Best Cars 2014

There are plenty of new cars coming in 2014 to look foward to, so it might be worth holding out for a few months before you depart with your deposit. Luckily, to help you decide, we've created a handy guide that reveals 14 forthcoming releases you should know about.

There are lots of never-before-seen models coming out, taking manufacturers into new territory. On top of all of the new names, you’ll also see a lot more of some of the most recognisable models on the road, with new versions of the Ford Mondeo and Nissan Qashqai imminent. So 2014 will be a big year for motoring – and whether you’re after a supermini or a supercar, there’ll be something new for you.

Nissan Qashqai - Due February

The first-generation, British-built Qashqai was not only a money-spinner for Nissan, but also set a trend in the industry. Yet with so many new rivals, the Qashqai MkII faces a harder time.

Its team of designers, working from Nissan’s design centre in Paddington, London, has done a great job, though, with plenty of sculpted, flowing lines and an aggressive front end. Yet the real key for this car, according to bosses, is the build quality, which is why particular attention has been paid to the interior materials. A much larger seven-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard, while hi-end tech features such as 360-degree cameras, autobraking and park assist are all available.

Refinement is said to be much improved, giving the Qashqai a more grown-up feel, while the raft of new technology includes an electronic differential that brakes the inside wheel in corners to maximise grip.

And as most of the development work has been carried out on the roads around Nissan’s engineering base in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, we expect the Qashqai’s ride and handling to suit bumpy UK roads.

Prices: Qashqais start at £17,595 for the entry-level Visia, and prices rise to £27,854 for the 4WD 1.6 dCi in top-spec Tekna trim.

Range: While the old car came as a seven-seater, the new one is strictly for five. If you need seven seats, a new X-Trail arrives in July.

Ford Mondeo - Due Autumn

Two years ago now, Ford pulled the wraps off the US-market Fusion at the Detroit Motor Show, promising it would come to the UK badged as our next-generation Mondeo.

But factory disputes got in the way, so we’re still waiting for it – and the car will finally arrive in the autumn, and it's one of the most hotly anticipated new cars in 2014.

Our early drives suggest we’ll get a car that feels more advanced and more upmarket. It also looks good, thanks to a sleek new grille and headlights similar to the latest Ford Mustang’s.

There will be a range of new engines, including a 1.5-litre turbo petrol and a 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost. Diesel options will be 1.5 and 2.0-litre TDCis, with at least one emitting less than 100g/km of CO2.

The Fusion is offered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid, so it’s likely that we’ll see at least one of those options making it to the UK, too. To take the fight to the newly facelifted Insignia, Ford is fitting infotainment kit like MyFord Touch and SYNC, which will allow drivers to control almost all major functions by voice.

Safety tech like autobraking, fatigue detection and inflatable rear seatbelts will also be offered. Plus, in 2015, Ford is set to debut a new flagship Vignale version of the Mondeo.

Prices: Entry-level models will cost around £17,000 to match the Vauxhall Insignia. Flagship Vignale cars will be nearer £30,000.

Range: Ford will also offer an estate version of the Mondeo, with the same range of engines.

Audi Q7 - Due October

The new Audi Q7 is significant for several reasons – for starters, it will debut a new three-dimensional grille (previewed by the Crosslane Coupe concept in 2012) that will be applied to all future Audi SUVs.

Our exclusive image shows how it will look, with a more sculptured frame around the traditional hexagonal grille. Yet despite being such a large car, the new Q7 will also kick off a trend for cutting weight significantly.

Based on a new platform known as MLB, it will be produced from a combination of steel and aluminium that should help to slash around 350kg from the kerbweight.

The Q7 will be the first in a wave of new large SUVs from the VW Group, all of which will be built in Bratislava, Slovakia. Others include the next VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne, plus the new Bentley SUV.

The new Q7 will feature full LED headlights and 4G connectivity as options. Like the Range Rover Sport, a third row of seats will also be offered, while four, six and eight-cylinder turbo petrol and diesel engines will be fitted, along with a Q7 e-tron plug-in hybrid.

Prices: The current Q7 costs from around £44,000, but the new car could start at under £40k, with a new four-cylinder diesel kicking off the line-up.

Range: Sporty S line spec will make up the lion’s share of UK sales. But the V12 TDI will be dropped,and S and RS models are unlikely.

Mercedes S-Class Coupe - Due Summer

The S-Class Coupe was previewed as a concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this year, and it’s set to be revealed in full production form at the Geneva show in March. 

The new model replaces the CL, and it will have a sportier look than the S-Class saloon, with a sweeping roofline and subtle boot spoiler.

We’ve seen spy shots of the coupé, which indicate the showroom model will retain the sculpted lines and elegant profile of the concept. In fact, a Mercedes insider has confirmed to Auto Express the show model was 90 per cent the finished product.

