See all Motoring NewsFrom electric saloons to small crossovers, luxury cars and mega-MPVs, here are some of the best new cars scheduled to hit the road in Ireland for the first time in 2023.
Volkswagen ID. Aero
Volkswagen has promised an all-electric replacement for the Passat saloon and in June presented its vision for that car in the form of the ID. Aero concept. Sharing both the same styling cues and underpinnings as other cars in the ID. range such as the ID.3 and ID.4, the aerodynamically slippery concept, Volkswagen said, is capable of 620km between charges, which bodes well for the production version. The electric Passat replacement will go into production in China and Germany in 2023 with sales commencing towards the end of the year.
Alfa Romeo Tonale
One of the best-looking compact crossovers out there, the Tonale is Alfa Romeo’s attempt to take on the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40. On the styling front, it certainly has those licked, but, a reasonably attractive range of mild- and plug-in hybrids notwithstanding, beyond that it falls short compared to its rivals in terms of quality, technology and a cramped boot. The Tonale handles really well for a crossover, but appealing as both its looks and roadholding are, it’ll have a tough job to steal many buyers from German rivals when it arrives in Ireland in 2023.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Following the jaw-dropping Prophecy concept of 2020, Hyundai’s follow-up to the popular and well-received Ioniq 5 has not disappointed. It may not be as radical as the Prophecy, but the Ioniq 6 is a sleek and curvaceous machine that Hyundai describes as an “electrified streamliner” - as opposed to the saloon that it is. As it’s based on the same platform as both the Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, expect rapid charging of up to 350kW and a range of over 600km.
Renault Austral
Renault’s replacement for the Kadjar is set to be a fine family all-rounder with loads of tech inside (including a 12.0-inch portrait aspect infotainment system), a well-appointed and nicely finished interior and plenty of boot space. Fuel economy should be decent too with only mild- and full hybrids in the range for starters and no diesel model at all in the line-up.
Peugeot 408
Like the VW ID. Aero, the Peugeot 408 may feature some crossover-like styling elements such as a taller stance and large-diameter wheels, but it’s really not very much taller than a Peugeot 308 hatchback (just 23mm in the difference). The 408 is scheduled to arrive in early 2023 and will feature plenty of tech, one petrol option and two plug-in hybrid versions, with an electric model coming down the line.
Polestar 3
Polestar only began selling cars in Ireland in 2022, and its electric Polestar 2 fastback is currently the only model on sale. That’ll change in 2023 with the arrival of the Polestar 3, an electric SUV about which not a vast amount is yet known. It’s due to make its debut in October, though won’t arrive in Ireland until well into next year. Hints from Polestar suggest a dual-motor powertrain and a range of up to 600km.
BMW M3 Touring
The car for which enthusiasts have been crying out for years — a version of BMW’s benchmark performance car, the M3, but with loads of space in the rear. It still has 510hp, it still has a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine and the set-up is still tuned with track capabilities in mind, but there’s now a 500-litre boot that expands to 1,510 litres when the rear seats are folded down. The M3 Touring goes on sale in Ireland from September, but with global supply chains as they are, it’ll likely be into 2023 before deliveries begin.
Fiat e-Doblo
The Fiat Doblo will return to the Irish passenger car market in 2023 with an all-new electric model, the E-Doblo. We don’t really tend to go for van-based MPVs as family cars in Ireland, but there’s plenty in the E-Doblo’s favour including a commodious five-seat interior with tons of space, all of it cleverly used. The E-Doblo is based on the same platform as its Stellantis stablemates, the Citroën ë-Berlingo, Peugeot e-Rifter and Opel Combo-E Life, so expect a 50kWh battery, 136hp and a range of up to 280km.
BMW i7
The looks are polarising, but what’s not up for debate is just how impressive the BMW i7 is inside with its slick, plush and tech-laden interior featuring electric and automated everything and even the option of a 31.3-inch screen that folds down from the roof for rear-seat passengers reclining in business class-style seats. Scheduled for market launch in November, BMW has said that first deliveries of the i7 are expected in December, but, given the global supply chain situation, early 2023 looks more likely.
Maxus Mifa 9
This one’s a bit of an oddball as the Chinese Maxus brand likely won’t be too familiar to Irish car buyers, though its vans have been for sale here for some years. The Mifa 9 is a seven- or eight-seat MPV with an absolutely massive interior jam-packed full of tech including colour touchscreens built into the armrests of the exceptionally comfortable middle row of seats. It’s a big heavy vehicle — much bigger than other MPVs such as the Ford Galaxy — which means it needs a big heavy battery (90kWh in this case) which will give the Mifa 9 a range of approximately 520km when it arrives here next year.