2026 will be a big year for cars
If you care about what is coming next more than what is on dealer lots today, the next couple of years are going to be busy. Manufacturers are embarking on new design languages and taking more risks. Hybrids are surging, EVs are getting smarter and a bit cheaper, and a wave of all-new platforms is about to reset some of the most popular nameplates on the road.
2027 Kia Telluride SXP
While manufacturers strive to keep brand image strong, there’s a greater willingness to depart from designs of old while managing the risks of full electrification, as proven by changes in the market. There are a lot of new vehicles coming soon, but not all of them are worthy of attention. Here is a look at the most anticipated new cars, trucks, and SUVs headed for showrooms in 2026 and 2027, from mainstream crossovers to wild off-road muscle cars.
2026 Audi Q3
Audi
The 2026 Audi Q3 enters its next generation with a sharper design, smarter tech, and a more refined ride. The 2025 model didn’t look quite upscale inside and out, but that changes with the redesign of the brand’s smallest crossover. Audi’s subcompact luxury SUV now rides on an updated platform shared with the latest Volkswagen Group crossovers, bringing improved efficiency and more cabin space. The new Q3 gets a bolder exterior with a larger grille, slimmer LED lighting, and a more athletic stance. Most importantly, however, is the more powerful 255-horsepower turbo four and the improved dual-clutch transmission.
Audi
Inside, Audi has overhauled the cockpit with a new digital instrument cluster, a larger touchscreen interface, and premium materials that push it closer to the Q5 in feel. Powertrain options will include a turbocharged four-cylinder with mild-hybrid technology for smoother power delivery and better fuel economy, while an all-electric Q3 e-tron variant is rumored to arrive shortly after launch. The new Q3 aims to remain one of the most balanced and stylish compact luxury SUVs on the market.
2026 Mazda CX-5
Mazda’s CX-5 has been a favorite of enthusiasts and reviewers for years, and the all-new 2026 Mazda CX-5 looks ready to keep that streak going. The third-generation model grows a bit in size and practicality while sharpening the design with crisper lines, more integrated headlights, and a more aggressive stance. It still looks ike a CX-5, only more refined and edgier. The 2.5-liter four and six-speed automatic carry over, but it’s not likely to get the 2.5-liter turbo four from last year. Rumor has it that a hybrid variant will arrive for 2027.
The most important change is the model’s stark migration to touchscreen cabin controls, a huge controversy for a brand that has prided itself on some of the best switchgear in the business. The rest of the cabin is textbook Mazda with stunning minimalist styling and top-notch materials. It’s an excellent evolution of one of the best interiors for the price. Only time will tell if the touchscreen controls will keep Mazda loyalists interested. Only time will tell.
2026 Toyota RAV4
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 kicks off the sixth generation of one of the best-selling vehicles in America, and Toyota is going all-in on electrification here. The gas-only model is gone; every RAV4 is now a hybrid. A completely redesigned interior brings better materials, upgraded tech, and more storage, while the exterior keeps the chunky, adventure-ready look that has worked so well, just with fresher details and lighting.
For shoppers, the big story is simple: more power and better fuel economy from standard hybrid powertrains, with the familiar mix of front- and all-wheel-drive trims and a lineup that will range from basic commuter to sporty to the outdoorsy Woodland. Inside, the RAV4 improves its design and materials quality, and thankfully keeps the wonderful physical controls that make the RAV4 so easy to live with.
2026 Jeep Cherokee Hybrid
The 2026 Jeep Cherokee comes back after a two-year absence with a new mission: go farther on less fuel without losing Jeep character. The latest Cherokee is a self-charging hybrid that blends an I-4 turbo engine with electric assistance to hit an estimated 42 mpg city and 33 highway, roughly doubling the city fuel economy of the previous model. It embarks on a more squared-off and upright look than its rather dull-looking predecessor.
Jeep is positioning this as an “always ready” hybrid SUV that you fuel up like a normal gas vehicle and let the hybrid system work in the background while you enjoy improved range and lower running costs. At the same time, it retains the brand’s focus on all-weather capability, with trims and options oriented toward light off-roading and rough-weather confidence. The interior is revolutionary for the model with a new dash design, new tech, and a squared-off steering wheel. Here’s hoping the new design and powertrain draw in new customers, as well as bring back ones who had left.
2027 Kia Telluride
The current Telluride is already a darling of families and road-trip warriors, so the 2027 Kia Telluride has big shoes to fill. Kia describes it as an all-new SUV with bolder styling, tougher hardware, and more luxurious details in all three rows. It takes everything great about the first-generation Telluride and makes it better, including more passenger legroom and cargo space, as well as sporty X-Line and rugged X-Pro versions.
The headline change is the introduction of a new hybrid powertrain that joins the gas model, pairing a 2.5-liter turbo engine with electric assistance for better efficiency without losing the big-SUV power and towing people expect. Inside, there’s a fully redesigned digital cockpit, upgraded materials, more refined styling, improved connectivity, and more advanced driver assistance as Kia leans into its tech-heavy brand image. The new Telluride easily qualifies as one of the most anticipated SUVs of the new year, and its proven formula is a strong foundation that will likely create waiting lists for the 2027 model.
2026 Genesis GV90
The Genesis GV90 is on the way as the brand’s ultra-luxe, all-electric flagship SUV, inspired by the slinky Neolun concept and positioned above the GV80. Eschewing the busy styling details of so many other luxury automobiles, the GV90 promises to keep things elegant and simple outside with the characteristic parametric lighting elements brought into a new era. Smooth sides, big wheel arches, and an elegant profile should give the GV90 real luxury presence.
