric space, whether you like it or not. These are the cars I\u2019m most excited to drive this year. The ones I want in my hands, on real roads, doing real-life things with.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a sea of me too cars, we think these ten are going to be a hit this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":536480,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1167],"tags":[],"coauthors":[146525],"class_list":{"0":"post-536467","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cars"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=536467"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":536502,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536467\/revisions\/536502"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/536480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=536467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=536467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=536467"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmarge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=536467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}