Top 7 Cars to Buy in 2016
If you are looking for which cars to buy in 2016, you’ve come to the right place!
From new versions of old favourites to the new kids on the block, here’s a rundown of the hottest new cars to look out for this year.
2015 was the biggest year for Australian car sales ever, with 1,155,408 new cars being driven out the lot across the country – and that’s not including used car sales!
With this auto-industry boom, all eyes are on Australia, and the big car companies are looking to flood the country with their hottest new models over the next few years.
We’ll see speedy hot hatchbacks, hi-tech utes, futuristic hybrids, family workhorses and muscle-bound drag racers, with an incredible level of competition across all sectors.
This is great news for this year’s car buyers – more intense competition for car makers means better deals for you as everyone tries to step up their game to stay relevant.
One thing we can expect to see increasingly in new cars this year is an emphasis on futuristic technology. Whether that’s the incredible fuel-saving technology of the new hybrids, advanced user interfaces or adaptive cruise controls that drive on the motorway for you – after this year you won’t be surprised if you are driving your own personal KIT from Knight Rider by 2020.
So if you’re looking for cars to buy in 2016, don’t even consider putting a deposit down until you’ve read our rundown of the best cars coming to Australia this year…
Top 7 Cars to Buy in 2016
1. Holden Astra – Late 2016
Image source: Car Advice.com.au
This new addition to Holden’s already impressive arsenal is coming to our shores from Europe later this year. If early reviews are anything to go by, this car looks like it will make the front runners like the Mazda3 quake in their boots.
While the Astra looks familiar, this truly is all new – a couple of buttons and switches are all that remain from the old model. This car is not to be mistaken with the newly-released 3-door Astra, which is just a new version of an old model range.
An Astra with all the trimmings includes an impressive range of high-tech features for a family five-door hatchback. With autonomous emergency brakes, auto-dimming headlights and even a massage seat for the driver, this car makes the Astra you had as a teen look like a Hot Wheels toy. In fact, the LED high-beams that deliberately avoids flaring other driver’s eyes are a world first for a car in this class.
Under the bonnet, there’s a range of super frugal engines which include a 1.4L and a 1.6L 4 cylinder turbo. When coupled with the option of a 6-speed automatic or manual transmission, you’ll be seeing a fuel economy of around 5.6L/100km. Granted, this car is no racer: it is intended for saving fuel and travelling comfortably.
From the outside, this car is pretty good looking. While it’s not a dashing, classy saloon or an aggressive-looking boy racer, the taillights and chrome fittings around the front grille give the car presence.
Over the last decade or so Aussies bought 235,000 European Astras, and this is shaping up to be the best model yet. When the Astra finally hits the showroom floor late this year, it’s expected to start at $22,000 for the basic model.
2. Toyota Prius
Image Source: Autoblog.com
The name ‘Prius’ is as synonymous with hybrid technology as the Ford Mustang is with muscle cars. Although it’s not the 90’s anymore, and the Prius has plenty of competitors hungry to jump on the green energy wave.
The new and improved Toyota Prius has improved stats across the board. It’s almost as if Prius developers printed off a spec sheet and worked out to bump up each stat by a couple of digits.
Now let’s skip straight to the important numbers – the fuel economy. In an unusual turn of events, the power of the 1.8L engine and electric motor combo has been toned down for better efficiency. A bold move – but Prius drivers have never been so fussed about performance.
This new Prius is rumoured to run at a minuscule 3.2L/100km, giving you some of the best bang for your fuel buck on the market. They claim the new model uses 18 per cent less petrol than before. Unfortunately, unlike our cousins across the Pacific, we miss out on the lithium-ion batteries in favour of the older nickel-metal hydride ones.
The interior has been refreshed entirely. Previously the dashboard was dull and soulless, but now is bright with white highlights and angled up towards the driver. It’s more sculpted and crafted than before, with two HD LCD screens and stylised air vents.
While traditionally the Prius has been a stiff, but pleasant ride, the new lowered body is said to have improved handling. The engine noise has been reduced significantly, because, hey – noise pollution is pollution too. So don’t expect high octane thrills, rather peace and quiet and a smooth ride.
The Prius is set to be released this February and is expected to start at around $35k plus extras.
3. Subaru Impreza
Image source: Digital Trends
Another old favourite here. The Impreza is already a leading hatchback and the new model aims to add a sweet sense of style to jazz up Subaru’s safe-but-square reputation. Although what we’ve seen is only a concept, it’s looking promising!
In terms of restyling, the car is shorter and wider than before, giving improved shoulder room without sacrificing too much space in the boot. The angular headlights blend seamlessly into the car’s nose and the front is full of angular creases. The boosted tail end gives the Impreza’s its stocky appearance, but it’s given depth by a large rear bumper.
No solid news on the engine yet, but we are expecting to see a Boxer motor – 2.0L 4-cylinder with around 150bhp, which for a small car is really not too shabby.
The Impreza is set to launch by the end of 2016, and the price is being kept low at around $20,000 – great news for those looking for an affordable upgrade.
4. Ford Focus RS
Image source: Jalopnik
The Focus has enjoyed a small but dedicated fanbase for a while now, but the RS is set to bring the Ford screeching into the mainstream. Ford has confirmed that this model will have by far the best performance for any Focus ever, and early reports say that this car truly delivers.
