We’re all still on the wild ride that began in earnest 18 months ago, but if nothing else, a lot of things sure do feel different right now than they did at this time last year. We’ll save talk about challenges faced by new car dealers and customers for our Buyer’s Guide issue next month; right now, it’s time to look toward what’s beyond the horizon.
Whether you’re most interested in peering ahead to the near term or further down the road, we have you covered with all of our latest intel on cars of the future. And with info that breaks down more than 50 of the most noteworthy vehicles set to arrive within the next few years—from the continuation of some of the world’s most famous conventional gasoline-powered models to a quickly growing fleet of EVs—there’s sure to be more than a few cars here that catch your eye.
So, get reading, and look forward to the time when the recent unpleasantness will hopefully be even further in our rearview and the models featured on these pages hit the streets. They’ll all be here before you know it.
2023 Aston Martin DBX AMR
WHAT IT IS: A high-performance version of Aston Martin’s stylish SUV. The DBX AMR is aimed squarely at Lamborghini’s Urus.
WHY IT MATTERS: Aston Martin’s first SUV is already a hit, quickly accounting for close to half the marque’s total sales despite being launched in the middle of the pandemic. New Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers believes DBX sales could reach 5,000 vehicles per year, so he has made expanding the DBX family a priority. As such, the DBX AMR won’t be the only addition to the DBX lineup: Two hybrid models are also coming within two years.
This story is from the September 2021 edition of Motor Trend.
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This story is from the September 2021 edition of Motor Trend.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MOTORTREND SUV OF THE YEAR 2024 - CERTIFIED FRESH
THERE’S NO REST FOR SUV MAKERS IN THE INTENSE QUEST TO BE THE BEST
THE CHEVROLET BLAZER EV IS THE 2024 SUV OF THE YEAR
Once again, the bow-tie brand shows leadership in the electric vehicle space
AGENTS OF ZERO
WE DID IT AGAIN: RUNNING OUR VW ID4 EV OUT OF ELECTRICITY, JUST TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS
THEY LISTENED
THE NEW TESLA MODEL 3 HIGHLAND FIXES NEARLY EVERYTHING WE HATED ABOUT THE OLD CAR
2023 Lexus RZ
Lexus says it will make only battery-powered vehicles by 2035, and the new RZ 450e is the brand’s first dedicated EV. This midsize crossover indicates Lexus’ future lineup will have luxurious appeal, but we find this first effort lacking in crucial areas.
2024 Land Rover Defender
The Defender 130 is a tricky one to judge. On one hand, it potentially improves upon a design and package we previously lauded enough to crown as our 2021 SUV of the Year in the form of the standard Defender 110. The 130 is more than a foot longer than the 110 and has more room for people and stuff, stretching the existing design into a new body style. (The 130’s wheelbase remains unchanged.)
2024 Kia Seltos
If you’ve been a fan of Kia’s recent styling direction but don’t want to pay top dollar for it, the 2024 Kia Seltos is a great way to get a rolling piece of that design aesthetic at a reasonable price.
2023 Jeep Compass
When asked to identify an off-road vehicle, the average person will point to just about any Jeep.
2024 Hyundai Kona
The Kona enters its second generation for 2024 with a new design language. It’s larger than the outgoing Kona, too, and its uncommonly ornate (for this class) and unmistakable design is something we’re already seeing in other upcoming Hyundai products. Having really liked the previous Kona, would our judges warm to this one?
2023 Ford Escape
The Escape is one of those SUVs that hasn’t ranked at the top of its class for a long time, but every time we drive one, we’re pleasantly surprised. Although it perpetually feels a little outdated, there’s some inherent goodness baked into the Escape.