Families can look forward to these cars

Space is the key! When families decide to buy a new car, one thing must come first: practicality. This year’s new family-friendly gadgets show that a plus in handling does not mean a minus in style.

BMW is very popular with Swiss car buyers: every tenth of a new car sold in 2022 was paid into the account of Bayern and its subsidiary Mini. BMW is also making a furious start to the new year: For the first time, the M3 sports model is also available as a practical Touring estate car. With a maximum of 510 hp, sporty moms and dads can really tear it up without sacrificing storage: 500 to 1510 liters of luggage fit in the back of the all-wheel drive M3 Touring. However, the sports station wagon, whose price is at least 127,400 francs, can break most family budgets.

In mid-2023, Ford will launch the next generation of the Tourneo Custom family van. For the first time, this will be offered not only as a diesel (136-170 hp) and plug-in hybrid (225 hp), but also as an all-electric model with a system output of 217 hp. And it has it all – literally: as standard there are eight seats in three rows of seats that can be moved in various ways. The 83 kWh battery from the pickup F150 Lightning in the USA provides a range of up to 370 kilometers before the fast charger is charged with a maximum of 125 kW. The point of contention is the price of the stylish electric van, which probably starts at at least 70,000 francs and above.

The new Hyundai Ioniq 6 celebrated its European premiere at Auto Zurich last fall. At the beginning of the year, the Korean electric sedan, designed purely for aerodynamics, is finally making its way to dealerships. Thanks to its low air resistance (cW rating of just 0.21), the 4.85-metre-long Ioniq 6 should ideally travel more than 600 kilometers on all-electric (rear-wheel drive, 229 hp) before a 77 kWh battery thanks to 800-volt technology in 18 . minutes from 10 percent to 80 percent full. The version with the smaller 53 kWh battery (150 hp) needs at least 400 kilometers. The top variant with all-wheel drive, the Ioniq 6, delivers up to 325 hp. It starts with the “Swiss Launch Edition” with a battery larger than 64,900 CHF. This will be followed by cheaper entry-level models with smaller batteries.

Kia presented the Concept EV9 study at the LA Auto Show in the fall of 2021. The electric SUV will be launched in Europe before the end of this year. The EV9 is about five meters long and will accommodate up to seven passengers at a range of more than 500 kilometers. As with the EV6 crossover, 800-volt technology provides fast charging up to 270 kW. However, only speculation can be made about the price; We estimate it could start at 80,000 francs. What is certain, however, is that shortly after the EV9’s launch, sister company Hyundai will also add a large electric SUV. Name: Ioniq 7.

The first Lexus exclusively developed for electric driving has a real revolution in the car: steering is optional with “wired steering” – that is, via cable rather than mechanical – this significantly reduces the steering angle on the futuristic mini steering wheel (click here driving report). An electric motor per axle makes the RZ 450e an all-wheel drive vehicle with system power of 313 hp (230 kW). The 71 kWh battery in the underbody should provide a range of over 400 kilometers. Lexus has yet to reveal a price for the large, 4.81-metre-long luxury SUV. We estimate at least 70,000 francs.

In the fall of 2022, Mazda launched its attack on the Nobel League! The most powerful Mazda of all time (327 hp plug-in system), the imposing SUV CX-60 is said to put pressure on rivals such as Alfa, Jaguar and Volvo. If the 4.75-metre-long CX-60 with an electric range of around 60 kilometers still doesn’t provide enough benefits, you can turn to the all-new CX-80 starting next summer. About five meters long, it offers an additional third row of seats and should also have more than the CX-60’s already generous 1726-litre load volume. The price of the CX-80, however, will likely be much higher than its smaller sibling, which starts at CHF 58,950.

Pity! Unfortunately, the all-electric EQT, based on the T-Series high-roof station wagon introduced last year, won’t be as cool as the futuristically designed work. The interior is modern with the MBUX infotainment system, and there’s still plenty of room in the seven-seater (trunk 551 litres). Inheriting from its Renault Kangoo E-Tech and Nissan Townstar EV technology siblings, the soon-to-be-launched EQT’s drive is rather poor: the electric motor pushes a maximum of 90 kW (122 hp). front axle, 45 kWh Battery provides a standard range of 280 kilometers, which is not exactly generous. By contrast, there is probably a price of at least 50,000 francs. From summer onwards, the EQT will also be available as a Marco Polo campervan model.

After the recently launched Astra GSe plug-in hybrid variant, the all-electric Astra Electric will follow in mid-2023 as a hatchback and a sports tourer station variant. For the drive, Opel uses technology from its sister company, the Peugeot e-308: an electric motor with 156 hp (115 kW) drives the front axle; The 54 kWh battery in the lower body should provide a range of more than 410 kilometers thanks to its mini consumption of only 12.7 kWh per 100 kilometers. There is also plenty of space in the compact station wagon: the loading volume is from 516 to 1553 liters. Prices for Opel’s electric station wagons should start at around 50,000 francs.

The all-electric version of the VW Bulli, which has been roaming the streets of Switzerland since last fall, is always cool. So far, VW has only offered the 4.71-metre-long electric van as a five-seater or a Büezer Cargo version. What they both have in common: infinite space. Identity. The Buzz is also available as a long version with up to seven seats – and this should again significantly exceed the regular Buzz’s more than 2200 liters of loading volume. For now, the big van will likely be offered as a rear-wheel drive vehicle with 204 hp (150 kW) and a 77 kWh battery (range: about 400 km). Next, VW wants to add an all-wheel drive GTX version with over 300 hp to all variants. Prices for the big electric Bulli should start at around 80,000 francs.