Top 10 cars launched this year

2021 has been a big year for the Australian auto industry, not least because of the various lockdowns and supply constraints, but also because of the sheer amount of crucial model launches.

At least one or two key new models were released in almost every vehicle segment Down Under in 2021, each of them influencing that particular part of the market in one way or another.

In one corner, we had myriad of new supercars and track-honed sports cars arrive to try and push the known performance boundaries; in another we had bespoke electric vehicles lobbing left right and centre; and in another there were milestone launches – vehicles that rewrote the established rulebook in their classes.

With all these factors in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the most important new models to be launched over the past 12 months and it’s no co-incidence that many of them were star performers in carsales’ 2021 Car of the Year.

1. Hyundai IONIQ 5

The first Hyundai Motor Group product to emerge on the Korean car-maker’s bespoke new e-GMP electric architecture, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 was named carsales’ 2021 Car of the Year for good reason.

With a 420km-plus range across the line-up, rear-wheel drive at base level and some serious grunt on offer, the 2021 Hyundai IONIQ 5 blends performance and practicality with its combination of Tucson-like dimensions and Santa Fe levels of interior space.

Offering stunning looks, a sensational driving experience and cutting-edge technology, the IONIQ 5 is a milestone not only for Hyundai but mainstream EVs in general, and will likely serve as both a catalyst and benchmark for a new wave of EVs to emerge over the coming years.

2. Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series

It’s not every day that a new Toyota LandCruiser comes along, let alone one with an all-new platform, powertrain and technologies.

Perhaps the most eagerly awaited launch of the past five years, the new 2022 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series ups the ante in every respect over the old 200 Series; it’s lighter, more capable, more powerful, more efficient, more modern and much more expensive.

That extra expense inevitably nets even more opulence in the higher grades and, in the case of the new GR Sport variant, never-before-seen levels of off-road prowess thanks to its front and rear locking differentials.

3. Kia Sportage

A runner up in the 2021 carsales Car of the Year awards, the new-generation Kia Sportage sets a new standard in the mid-size SUV segment thanks to its all-new platform, heavily updated engines, copious levels of safety equipment, increased sizes and bold new look.

Setting it apart from its Hyundai Tucson sibling is Kia Australia’s local chassis tuning program, which persevered through the countless lockdowns, COVID restrictions and supply issues to make the Sportage one the best driving medium SUVs available at any price right now.

The old model was already a competent and hugely popular offering, but the new-generation Kia Sportage has significantly moved the game on.

4. Genesis GV70

Another of our COTY finalists, the 2021 Genesis GV70 is tipped to be the aspiring luxury brand’s volume-selling model and it’s well on its way towards that mantra with 53 units being sold in November – more than double any other model in the fledgling Genesis line-up.

Aimed squarely at the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Audi Q5, the Genesis GV70 significantly undercuts most of its direct rivals and brings a new athleticism to an SUV range including the bigger GV80.

Combining top-class build quality and refinement, handsome styling, luxurious ambience and an accomplished driving experience, it’s not hard to see why the GV70 is selling so well; this is the model that cements Genesis as a genuine Euro-fighter.

5. Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is an icon of the motoring world and so, like the Toyota LandCruiser, when a new generation comes along it’s usually a big deal.

A finalist for COTY 2021, the new Mk8 Volkswagen Golf is more of a step forward than an all-out leap like the Sportage mentioned above, upping the ante primarily in the level of technology offered as standard.

With more driver aids, more safety tech and a screen-heavy interior wrapped in business-as-usual styling, it’s not hard to see why the Golf is a solid seller both here and in other markets around the world.

6. Porsche 911 GT3

Porsche has been the master of the track-honed supercar for decades now, and the GT3 has always been at the pinnacle of that elite group, combining hard-core track-day prowess the daily-driver ability.

The 2021 Porsche 911 GT3 is the latest chapter of this epic lineage and there’s no surprise it’s the best iteration yet thanks to its new-generation 992-series platform, new double-wishbone front suspension and sublime 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six engine.

Revving to 9000rpm, the non-turbo big-bore boxer sings out 375kW of power and 460Nm of torque which, combined with a 1475kg kerb weight, launches the winged weapon to 100km/h in as little as 3.4 seconds (PDK).

7. Hyundai i30 N DCT

The Hyundai i30 N caused quite the stir when it arrived back in 2018, blending aggro looks with a raucous soundtrack and a segment-scaring driving experience, but Hyundai always promised us more in the form of a (dual-clutch) automatic version.

Fast-forward three years and the long-awaited i30 N DCT is finally here, arriving as part of a mid-life update which also ushers in more power, better ergonomics and tweaked styling.

These upgrades combined with the new eight-speed DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission) elevate the i30 N from a genuine hot hatch challenger to an honest segment front-runner, but the folks at Hyundai Motor Company Australia made sure the six-speed manual version continues as the purist’s hot hatch.

8. Toyota GR Yaris Rallye

Few cars made a bigger impression this year – among both the media and customers – than the 2021 Toyota GR Yaris Rallye.

Powered by the same 200kW/370Nm turbo-triple as the regular GR Yaris, Australia’s Rallye version added lighter forged alloy wheels, stickier tyres, a stiffer suspension tune and a pair of Torsen limited-slip differentials to up the performance ante even further and create one of the best homologation specials in decades.

Buyers obviously had to pay more for the upgrades, that didn’t stop every single unit being sold in less than three months before Toyota was forced to issue a stop-sale in late June.

9. Isuzu MU-X

While it may not have received as much fanfare as the new Toyota LandCruiser, the 2021 Isuzu MU-X was another hotly anticipated 4x4 launch this year; fans were eager to see how well the new-gen D-MAX ute’s underpinnings transferred to the all-new seven-seat off-road SUV, and the answer is fantastically.

In one fell swoop, the Isuzu MU-X went from aged class tail-ender (but fan favourite) to one of the best in its segment, offering more space, more technology, a heap more safety gear and, crucially, a drastically improved driving experience.

Now at the pointy end of the ute-based SUV field for on-road manners and in the thick of the action off-road, the new MU-X also happens to be one of the safest 4x4s on the market.

10. Mercedes-Benz S-Class

A lot like the LandCruiser and Golf, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the cornerstone of its particular market sector – in this case the full-size luxury limousine segment.

As the mothership of the historic German brand’s fleet, the S-Class has always been the pioneer for Mercedes-Benz’s most advanced technologies and that’s exactly the case with this new generation.

Armed with a new platform and dripping with unheard of safety innovations and new-age tech like an augmented reality head-up display, the new S-Class has once again moved the luxury game along with too many features to mention in just one listicle…