2025 was a big year for new model launches, and 2026 is expected to see a further influx of fresh produce to Australian shores – and not all of it is coming from China.
There’s everything from new generations of best-selling vehicles like the Mazda CX-5, Subaru Outback and Toyota RAV4 to high-end models like the first electric Porsche Cayenne and the Aston Martin Valhalla.
Add in some intriguing new offerings, like the Honda Super-One and the Xpeng X9, as well as the return of the
Honda Prelude, and there is something for everyone.
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Here are the new cars, vans and SUVs that members of the Daily Sparkz The team is very excited to get behind the wheel in 2026.
Daily Sparkz: Ford Ranger Super Duty
I’m looking forward to spending some more time with the Ranger Super Duty.
It’s a crucial vehicle for Ford – it’s the brand’s chance to steal huge market share from Toyota in the LandCruiser 70 series.
Ultimately, it will come down to reliability – something Ford has struggled with in the past and that fleets paying this much money won’t tolerate.
Daily Sparkz: Toyota Century
I’m waiting to place my order for a Toyota Century. Otherwise, I’m excited about Hyundai’s supercars and the plethora of Chinese brands.
Marton Pettendy: Ford Ranger Super Duty
At the very least, the toughest factory Ranger ever is a testament to the ingenuity and tenacity of the Australian automotive industry.
At most, the first Super Duty-badged Ranger received so many improvements at a basic chassis level that it probably deserves its own unique model name and exterior design, but it’s understandable why Ford wanted to use the nameplate of Australia’s best-selling model for the past two years.
Whatever the case, it’s high time that Toyota’s tried-and-true – but actually 40-year-old – LandCruiser 70 Series got some competition and that Australians who need or want an outback, mine or farm-ready workhorse have another option.
James Wong: Cupra Formentor VZ5
In a world where distinctive engine noises are increasingly becoming a thing of the past, Cupra Australia has committed to launching the five-cylinder Formentor VZ5 next year.
As we’ve come to know and love from Audi Sport’s ‘RS’ stable, the 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo petrol engine in the VZ5 offers a distinctive five-cylinder soundtrack to match its hyper hatch-rivaling performance. If anything, this engine fits the Formentor’s baby Lamborghini look best.
Going from zero to 100 km/h in just over four seconds combined with the Formentor’s excellent handling should be great fun. Reviews for the original in Europe were overwhelmingly positive, and I hope to be able to drive one in 2026 – preferably on a racetrack (hint: Cupra Australia).
William Stopford: Cadillac Lyriq-V and Lexus ES
Okay, so the Cadillac Lyriq-V isn’t the type of V-Series Cadillac I’ve been hoping would come here for over 20 years – it’s not a sedan and there’s no sharp internal combustion engine under the hood.
Still, the Lyriq-V takes Cadillac’s already impressive midsize electric SUV and increases performance while keeping aesthetic changes to a tasteful minimum.
It’s the only one of the three Cadillacs scheduled to appear here next year – alongside the very good Optiq and Vistiq – that I wasn’t allowed to drive in the US in June. General Motors has some talented engineers, so I’m excited to see how well they’ve built a powerful electric SUV.
I would also like to drive the new Lexus ES. I enjoy a comfortable luxury sedan and was surprisingly impressed with the latest Toyota Camry.
The new ES is the first generation to offer both hybrid and electric powertrain choices, and the ES500e dual-motor all-wheel drive sounds particularly interesting.
But I have some serious reservations about the new ES. Its exterior is somehow a mix of over-styled and generic 2020s Chinese sedan; The interior is completely Chinese, with a huge screen and practically no buttons.
However, beggars cannot be voters. Lexus still doesn’t have a new generation IS, and we haven’t even gotten the current one in Australia for several years. With the LS sedan seemingly on the way out (sacrilege!), this could soon be Lexus’ only sedan.
I would also like to mention the Denza Z9 GT, a luxury sports car from the premium brand BYD, which is offered with plug-in hybrid or electric drive. Denza Australia hasn’t officially confirmed it yet, but it seems to be a fait accompli and I’d love to see China’s answer to the Porsche Panamera and Taycan.
Damion Smy: Jaguar Type 00, Honda Prelude
Who knows if it will be released in 2026, but I am absolutely fascinated by Jaguar’s reinvention and what it will bring.
Among the cars that are actually locked in, the Honda Prelude could be the start of some great new showroom battles, even if early overseas reviews aren’t exactly enthusiastic about it. Hello Celica, MR2…
Sean Lander: Ford Ranger Super Duty
No comment needed, I just want one.
Josh Nevett: Genesis GV60 Magma and Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
Performance electric vehicles are still a hard sell for many people, myself included, but Hyundai is one of the few brands that has successfully broken through that skepticism with the crazy Ioniq 5 N.
And next year, the Korean automaker promises to improve this recipe.
For one thing, there will be a sedan version – the Ioniq 6 N – that offers a sleeker look and superior aerodynamics.
Then there’s the Genesis GV60 Magma, a slightly softer, more luxurious and very orange version of the Ioniq 5 N we’ve come to know and love.
Neither will likely sell in large numbers, but the few who take the plunge probably won’t regret it.
Ben Zechariah
Toyota has yet to confirm exactly what’s in the pipeline, but there are rumors of the company reviving the Starlet – possibly to replace the Yaris – and unconfirmed reports of a hot GR Starlet in development.
While it’s unlikely to hit dealers in 2026, it’s possible we’ll see some exciting reveals from Toyota and Gazoo Racing in the new year, and I’m here for it.
Max Davies: Lexus ES
Maybe I’m an old man at heart.
When the next-generation ES was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in April, I was thrilled that Lexus would not only build a new sedan, even though sedans are becoming increasingly popular, but that it would also make it electric.
I’ve been saying that a luxury electric sedan from Lexus would be a fantastic prospect since I tested the UX300e small electric SUV in 2024, and I’m happy for the brand apparently I took my advice to heart.
We already know that Lexus Australia will offer both hybrid and fully electric powertrains in the new ES; The only thing that would make it better would be the addition of the all-wheel drive option. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but it’s the closest thing to a new rear-wheel-drive Lexus luxury sedan.
But whatever the case, the stance of the current-generation ES certainly suggests that Lexus will be able to make a beautiful automobile again. The only thing I can complain about is that it’s not as sexy as the model it will replace.
