2022 MOTORTREND NEW CAR BUYER’S GUIDE

Lately, it feels like the only consistent trend in new car sales is that you simply can’t predict what’s coming next. As many continue to cope with changes resulting from the pandemic, those fortunate enough to handle new car payments have begun to reenter the market, and in a big way. But just as automakers started to post record sales this year, the microchip shortage wreaked havoc on their ability to effectively stock dealerships.

Through all this craziness, however, one thing hasn’t changed: MotorTrend keeps you informed on what’s new and what’s coming soon. We demystify the new car market in our completely redesigned Buyer’s Guide at MotorTrend.com/cars and preview the updates right here on these pages. We have the info, analysis, and rankings you need to make a smarter decision. If you’re finally in the market for a new car or just want to stay up to date on the biggest news from your favorite automaker, enjoy this year’s comprehensive Buyer’s Guide. And be sure to head over to our online version for the latest updates year-round.

ACURA

MDX: Acura’s flagship SUV is all-new, with the three-row midsize crossover adopting sharp lines for a more dynamic and handsome look. Per Honda/Accura practice, that look is an almost direct translation from the concept version, and the redesigned MDX is roomier inside than the model it replaces.

Underneath the new sheetmetal are a host of chassis improvements, including a more rigid body structure, plus a control arm suspension setup that improves handling without sacrificing comfort. Most 2022 MDX models are powered by the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine from the previous generation, making 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. However, a new 10-speed automatic transmission sends power to the front or all four wheels (when buyers tick the box for Super Handling All-Wheel Drive).

If that’s not enough, the all-new MDX Type S will certainly turn some heads, as it packs 3.0-liter turbo V-6 with 355 hp and 354 lb-ft that’s the likely choice for enthusiasts shopping this SUV. This is the same engine found in the TLX Type S, and it’s paired to the same 10-speed automatic gearbox as the rest of the lineup. Here, though, the transmission is tuned to handle the additional power and sportier dynamics.

Inside, the MDX marks the introduction of Acura’s Precision Cockpit, a digital gauge cluster to rival the likes of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit. A customizable 12.3-inch screen sits in front of the driver; it displays info for navigation, tire pressures, and even a g-force meter. Another 12.3-inch display rests atop the dashboard, but the clumsy touchpad we dislike in the TLX and RDX is the sole way to control the screen.

TLX: The coveted Type S badge is back after more than a decade. The 2021 TLX Type S marks the return of the sporty variant, which packs a 3.0-liter turbo V-6 engine that sends 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic. Should you opt for the regular TLX, a 2.0-liter turbo derived from the Honda Civic Type R’s engine makes 272 hp.

In addition to giving the Type S a more powerful engine, Acura made important changes to the chassis, suspension, and transmission in a bid to ensure it lives up to the badge. Torsional rigidity increases by 13 percent thanks in part to an “A-brace” located behind the rear seats, while the front springs are 40 percent stiffer. Four-piston red-painted Brembo calipers squeeze 14.3-inch front rotors; these brakes are a massive enhancement compared to the two-piston calipers found on the regular TLX.

We don’t expect any significant changes for the 2022 model.

CARRYOVER: ILX, NSX, RDX

ALFA ROMEO

CARRYOVER: Giulia, Stelvio

DISCONTINUED: 4C

ASTON MARTIN

DB11: The DB11’s AMG-sourced twin-turbo V-8 now makes 528 horsepower, 25 more than before. With a new top speed of 192 mph, it’s now 5 mph closer to the 200-mph mark. Additionally, Sports Plus seats with more aggressive bolstering are now available. Finally, the 630-hp V-12 version of the DB11 drops its AMR branding as Aston looks to simplify its nomenclature; this is why the DBS bins the Superleggera portion of its name, too.

DBX: Aston plans multiple derivatives of its sensational SUV, including a mild hybrid model later this year and a Lamborghini Urus–fighting high-performance AMR model with at least 650 horsepower in 2022. The regular model can now be ordered with 23-inch wheels, the aggressive Sports Plus seats, and a wireless charging pad. Like the rest of Aston’s lineup, the DBX now also offers three new interior themes, dubbed Create, Accelerate, and Inspire, each of which offer multiple colors.

V12 SPEEDSTER: A windshieldless road rocket built in a run of 88 units, the Speedster packs a roughly 700-hp twin-turbo V-12 and can close in on 200 mph. (Bring goggles.) Its structure combines bits from the Vantage and DBS, while the eight-speed automatic transaxle comes from the DB11. Any of its buyers can spec the DBR1 package, which paints the car in Aston Martin Green, adds white and silver exterior accents, and lines the interior with saddle-brown leather and green fabrics. Two body-color helmets are included, too, and they store under transparent windows in the headrest cowls. Driving it is an absolute blast, and it’s more refined than it has a right to be.