The S-Class Coupe will share technology from the saloon, including advanced safety systems such as the Magic Body Control system and 6DVision set-up, which monitors pedestrians and traffic. The high-quality finish will naturally be carried over, too.

Also borrowed from the four-door will be the engine range. The concept featured the 4.7-litre V8 found in the S500, which develops 449bhp and 700Nm of torque. There will be an AMG version with a 577bhp 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8, while rumours also suggest the Coupé will debut with Mercedes’ new nine-speed automatic gearbox.

The company has confirmed it expects to develop six new models from the S-Class. This Coupe will be the first, with an S-Class Cabriolet tipped to follow in its footsteps.

Prices: The S-Class Coupe won’t come cheap. Expect a starting price of around £75,000, which is around £13,000 more than for the cheapest S-Class saloon.

Range: Expect a similar range of engines in the coupe as you’ll find in the S-Class saloon, although the smaller four-cylinder and six-cylinder options are unlikely to feature.

BMW Active Tourer - Due Summer

The 2 Series Active Tourer will be the first-ever front-wheel-drive BMW when it arrives late in 2014. Despite sharing a name with the 2 Series Coupe, the Active Tourer will use a platform from the new MINI, called UKL1.

It’ll also be fitted with BMW’s new range of modular three-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines. The most efficient versions will manage nearly 80mpg, while sportier petrol models will accelerate from 0-62mph in about nine seconds. So far, BMW has showcased two concepts previewing the 2 Series Active Tourer, and both have used a 1.5-litre engine coupled with an electric motor. It’s a good bet, then, that we’ll see a hybrid version eventually.

The Active Tourer will major on practicality, with a higher, more MPV-like roofline than any BMW currently on sale, but it still features all the brand’s usual styling cues, like the double kidney grille and Hofmeister kink in the C-pillar.

Expect a high seating position combined with a large glass area for great all-round visibility. Technology found elsewhere in the BMW line-up will make its way into the Tourer, including a range of safety systems like lane departure warning and a head-up display.

Prices: The 2 Active Tourer will sit between the 1 Series and 2 Series Coupe in terms of price – expect it to cost around £20,000.

Range: As well as the five-door model, BMW is working on a stretched seven-seat version.

Fiat 500X - Due Summer

The latest member of the Fiat 500 family is set to be a small crossover, built to rival cars like the Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur.

Fiat has already shown us a clay model of what it’ll look like, but we haven’t yet seen the production car. As our exclusive image shows it’ll take many of the 500 hatch’s features and put them in a more muscular SUV-style body – that explains the black plastic cladding on the wheelarches.

Insiders have told us that Fiat sees the X as a 500 that will appeal to a male buyer, with nearly every other version having a mostly female audience. Despite its rugged off-road looks, we’re expecting the 500X to be front-wheel drive only.

As with every 500, there will be the opportunity for customers to make the X their own with a variety of trim, colour and wheel options. The 500X uses the same platform as the 500L MPV – Fiat calls this Small-Wide, and it’s basically an enlarged Punto chassis.

Engine choices will mirror the 500L’s, so expect Fiat’s two-cylinder TwinAir petrol, plus a four-cylinder 1.3 diesel. Fiat will build the newcomer at its plant in Melfi, Italy, which recently benefited from an £810million investment.

Prices: Expect entry-level cars to start from around £14,000, putting the Fiat on a par with the Renault Captur.

Range: If you want something a bit more rugged, sister brand Jeep will produce its own version of the 500X, offering more off-road ability.

Audi A3 Cabriolet - Due April

The Audi A3 Cabriolet will go up against the likes of the VW Golf Cabriolet when it arrives in showrooms next April. But unlike the Golf – which loses its roof yet keeps its gawky hatchback shape – the drop-top A3 now comes with a sleek new saloon-based body.

Apart from the more grown-up looks, the main benefit of this switch is that it frees up an extra 60 litres of boot space, taking the total to 320 litres with the roof in place. Putting the hood down might eat into boot space a bit, but the process couldn’t be easier. Pull a small switch in the centre console and it folds away in 20 seconds – and you can do this while you’re driving at speeds of up to 31mph.

We’ve already had the chance to drive the A3 Cabriolet, and were really impressed by its refinement with the roof up, as well as the build quality throughout. The diesels are more efficient, but with the top down the clatter from under the bonnet can detract from the experience – so we’d go for any of the silky-smooth turbocharged petrols.

The A3 Cabriolet isn’t cheap, but if you’re after a small convertible and have cash to splash, it’ll be the hottest thing to be seen in next summer.

Prices: The A3 ranges from £25,790 for the 103bhp 1.4 TFSI SE trim to £32,420 for the 178bhp 1.8 TFSI in sporty S line spec.

Range: Audi has already confirmed that a four-wheel-drive S3 Cabriolet will join the ranks later in 2014. This will feature a 296bhp 2.0 TFSI, while prices are expected to start from around £37,000.