Best new cars coming soon: these are the future cars really worth waiting for in 2024 - and beyond

• Get up to speed with the best new cars coming in 2024
• More affordable electric cars take the centre stage
• SUVs, sports cars, and more, plus other cars due later

The best new cars coming in 2024: the Parkers guide to the best upcoming cars

The best new cars coming in 2024: Lotus Emeya

The best new cars coming in 2024: BMW iX3

The best new cars coming in 2024: Citroen e-C3

The best new cars coming in 2024: Dacia Spring

The best new cars coming in 2024: Fiat Panda (Centivento Concept)

The best new cars coming in 2024: Ford Puma

The best new cars coming in 2024: MINI Cooper EV

The best new cars coming in 2024: MG Cyberster

The best new cars coming in 2024: Renault 5 E-Tech

White Renault 5 E-Tech prototype, front view, parked in front of Roland Garros stadium

Written by Lewis Kingston Published: 19 January 2024

Thinking about buying a new car in 2024 or 2025? Well, while we’ve already got plenty to recommend in our best new cars list, there are also lots of entirely brand-spanking and significantly updated models on the way. So if you want to avoid buying something that’s just about to be replaced, or are simply interested in the future cars coming soon, this page is for you.

For here we’ve used all our industry knowledge and car-reviewing expertise to list the best cars coming in 2024 and beyond. One thing you’ll notice straightaway is that many of them are all-electric or plug-in hybrid models, meaning there will likely be some changes to our current roster of the best EVs and best PHEVs. Petrol and diesel cars are still being developed, however, despite the future restrictions on internal combustion engines; so if you need a more conventional car then there are still options worth checking out.

2024 will feature releases from many established brands, such as BMW and Fiat, but we’ll also get new cars from increasingly prominent alternatives such as the revived MG and recently revamped Smart. There should be something to suit most buyers, too, with the upcoming new cars likely to challenge the best family cars, the best SUVs and even the best sports cars.

Are you ready to start adding cars to your wish list? Read on to find out what we think are the 10 most interesting or significant new car launches of 2024, and check out our A-Z of upcoming new cars lower down the page.

The 10 best new cars coming in 2024

Below are our expert pick of the 10 best new cars coming in 2024, listed in alphabetical order.

BMW iX3

The first in a line of next-generation BMWs

The all-new BMW iX3 is set to be the first production car in the company’s upcoming Neue Klasse family. It will, as with many other future BMWs, employ an advanced new architecture that has been designed from the ground up as an all-electric offering. This clean-sheet design and its subsequent advantages and new technologies should make the new iX3 more capable and easier to live with than its predecessors.

Expect the new iX3 to be around the same size as the current BMW X3 and iX3, the latter of which it replaces, while taking design cues from the dramatic Vision Neue Klasse concept. Technological highlights include a new electrical system that allows up to 200 miles of range to be added in just 12 minutes when connected to an appropriately powerful charger. Production is due to start in November 2024, but it might take a while for iX3s to make it out to dealerships.

Read our current BMW iX3 review

Pros

Designed as an EV from the ground up
Advanced battery tech and charging capabilities
Should feature Vision Neue Klasse styling cues

Cons

Deliveries aren’t expected until 2025
It’ll be an expensive electric car

Citroen e-C3

Compact EV set to cost less than £23,000

Electric cars are all well and good but, for many, one of their major stumbling points is price. Fortunately, there are several less expensive EVs on the way – including this, the new 2024 Citroen e-C3. Citroen says that the entry-level version will start at less than £23,000 in the UK, while also packing a 199-mile range and 100kW DC rapid charging capability, allowing for a 20-80% charge in less than half an hour.

This SUV-styled hatchback also benefits from increased ground clearance, a 310-litre boot, a plush interior, and a stack of practical touches and appealing tech, all of which should help make it a breeze to own. Don’t expect a firecracker, in terms of performance, though: a single 113hp electric motor drives the front wheels, granting a 0-62mph time of 11 seconds and a top speed of 84mph. Serviceable, rather than swift.

Read our current Citroen C3 review

Pros

Entry-level model has a 199-mile range
Should start at less than £23,000
Good equipment and practicality

Cons

Only offered with a 113hp motor and FWD
No cheaper shorter-range version for the UK

Dacia Spring

A likeable and affordable electric runabout

The Dacia Spring is an interesting, affordable and practical city-slicking EV, and a rival to the likes of the Fiat 500 Electric. Dacia’s budget electric car has a claimed range of 137 miles, with its small-but-fit-for-purpose battery being a key player in terms of its affordability, and it should cost less than £20,000 when it lands in the UK in the second half of 2024.