Built on Hyundai Motor Group’s new EV platform, the GV90 is expected to offer long-range battery options, super-fast charging, and the sort of quiet, refined ride that aims directly at traditional luxury heavy hitters. Early information points to dramatic lighting, a minimalist yet plush cabin, and even coach-style rear doors on some versions. This is the one to watch if you want a luxury EV SUV that feels more like a lounge than a truck.
2027 Slate Truck
Slate
Did anyone order an affordable EV truck that runs counterculture to the full-sized $80,000 versions that no one really asked for in the first place? Not every electric truck has to be huge and expensive. Enter the Slate Truck, an upcoming small, two-door battery-electric pickup designed to be simple, customizable, and surprisingly affordable, with pre-order buzz suggesting pricing around the $25k mark. It’s purposely simple and customizable with swappable body panels and rear sections. It’s downright ingenious.
Slate
The Slate Truck is a rear-drive two-seater with an estimated 150–240 miles of range and DC fast-charging capability via a NACS connector. Think of it as a modern interpretation of the old mini-truck formula, only electric: perfect for urban errands, small businesses, and people who want utility without the size of a full-size pickup. Its price and simplicity belie the trend set by the Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Sierra EV, and the Tesla Cybertruck. It’s about time.
2026 Rivian R2
Eric Anderson/Rivian
Rivian made its name with the R1T and R1S, but the Rivian R2 is the brand’s play for the mainstream, and it really needs one right now, given the cooling EV market and Rivian’s overly heavy play in the premium and very pricey EV space. The R2 is a mid-size, five-seat electric SUV aimed directly at the Tesla Model Y and gas crossovers like the Bronco Sport. Prices are expected to start around $45,000 with a range of over 300 miles.
Rivian
The R2 will offer single-, dual-, and tri-motor configurations, with rear-wheel drive on base models and all-wheel drive on higher trims. Rivian says two battery sizes will be available, plus modern extras like bi-directional charging and outdoor-friendly accessories. If Rivian can keep pricing in check, the R2 could be one of the most appealing all-around EVs on the market.
2026 Ford Mustang Raptor
Amos Kwon using ChatGPT 5.1
The Raptor name has plenty of appeal, and it’s moving to Ford’s venerable pony car. You might think it’s going to be weird, but all aspects point to an American version of the Porsche 911 Safari. The Ford Mustang Raptor, expected for the 2026 model year, takes the Mustang’s muscle-car attitude and grafts on the off-road hardware and toughness associated with the Raptor name. Only renderings on the web give us a glimpse of what it might look like: a Mustang body with increased clearance, flared fenders, black trim bits, and maybe even a skid plate. It’s still anyone’s guess what the model will really look like.
Amos Kwon using ChatGPT 5.1
Early information suggests a 5.0-liter V8 tuned for more than 450 horsepower, long-travel suspension, chunky tires, and a chassis setup that allows this Mustang to rip across dirt and sand while still feeling like a proper Mustang on pavement. It is niche, loud, and a little bit ridiculous, which is exactly the point. Here’s us holding out hope that it will get a six-speed manual transmission. If only.
2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA Class
Mercedes-Benz
The 2027 Mercedes-Benz CLA Class arrives in the form of two hybrid and two electric variants. The hybrid will use a new turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt hybrid system. Hybrids will have front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants. The electric models will be the CLA250+ and the CLA350. The CLA250+ has a single-motor rear-wheel drive setup, and the dual-motor CLA350 offers all-wheel drive and additional horsepower.
Mercedes-Benz
Inside, you get the latest and truly expansive full-width MBUX infotainment with AI-driven features. A missing component from the CLA has been more room, so you can expect the new model to offer a spacious, modern cabin that’s not as cosseting.
2027 BMW 3-Series
The 2027 BMW 3-Series marks the eighth generation of BMW’s benchmark sport sedan. It will keep gas-powered variants while adding a separate electric i3 version, so buyers can choose their flavor of powertrain. The next 3-Series will borrow plenty of its looks from the Neue Klasse concept, giving it a cleaner, more futuristic vibe inside and out. BMW hasn’t shared engine details yet, but it’s a safe bet the usual turbo four- and six-cylinder options will stick around. It’s not out of the question that there will be a turbo four-cylinder 330 alongside a turbocharged inline six M340, with either rear- or all-wheel drive. There will also be a new M3 with both gas and electric versions.
The interior will also borrow a lot from the Neue Klasse and the production iX3. Expect a super-minimal cabin with one big screen stretching across the dash for infotainment and driver info. BMW has named the new system “Panoramic Vision,” and it replaces the traditional driver display while not relegating all operations to the center screen alone. It should prove to be a new era for the legendary 3-Series.
Final thoughts
Taken together, this group says a lot about where the market is heading for 2026 and 2027. Hybrids are becoming the default for core family vehicles like the RAV4, Cherokee, and Telluride. EVs are moving upscale and getting more specialized, from adventure rigs like the Rivian R2 and Scout Traveler to minimalist, affordable workhorses like the Slate Truck. Lastly, traditional enthusiast nameplates are evolving rather than disappearing, whether that means an electric CLA, a more electrified 3-Series, or a Mustang that suddenly wants to go off-road. If you are planning a new-car purchase in the next couple of years, it may be worth waiting. The next wave is almost here, and it looks genuinely interesting.
About the author
Amos Kwon
Contributing Writer, Autoblog