Choosing a new car is getting harder than ever, with decisions that wouldn’t have crossed the minds of car buyers twenty years ago. Finding the best new car to buy can be a minefield.
Is it best to stick with petrol and diesel or buy a battery electric model? Is a hybrid or plug-in hybrid car a good way station? Crossover, hatchback or old-fashioned estate?
Fortunately, there are several cars that stand out from the pack by virtue of their virtues, making the decision a lot easier. Whatever car you’re looking for, Driving.co.uk’s curated list of the best cars to buy in 2022 has you covered.
City car: Fiat 500e
Price: From £23,835
Everything that made the 2007 Fiat 500 such a hit, but modernized and electrified, the new Fiat 500e is a painfully stylish city car and a cinch to get around town. Even better is the fact that, with a purely electric powertrain, what was already an excellent city car is now future-proofed against low and zero emission zones.
Advantages:
- Effortlessly stylish
- Small turning circle
- Zero emissions
cons:
- Not the most spacious option
- Gets a bit pricey with extras
- Less than 200 miles between charges
Supermini: Opel Corsa
Price: From £17,330
The Corsa was the UK’s best-selling car last year, knocking Ford out of the top spot for the first time in decades – and rightly so. Possibly the best looking Corsa yet, the latest iteration is a well-made good value for money product that comes in petrol, diesel and pure electric forms meaning there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Advantages:
- Well rested
- Enough space
- Efficient powertrains
cons:
- Confusing infotainment system
- Lower safety rating than some rivals
- Poor resale value
Family car: Ford Mustang Mach-E
Price: From € 47,530
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is outright Car of the Year at the Sunday Times awards in 2021 and is a fine all-rounder, doing the Mustang name a disservice with decent looks, excellent handling and plenty of performance on tap. Oh, and it’s electric with a 150 kW fast-charging capability and up to 379 miles between charges.
Advantages:
- Great to drive
- Beautiful interior
- Good battery range
cons:
- Build quality is sometimes lacking
- “That’s not a real Mustang” is bored
- Drive a little hard
Medium family car: Volvo V60 Recharge
Price: From £50,930
Don’t be fooled by declining sales – a good estate car is as practical as any crossover and the Volvo V60 Recharge (plug-in hybrid) is one of the best in the business. The V60 is a very stylish car inside and out that feels really well screwed together. Practical and spacious as it is, it never feels utilitarian – the Volvo interior is a particularly comfortable and luxurious place to be.
Advantages:
- Comfortable, luxurious interior
- More luggage space than rivals
- Impeccable safety record
cons:
- Not fun to drive
- Distracting infotainment system
- Pretty thirsty when the batteries run out
Large family car: Kia Sorento
Price: From £40,590
Built like a tank and with room for seven, the Kia Sorento is an excellent family car, especially as the choice of engines makes it suitable for a range of different requirements. The hybrid models provide sufficient economy; the diesels do better, especially for those traveling longer distances and needing the extra torque for towing. The plug-in hybrid can drive about 35 kilometers on electric power alone, meaning commutes and school trips can often be completed without starting the engine. It’s actually quite fun to drive.
Advantages:
- Excellent build quality
- A real seven-seater
- Seven year warranty
cons:
- Pricey in top specs
- Hybrids not very economical
- Seats not particularly supportive
Electric car: Hyundai Ioniq 5
Price: From £39,400
The number of electric cars on this list shows how their choice has grown in recent years. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is arguably our favorite, thanks to the fact that not only is it a highly competent electric car and family hatchback, but its retro-futuristic look also makes it one of the most desirable EVs on the market. We love the design so much that we gave the Ioniq 5 our award for best designed car of the year last year, as well as another gong for its exceptionally comfortable interior.
Advantages:
- Looking awesome
- Tranquil, sophisticated interior
- 220 kW fast charging
cons:
- Mediocre handling
- Interior quality not excellent
- Kia EV6
Off-road vehicle: Land Rover Defender
Price: From £45,690
The new Defender had a lot to live up to and thankfully it’s just as off-road compatible as ever, while feeling thoroughly modern, comfortable and perfectly at home on the road where, let’s face it, most Defenders make the most of it. spend their time. their lives. But if drivers decide to take on the rough stuff, the Defender, with its array of cutting edge technology, should prove more than willing and capable.
Advantages:
- Excellent off road
- Seven seat option
- Strong resale values
cons:
- Poor fuel economy and emissions
- Reliability can be a concern
- Luggage and rear seat space in the shorter 90 models is tight
Sports car: Toyota GR Yaris
Price: From £31,170
An absolute hoot to drive and last year’s Jeremy Clarkson’s Car of the Year. The big man himself said it best:
“This is a car that made me laugh out loud. I took it to my fields one morning and made a terrible mess of it, but I didn’t care because it was a complete riot. And once I got the hang of how it worked, I moved on to the roads, which were made of slab ice. And there too it was a riot. This is one of the most enjoyable and exciting cars I’ve ever driven.”
Advantages:
- Great fun to drive
- Rally bred performance
- Strong resale values
cons:
- Interior a bit bland
- Poor rear view
- Price reflects sporty upgrades
Luxury car: Rolls-Royce Ghost
Price: From £208,000
Launched in 2020, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is incredibly opulent with exceptional build quality, carpets thicker than the deepest moss, handcrafted fixtures and fittings and truly dazzling levels of comfort and luxury. The Ghost is a sublime car that feels just that little bit more special than its ultra-luxury rivals. But that was of course what we expected from Rolls. Read our full review here.
Advantages:
- Extremely comfortable interior
- Excellent ride
- V12 Performance
cons:
- After customization you pay much more than the basic price
- Trick dampers don’t seem to add much to ride quality
- A little flashy?