We’ve had a chance to drive the Spring already, and we found it to be a light, good-handling compact electric car, with a decent amount of kit, that delivers on its claimed range. And while that range might be an on-paper issue for some, in the real world it may transpire to be more than adequate. After all, a lot of daily commutes and drives are short, and often at low average speeds.

Read our full Dacia Spring review

Pros

An inexpensive and characterful EV
Light and easy to drive
Good boot for a city car

Cons

Short range will limit its appeal
Interior feels cheap

Fiat Panda

The popular Panda finally gets refreshed

The diminutive Fiat Panda has been a good option for those seeking a cheap, tough runabout for a while now. But, let’s be honest, it’s very old – it’s been around for over a decade, now – and it shows. Take its more recent Euro NCAP crash test reassessment, for example, which awarded it a zero-star rating.

Fortunately, that should all change come July 2024, when an all-new version of Fiat’s popular city car is set to be launched. Little has been revealed about the new compact Italian car yet, but it is mooted to use the pictured Centoventi concept as a starting point. You can expect a few SUV-like styling cues as well, along with hybrid and electric powertrain options, and expect it to be underpinned by the Stellantis e-CMP2 platform, as found under the Jeep Avenger.

Read our current Fiat Panda review

Pros

Set to be offered in hybrid and electric forms
Will be compact, frugal, and inexpensive
Could take cues from the Centoventi concept

Cons

Very little has been revealed yet
No word on a 4x4 version

Ford Puma EV

Popular Puma gets an all-electric option

It’s no secret that we love the Ford Puma. After all, it won Small Family Car of the Year in the 2023 Parkers awards, and it was our overall Car of the Year in 2021. The Puma is great to drive, inexpensive to run, practical, and fun. And then there's the hotter ST model (pictured), which adds even more entertainment and performance to the mix, widening the Puma's appeal still further. To stand out so prominently among the best small SUVs is no mean feat.

One minor grumble we’ve always had, though, is the lack of alternative powertrain options. However, in 2024, an all-electric version of the popular Puma is set to hit the scene, finally expanding the line-up with a quiet and refined zero-emissions version. Little has been announced yet but expect the Puma EV to feature around 130hp and have a range of over 200 miles.

Read our full Ford Puma review

Pros

The Puma gets a zero-emissions version
Should prove fun and engaging to drive
Lower running costs than its counterparts

Cons

Likely to cost a lot more
Weight may make it less fun

MG Cyberster

Dramatic new EV roadster packs serious punch

The MG Cyberster marks a return to the brand’s sporting roots. Okay, it’s not small or light – but it is a two-seater convertible, harking back to the MGB roadster of old. However, the Cyberster is 100% electric. Which means that, somewhat surprisingly, MG is the first carmaker to build an open-top, two-seater electric sportscar since the original Tesla Roadster went off sale over a decade ago.

MG’s new Cyberster is a pretty serious piece of kit, too. The long-range rear-drive version packs 314hp and is capable of 0-62mph in five seconds. A 540hp dual-motor all-wheel-drive model will be offered as well, dishing out a 0-62mph time of around 3.5 seconds. Prices are set to start at £50,000, and the long-range model should be capable of around 330 miles on a single charge. Extremely intriguing.

Read our full MG Cyberster preview

Pros

It’s an exciting two-seat roadster (from MG!)
Promise to be exciting to drive - and fast
Estimated price of £50,000-£60,000

Cons

Conventional rivals will be tough opposition
EV weight could be a challenge

MINI Cooper Electric

Big changes for MINI’s ever-appealing hatchback

The fifth generation of the ever-popular MINI hatchback will make its full debut in 2024, with deliveries starting in spring. The initial entry-level electric version, sporting chunky and characterful exterior design and a slick-looking interior, will serve up at least 184hp and a claimed range of 190 miles. A higher-performance version with 218hp, and a claimed range of 250 miles, will also be available.

Prices will start at £30,000 for the entry-level Electric E model, while the more powerful Electric SE variant will clock in at £34,500. Three trim levels will be offered: Classic, Exclusive, and Sport. But if that’s all a bit rich, or electric power isn’t for you, worry not, as petrol versions are set to follow shortly. They’ll look similar to this, but basically be the same underneath as the 1.5- and 2.0-litre versions of the MINI that are currently in production. And if you need more space, a new version of the larger Mini Countryman is also on the way.