The 2.3L turbo engine gives it a clear power advantage over the Golf R and the WRX STi, and it even beats the new Mustang EcoBoost muscle car. The engine packs one hell of a kick, with 350bhp and over 440Nm of torque (more with overboost). It’s even more powerful than the BMW M135i. This will give the car a 0-100km/h of under 5 seconds, guaranteed, making this car the poster boy for speed freaks, boy racers and modders everywhere.
Keeping the engine in check is the sophisticated onboard computer. The model comes with selectable “Drive Modes”, including Sport, Launch, Track and Drift. The Drift mode is designed to burn as much rubber as possible with controlled oversteer – and sounds like one of the most fun features available as a standard on any car out this year.
This is the first RS to be sold as a regular model instead of a special edition, but it still has that special edition price tag. The RS is due by mid-2016 and is expected to start at $50,990.
5. Jaguar F-Pace
Image source: Telegraph
After years of strict tradition, Jaguar is breaking its own molds left, right and centre. The F-Pace is the first SUV Jaguar has ever developed, and it’s coming to Australia just as SUV sales are at a record high.
The F-Pace is said to be larger and roomier than its current counterparts like the Audi QF and the BMW X3. The interior is expected to be classier than all other similar SUVs at the same price level, giving us “beautiful design, precise handling, a supple ride, luxurious interior finishes and cutting-edge technology”.
When the F-Pace debuted at the Frankfurt motor show three powertrains were available, a 2.0L diesel, a boosted 3.0L six-cylinder diesel and petrol alternatives. All of these options will be available in Australia.
The F-Pace is set to live up to its name, with great performance across the board. The 3.0L model will have a 0-100km/h of an impressive 5.5 seconds, and even the less powerful model can do it in 5.8 seconds. These are some seriously low figures for a car expected to weigh around a ton.
While the interior is styled like a classic Jag – brown leather seats and brushed chrome, the F-Pace is still packed with all the mod cons. Torque vectoring, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and all surface progress control will make sure you have a safe and smooth ride, on and off the road.
The Jaguar F-Pace lands in Australia in the third quarter of 2016, and can be expected to set you back $74,000.
6. BMW 7-Series
Image source: The Torque Report
The brand new BMW 7 Series comes in three models, 740i, 740d and 740Li. All of the models are expected to be cutting edge and executive class, with new bodywork, carbon core, display key and gesture controls. While these cars outprice many readers, it’s the exclusivity, prestige and jealous glances from onlookers in their sedans that you pay for.
Surround sound and leather seats come as standard, naturally. For the exterior, all models are fitted with BMW’s new Carbon Core architecture – a sci-fi blend of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, steel and lightweight aluminium to cut a good 130 kilos of the weight.
With the 740i, you are looking at a 0-100km/h of 5.5 seconds tops, giving you top-level performance. Despite all this power, you still have a fuel economy of a comparatively low 5.6L/100km – a considerable improvement on previous models.
While most cars release a basic model and offer you the mod cons as paid extras, even the standard models come with a huge host of bells and whistles, including:
- Air suspension
- Eight-speed automatic transmission
- Adaptive LED headlights
- Ventilated front seats
- DAB+ digital radio
- Reversing camera
- Parking sensors
- Soft close doors
- Surround view camera set up
- Panoramic sunroof
- Electric blinds
- Internet connectivity
- ConnectedDrive services
- Hands-free boot operation
- Lane-keeping assistance
- Forward and pedestrian collision warning
- Front and rear cross-traffic alerts
- Active adaptive cruise control
Impressive, eh?
But prestige comes at a price. When the car hits our shores prices will start at the slap-in-the-face $217,500, and go up from there depending on model type.
7. Ford Ranger
Image source: Top Car Release Dates
Aussies love their utes, that’s for sure. While for most, utes are basic, reliable, probably rusty, outback veterans. But Ford has a different idea with the new Ranger, which boasts the title of ‘the world’s most advanced workhorse ute’.
The Ford Ranger is set to have a host of features usually reserved for luxury, executive cars. We’re talking about radar cruise control, blind zone alert, forward collision warning and a lane keeping system, and that’s on top of a touchscreen interface, voice control and even a socket to charge your devices on the move. Makes a nice change from the old rust-bucket you have to push start every morning.
The new voice command software is built to respond to ‘natural’ voice commands, like “play AC/DC” or “I’m hungry” – although Ford hasn’t told us whether the Ranger will rustle up a meal for us in response.
When the Ford Ranger hits the dealerships in July it will hold the undisputed title of the most advanced pick-up down under, outstripping the HiLux, the Nissan Navara and Holden Colorado, despite them releasing brand new models before the Ranger.
While the engine has not been upgraded, still on the 3.2L five-cylinder Duratorq diesel packing 147kW, the new software and technical tweaks have improved fuel economy. By replacing the old power steering pump with an electronic model, they were able to reduce fuel consumption by 3 per cent alone.
It’s still too early to give a price or a release date on the Ranger, but it is expected to roll out to over 180 countries as the year progresses. Hopefully, it will be released in alphabetical order.
Seen something you fancy?
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