VALHALLA: The Valhalla, described internally at Aston Martin as “Son of Valkyrie,” will share some technologies and engineering features with that car and will be built in limited numbers. It will also be much less expensive. Details remain scant—including final confirmation of its arrival date—but expect a rear-drive hybrid setup with an electric motor between AMG’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 and the transmission, much like the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. As for the possibility of all-wheel drive, the front venturis of the car’s Valkyrie-inspired aerodynamics make packaging motors on the front axle too much of a challenge.

VALKYRIE: The Valkyrie is a multimillion-dollar missile with a Cosworth-built hybrid V-12 engine that makes 1,160 hp and revs to 11,100 rpm, and it features ground-effect aerodynamics honed by genius Red Bull F1 designer Adrian Newey. It’s two years late, but new Aston CEO and ex-AMG chief Tobias Moers insists the first customer car will be delivered this year. The Valkyrie was to have been built in a separate, 90,000-square-foot factory, but Moers says the facility was simply too big, and the car will now be built at Gaydon. In addition to the regular car, a hardcore AMR Pro version will launch simultaneously—it’s essentially a Le Mans Prototype race car for the road—that ditches the hybrid hardware but still makes 1,000 hp. Just 40 AMR Pros will be built atop a wider, longer-wheelbase version of the regular Valkyrie’s chassis.

VANTAGE: The Vantage gets a wicked new special model in the F1 Edition, the first Aston to have Moers’ fingerprints all over it. It’s 12–15 seconds quicker around the Nürburgring than the standard car, thanks to a slight power increase, stickier tires, and, most crucially, additional stiffness measures in the steering and structure, retuned springs, and additional aerodynamic pieces. The engine management is also reworked, and it all adds up to one of the best driver’s cars Aston has ever produced.

MINOR UPDATES: DBS

AUDI

A3: Audi’s smallest sedan, the A3, has been redesigned and now heralds the brand’s latest styling approach. Beyond the signature pentagonal grille and general silhouette, the new A3 is much more sophisticated. Sculpted, curved bodywork with flared wheel arches distinguishes the new A3 from the previous edge-intensive look and gives the luxury subcompact sedan a more substantial appearance.

The 2022 A3 is also slightly longer, wider, and taller than before, which contributes to improved cabin capacity. The interior rework is perhaps even more extensive. The dashboard now seems as architectural and modern as those in Audi’s higher-end cars. Technology abounds, such as the standard digital instrument display and wireless smartphone connectivity.

Beneath the creased hood is a 201-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine, supplemented by a 48-volt mild hybrid electrical system that adds low-end torque and allows the car to coast with the engine off for improved efficiency. Behind a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, Quattro all-wheel drive is offered on the basic A3.

Quattro is standard on the sporty S3, which turns out 306 hp from its 2.0-liter turbo I-4, and the car rides on lowered suspension with available adaptive dampers. The hardcore RS 3 also returns for 2023, again packing a snarling I-5, now tuned to make more than 400 hp. Its new torque-vectoring rear axle is designed for tail-out antics.

A8: Stealthy styling gives the A8 low-key allure, perhaps to a fault. Audi’s flagship blends in a little too well, and it might receive a refresh for 2022 to better capture attention away from its bold, braggadocious competitors. Expect edgier headlights and a slightly enlarged grille to lead the changes.

Already brimming with luxury and technology, the A8’s features and content hardly seem worth improving upon. Yet Audi may feel the need to do so, as ultra-plush limousines like the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class or BMW Alpina B7 woo one percenters. It’s possible a new range-topping A8 variant will come for 2022 to take on those rarified chariots. Refined and enhanced semi-autonomous driver aids may also be part of the 2022 package. Even if the changes are minor, the A8 will remain an exceptional large luxury sedan.

E-TRON GT: The RS badge is a sacred mark among Audi enthusiasts, with the Rennsport designation only applied to the highest-performing models. It’s an indication of motorsports heritage and racetrack capability. As BMW M and Mercedes-AMG logos festoon an ever-expanding range of vehicles, Audi has righteously reserved RS for truly special cars—which makes its most recent application all the more shocking. Enter the E-Tron GT.

This new E-Tron bears little resemblance to the all-electric SUV of the same name, which made its debut for 2020. Rather, the E-Tron GT is an electric sedan, the mightiest version of which earns the coveted RS designation. Based on the J1 platform that underpins the Porsche Taycan, the E-Tron GT resembles its Stuttgart counterpart. Yet Audi intends the new flagship of its all-electric subbrand to enable swift and luxurious grand touring more so than Porsche’s performance-oriented stunner. That is, while the battery charge lasts.