Read our current MINI Electric review

Pros

Distinctive exterior design
Superb interior and tech
Range of up to 250 miles

Cons

EV version set to start at £30k
Boot has a small 200-litre capacity

Lotus Emeya

New electric hyper-GT set to rival Porsche’s Taycan

The new Lotus Emeya is a luxury GT car that follows in the footsteps of the brand’s all-electric Eletre SUV. The Emeya’s possibly less likely to make devout Lotus enthusiasts froth at the mouth, though, due to its lower-slung looks and reputed focus on handling; Lotus claims that the four-door EV, production of which is due to start in 2024, will set new standards for how electric luxury cars should drive.

As you might expect, the Emeya offers up some serious performance. It has a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup that delivers a total of 905hp, allowing for 0-62mph in 2.78 seconds and a top speed of 159mph. It also boasts 350kW DC charging support, allowing 93 miles of range to be added in just five minutes. Roll on the group tests with the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S...

Read our Lotus Eletre SUV review

Pros

Reputed to set new GT car standards
Advanced handling and aerodynamics
0-62mph in less than 2.8 seconds

Cons

Question marks about range
Concerns about reliability and residuals

Renault 5 E-Tech

Stylish small EV set to tackle the new MINI

The Renault 5 E-Tech is the brand’s modern spin on the classic Renault 5 and it’s set to be an all-electric offering. Yes, the successor to the massively popular original Renault 5 is being reborn as a retro-styled hatchback. And, pleasingly, affordability is a key focus of the new EV, with Renault reputedly targeting a price of less than £25,000.

This won’t just be a low-range, low-power city car, though; Renault envisions this as a replacement for the Zoe, which currently serves-up a decent driving range for its class. As such, the new 5 E-Tech is promising a range of up to 249 miles, employing a 52kWh battery, while a less expensive, shorter-range 40kWh variant will be offered later. It’ll get a 134hp electric motor, and is targeting a fun and agile driving experience. There are lots of compact electric cars coming out next year, mind, so the Renault’s going to have a fight on its hands – but its looks and character are already attracting a lot of attention.

Read our outgoing Renault Zoe review

Pros

Renault’s iconic 5 reborn as an EV
Chunky and captivating exterior design
Reported low price target

Cons

Competition in the sector is hotting up
Retro cues won’t be to all tastes

Toyota Land Cruiser

Legendary heavy-duty 4x4 gets an overhaul

If you want a heavy-duty modern SUV, with serious off-road and towing credentials, you’re in luck: a new Toyota Land Cruiser is just around the corner. Yes, the fabled Land Cruiser has been overhauled entirely. It retains the classic body-on-frame construction of its predecessor but uses a new chassis that claims to be 505 more rigid, and benefits further from technology such as electronic power steering, an electronic front anti-roll bar disconnect, and advanced driver support and safety features.

It also gets bold retro-inspired styling, but no compromises have been made in terms of its off-roading capability – it still has short overhangs, so its approach and departure angles are on point. Only one powertrain option will be offered initially, which will be a 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel coupled to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and 4x4 system. If the new Defender feels like it’s trying a bit too hard to be cool, this could be the ideal alternative. Expect more details soon, ahead of UK sales starting in the first half of 2024.

Read our previous Toyota Land Cruiser review

Pros

Focus on durability and usability
Plethora of useful new tech
Five- or seven-seat configurations

Cons

Just one diesel engine option
Hybrid due in 2025, but just a mild one

The best new cars coming in 2024: buyers’ guide

If you’re thinking about buying a new car, it’s well worth investigating how old the model in question is, and whether it’s about to be replaced. Crucially, this can help avoid significant disappointment: you don’t want to buy a new car and then find its successor is just around the corner, packing the latest in desirable technology, design and features.

Alternatively, if you’re not fussed about the latest and greatest, it’s still essential to check if a new model is upcoming – because, if it is, you stand to get a better deal on the car you’re interested in now. The launch of a new generation of a car usually leads to discounts on the outgoing version, knowledge which you can use to potentially net yourself a better bargain when you’re shopping.

If you’re thinking of buying a car now, it’s also worth considering delivery times. A car you order now might not arrive for some time, at which point its successor might be available. You get your new car, sure, but it’s the previous-gen model with older tech, styling and capabilities, and its residual values and running costs might also be worse than the newer offering. A quick 10-minute internet search could help you avoid this, so bear it in mind.