Never before has the automotive industry gone through such a period of sheer upheaval. Sales briefly dropped off of a cliff in 2020 as people hunkered down at home, unsure of what the future held. Then sales soared, only to run into a supply-chain brick wall restricting availability of the microchips necessary to power modern vehicle electronics. And through it all, car companies are rewriting their business plans around a total industry transformation brought about by electrification, connected services, and autonomous driving technologies.
Whew. From an industry-insider perspective, it’s all a little much. But from a consumer and car-buyer perspective, you just want to know what’s changing for 2022 so that you can plan your immediate purchases accordingly. And we’ve got the run-down for you, covering every make from Acura to Volvo.
Scroll through this list of automotive brands by alphabetical order to get a brief summary of what’s happening with each one, and then dive deeper into the details if you wish.
Oh, and happy new year!
This year, Acura redesigns its popular MDX midsize SUV, refreshes the compact RDX SUV, and revives its Type S performance nameplate on the MDX, the TLX sedan, and the NSX sports car. This is the final year for the NSX, but next year a new 2023 Acura Integra debuts. See all of the changes to the 2023 Acura models.
Audi introduces the new Q4 E-tron for 2022, a compact electric SUV that could find a big audience. The automaker’s small A3 sedan lineup is redesigned this year, and a new E-tron GT high-end grand tourer arrives as an alternative to other spendy electric vehicles. See all of the changes to the 2022 Audi models.
As the BMW i3 electric and i8 plug-in hybrid models fade to black, the automaker debuts the i4 and iX electric vehicles to replace them. Also, a redesigned 2 Series coupe and a new 4 Series Gran Coupe arrive while the popular X3 gets a freshening. See all of the changes to the 2022 BMW models.
High-performance Blackwing versions of the CT4-V small sedan and CT5-V midsize sedan debut for 2022. They represent the end of an era as Cadillac prepares to overhaul its entire lineup with electric drivetrains and new names ending in “iq.” See all of the changes to the 2022 Cadillac models.
Chevrolet planned a refresh of its Bolt electric car and a launch of its Bolt EUV electric crossover, but battery issues put the kibosh on them…for now. In other news, Chevrolet gives the Silverado 1500 numerous updates and adds a ZR2 off-roader to the lineup. Equinox and Traverse refreshes are also on tap. See all of the changes to the 2022 Chevrolet models.
Poor Chrysler. Now that the Voyager minivan is available only to rental car companies and the like, it’s got nothing but the ancient 300 sedan and Pacifica minivan to sell. See the changes to the 2022 Chrysler models.
Smell that? It’s a combination of gasoline, burned rubber, and testosterone. In other words, it is the scent of Dodge. Three of ‘em are available, all dating back a decade or more in terms of their design and engineering. This trio is a rolling celebration of old-fashioned internal combustion engines and snarling exhaust systems. See all of the changes to the 2022 Dodge models.
Ford has big electrification plans for 2022. The new E-Transit electric van goes on sale, and the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck finally arrives. The Maverick nameplate returns this year, affixed to a new small pickup truck. A 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor is also in the works for later in the year. See all of the changes to the 2022 Ford models.
Hyundai’s luxury brand debuts the impressive new GV70 compact SUV for 2022, and gives the small G70 sports sedan new styling to better align its looks with the rest of the lineup. Next year, a redesigned 2023 G90 sedan arrives to fully transform Genesis into a world-class luxury marque. See all of the changes to the 2022 Genesis models.
The first of many new electric vehicles from General Motors arrives in the form of the GMC Hummer EV pickup truck. Additionally, the popular Sierra 1500 gets a welcome refresh that refines the truck’s styling while upgrading the interior. See all of the changes to the 2022 GMC models.
Honda rolls out an all-new Civic lineup for 2022, freshens up the Passport SUV with the same front styling it bolted to the 2021 Ridgeline pickup truck, and debuts a new TrailSport line of more rugged looking SUVs. See all of the changes to the 2022 Honda models.
Hyundai is all over the map for 2022. New models include the electric Ioniq 5 and the small Santa Cruz pickup truck, while the Tucson gets a stunningly good full redesign. Performance comes in small packages, taking the form of the Elantra N and Kona N. Beyond this, minor updates happen across the lineup. See all of the changes to the 2022 Hyundai models.
The best-selling Infiniti QX60 gets a redesign for 2022, and it looks terrific. The new QX55 model also debuts, essentially an SUV coupe version of the QX50. Also, in a late announcement, the QX50 adds new standard safety and infotainment tech for 2022. See all of the changes to the 2022 Infiniti models.
There won’t be any big news from Jaguar until the brand goes fully electric in 2025. For now, a refresh of the I-Pace electric SUV arrives for 2022, and the F-Type sports car comes only with supercharged V8 engines. See all of the changes to the 2022 Jaguar models.
A redesigned Grand Cherokee and revived Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs headline the updates to the 2022 Jeep lineup. The small Compass also gets a refresh complete with new infotainment tech. See all of the changes to the 2022 Jeep models.
Kia leaps into electrification with the impressive new EV6 and replaces the Sedona minivan with the Carnival multi-purpose vehicle (aka minivan). The Forte and Stinger models get freshened styling and other changes, while the Cadenza and K900 are shown the door. A new plug-in hybrid version of the Sorento also arrives in 2022. See all of the changes to the 2022 Kia models.