Every E-Tron GT packs a 93-kWh battery powering motors on each axle for Quattro all-wheel drive. The standard version makes 469 hp in normal driving or up to 522 hp in launch-enhancing overboost mode. Meanwhile, the RS variant jumps from 590 hp to 637 hp when overboost is engaged. Expect 0–60 times to hover around 3.0 seconds and a driving range not much beyond 230 miles.

That range estimate somewhat contradicts the car’s grand-touring mission, but Audi equips it with the latest recharging tech. An 800-volt charging architecture is primed to function with future fast chargers. As of now, it can add up to 62 miles in five minutes or charge from 5 to 80 percent in a little more than 20 minutes.

The E-Tron GT gives drivers something to look at while it recharges: its mesmerizing bodywork. It looks exceptional even among Audi’s handsome lineup. The front end incorporates Audi’s usual grille shape, visually placing it as a member of the family. Yet past that, the E-Tron GT displays a new design approach. Its sculpted, more curvaceous surfacing contrasts the marque’s line-driven recent vehicles. The animated, width-spanning taillight leans on Audi’s LED expertise.

Inside, the E-Tron GT’s cabin nearly transcends modernity. Despite all the pixels on display, climate controls and other key functions thankfully remain accessible via physical buttons. The combination of user-friendliness and supercar speed is uncommon in such a cutting-edge vehicle. Regardless, material quality, fit, and finish is exceptional. The available glass roof adds airy ambiance to the cabin, which is otherwise swathed in acres of carbon and Alcantara.

Riding on Audi’s first three-chamber air suspension, the E-Tron GT RS benefits from rear-wheel steering among its chassis upgrades. But for as composed and agile as it is, brutal acceleration perhaps most differentiates it from Audis before it. Given the autobahn crushers that earned RS its reputation, that’s quite a feat. Indeed, the E-Tron GT marks a new era for Audi and RS, one that’s quicker, more stylish, and lower-emissions than ever. And if we’re lucky, Ingolstadt will see fit to introduce an Avant wagon variant of its new EV.

Q4 E-TRON: The E-Tron expansion is underway as Audi’s all-electric subbrand adds new models for 2022. One of these is the Q4 E-Tron, which competes against electric luxury compact crossovers like the Tesla Model Y or Volvo C40 Recharge.

Built on the scalable MEB architecture that also underpins Volkswagen’s ID4, the Q4 E-Tron offers several battery and driveline options, some of which earn the unusual distinction (by Audi standards) of being rear-wheel drive. The Q4 35 has a 52-kWh battery and a single rear motor producing 167 hp. Likewise, the Q4 40 turns the rear wheels, but its larger 77-kWh battery ups output to 201 hp. Quattro all-wheel drive is provided by the Q4 50, which shares the larger battery and employs motors on both axles for 295 combined horsepower. Expect range to be 200–250 miles on the EPA cycle.

As Audi works to penetrate the luxury EV space, the Q4 E-Tron showcases technology and trimmings fitting of the four rings. Digital real estate abounds, and an available augmented reality head-up display puts adaptable real-time information in the driver’s field of view. The upscale cabin’s driver-oriented theme centers around a peculiar hexagonal steering wheel.

Its exterior design makes a statement. Sharply creased wheel arches set a bold, muscular stance. The aggressive front end is unmistakably Audi, as are the available customizable LED headlights. Those elements are shared between the Q4 E-Tron SUV and Sportback, the latter of which reduces cargo space but maximizes style points with its fastback roofline.

In either case, the Q4 E-Tron is built for the moment. It is produced in a carbon-neutral factory in Zwickau, Germany. Recycled materials are used for sound deadening, interior trim, and other components.

Q5 SPORTBACK: Fashion waits for no one, and Audi, typically first in line on the catwalk, fell behind as the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe captured spotlights in the luxury compact fastback SUV category. That changes for 2022 as the Q5 Sportback rolls onto the scene.

This is essentially a standard Q5 with the trendy sloping-roof treatment Audi dubs Sportback. Cargo capacity is reduced, but only slightly. Behind the second row are 24.7 cubic feet of space, which increases to 51.9 cubic feet when those seats are folded. Those measurements compare to 25.6 and 53.5 cubic feet, respectively, in the regular Q5 with a sunroof (standard on the Sportback).

Otherwise, features and equipment between the Q5 and its Sportback counterpart are identical. Both