Land Rover is busy planning for its electrified future. However, that’s not stopping it from debuting a redesigned Range Rover flagship SUV, which now officially starts north of 100 grand. It also infuses the Defender models with available V8 power for 2022. Otherwise, you can click to see all of the changes to the 2022 Land Rover models.
A redesigned Lexus NX arrives for 2022, and with it comes a sophisticated new Lexus Interface infotainment system. The large LX SUV is also completely redesigned for 2022, and a new V8-powered performance version of the IS sports sedan debuts. See all of the changes to the 2022 Lexus models.
Lincoln freshens up its flagship model, the full-size Navigator SUV, and debuts a new hands-free driving technology called ActiveGlide on that model. See all of the changes to the 2022 Lincoln models.
What’s New for the 2022 Lucid Models?
Lucid is a new electric vehicle company, and it has introduced a new luxury sedan called the Air. At first, expensive versions of the Air will be available. But over time, more affordable examples will go on sale. And soon, the Lucid Gravity SUV will arrive. Learn more about the Lucid Air.
Maserati has a new small SUV coming for 2023, called the Grecale. No, we don’t know how to say it either. Gray-kahl? Greh-sale? Who knows. Maybe Alexa or Siri can figure it out. Also, you can order yourself a new MC20 halo sports car. In the meantime, see all of the changes to the 2022 Maserati models.
Mazda debuts its first electric vehicle in 2022, the MX-30, while dropping the Mazda6 midsize sedan from its lineup. Other changes are minor, and Mazda has been slow in announcing them. A late add: the 2022 MX-5 Miatas offer improved handling, a new Platinum Quartz paint color, a new Terracotta leather hue, and newly restricted availability of automatic transmissions. See all of the changes to the 2022 Mazda models.
Mercedes debuts the fully electric EQS sedan for 2022, a complement to the recently redesigned S-Class sedan. At the other end of the lineup, a redesigned C-Class arrives in 2022. Mercedes hasn’t given up on high-end touring cars, as the all-new SL roadster can attest, but V8 engines are on the outs. Few remain in the automaker’s lineup for 2022. See all of the changes to the 2022 Mercedes-Benz models.
Mitsubishi shows signs of life with the debut of an all-new Outlander SUV. Based on the Nissan Rogue but styled, tuned, and packaged specifically for Mitsubishi, the 2022 Outlander is big improvement over the SUV it replaces. Otherwise, the Eclipse Cross gets a refresh while the Mitsubishi faithful await a new plug-in hybrid version of the redesigned Outlander, which is coming in 2023. See all of the changes to the 2022 Mitsubishi models.
Nissan had to delay two big debuts to the 2023 model year, namely the Ariya electric SUV and the Z sports car. But for 2022 the redesigned Frontier pickup and Pathfinder SUV promise to attract lots of customers to Nissan showrooms. The popular Rogue SUV also gets a new standard turbocharged engine this year. See all of the changes to the 2022 Nissan models.
Following the debut of the Taycan Cross Turismo electric sports wagon, Porsche is happy to expand existing lineups while giving the popular Macan compact SUV a minor makeover. See all of the changes to the 2022 Porsche models.
Ram rolls out a next-generation infotainment system to its popular pickup trucks. Otherwise, minor updates are in store. And yes, the ancient Ram 1500 Classic inexplicably remains in production. See all of the changes to the 2022 Ram models.
What’s New for the 2022 Rivian Models?
Rivian is a new electric vehicle company. Think Tesla, but for trucks, SUVs, and commercial vans. First out of the chute (aka the company’s Illinois factory) is the Rivian R1T which, unlike some electric trucks from startups, looks like something you might actually want to drive. Attractive, capable, and upscale, the Rivian R1T is the first of a wave of electric trucks arriving in 2022. An SUV is also coming; learn more about the Rivian R1S.
Subaru has launched a new Wilderness line of more capable SUVs with added ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and other tweaks. First up are the Forester Wilderness and the Outback Wilderness. In other news, redesigned versions of the BRZ sports car and WRX sports sedan arrive in 2022. See all of the changes to the 2022 Subaru models.
Who knows? Unless you follow Elon Musk on Twitter, its always a guess. What we know is Tesla continues its slow rollout of its Full Self Driving feature. (Which is not fully autonomous – truth in advertising much?) Tesla is also reportedly updating vehicle tech, adding new colors, and otherwise managing the global microchip crisis. See all of the (known) changes to the 2022 Tesla models.
Literally, the biggest news from Toyota this year is the redesigned 2022 Tundra pickup truck, now available with twin-turbocharged V6 and hybrid powertrains. A small SUV called the Corolla Cross also joins the lineup, and the GR 86 sports car is redesigned for 2022. The Avalon is dropped for 2022, and the Land Cruiser bids its final farewell to the U.S. market. See all of the changes to the 2022 Toyota models.
New versions of the Golf GTI and Golf R sport compact cars arrive for 2022, along with a new small SUV called the Taos. Meanwhile, VW cancels the standard Golf for 2022, and this also marks the final year for the Passat family sedan. See all of the changes to the 2022 Volkswagen models.
Volvo doubles down on electrification in 2022. Mild-hybrid engines arrive in most models, and a new fully-electric C40 Recharge debuts in SUV coupe format. Wagon lovers will need to sate their desire with the V60 Cross Country and V90 Cross Country models. See all of the changes to the 2022 Volvo models.
The automakers are the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of December 21, 2021, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
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