Top New Cars for 2020: SUVs, EVs, PHEVs, Not So Many New Sedans
In 2020 we’ll see even more SUVs because that’s what an increasing number of buyers want, if they don’t want pickup trucks. At least in the US. Among traditional US automakers, Ford and GM are jettisoning sedans and Chrysler is already an SUV-pickup truck-minivan company. All of which is good news for automakers from Japan and Korea, who continue to churn out sedans. The other trend is the increasing number of vehicles that offer a hybrid version, a plug-in hybrid version, or a 48-volt booster motor that replaces or enhances a turbocharger. A couple of makers including Hyundai and Honda continue working on hydrogen fuel cells.
Automakers do the electrification dance because they’ve recognized climate change is not much in doubt, and they do it knowing the take rate is modest in the US. Even with federal take credits, purely electric vehicles hover around 2 percent of the market. They also do it because governments in Europe and Asia are serious about moving their countries into cleaner cars.
Here are 10 vehicles for 2020 that typify some of the trends we’re seeing and yes, more than 2 percent of our favorites will be electrified. Plus the Corvette, which is electrifying.
The Hyundai Palisade (and Kia Telluride) SUVs shocked the auto world with their refinement. Now Hyundai's upmarket sibling, the GV80 (concept is shown) plans to top that with a competitor to the BMW X5 / Mercedes GLE midsize SUV: 190-200 inches long, V6 or V8 engine (hybrid in a year or so), and killer interior. Price? The X5 starts at $59K, who Hyundai may come in at or under $50,000. A compact GV70 will follow.
The 2020 Ford Bronco SUV (1966-1996) returns as an off-road / lifestyle-focused midsize SUV with two and four doors, a Chevrolet Blazer / Jeep Wrangler competitor to some. It will probably spawn a single-row-cab pickup truck to do battle with the Jeep Gladiator. This gives Ford eight SUVs as of 2020 and almost no sedans, give or take the Mustang.
Polestar was Volvo's performance sub-brand. Now it's an electrical/performance brand. The Polestar 2 (Polestar 1 is limited production, high end) targets the mainstream EV sedan market pretty much owned by Tesla. Volvo cites 275 miles range from a 78-kWh battery and dual electric motors producing 408 hp. 60 mph arrives in 5 seconds. A performance version will be offered, too. First cars ship summer 2020.
The BMW i3 EV and i8 electrified supercar have moved on. BMW is doubling down with more vehicles, here in winter testing: the iNext electric crossover, the BMW i4 4-door fastback EV (340 or 435 miles), and the BMW iX3, an EV X3. All are due in 2020 or 2021.
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata is a four-door-coupe-looking sedan (main image) with a design language it calls Sensuous Sportiness. A digital key lets a smartphone unlock, start, and allow the driver to move off without a physical key. As others back off on sedans, Hyundai doubles down with the eighth generation.
Chevrolet engineers always wanted to build a mid-engine Corvette. Their grandchildren are doing it: $60K (and up) for a fabulous two-seater with 495 hp from a refined small-block Chevy engine. The convertible is $7,500 more. The C8 Corvette is a world-class sports car that doesn't cost the world.
The 2020 Aston Martin DBX targets the rarified ultra-premium SUV market of Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, and Rolls-Royce Cullinan. It has an aluminum body, Mercedes V8 engine, and price of, say, $200-$250K. Why does a 6,000-sales company matter? It's further proof SUVs appeal to high-end buyers, too. Also, added sales might turn the company more profitable.
Tesla returns to its roots with Roadster 2.0, probably in 2020 (this is Tesla, remember, so who knows) with outrageous claims (this is Tesla) for 0-60 times (1.9 seconds), top speed (250 mph), and 620 miles from a 200-kWh battery, much of which may come to pass (this is Tesla). It will have front and rear motors and a base price of $200,000. It actually seats four.
Tesla minus the drama equals Rivian. The startup chugs along with plans to ship both the R1T pickup ($69,000 base price) and R1S SUV ($72,500) in late 2020. They'll start with 135-kW battery packs good for 310 (pickup) / 300 (SUV) miles, or 180 kWh for 400-410 miles. A 105-kWh battery follows. 3 seconds 0-60 are possible. Other automakers are buying into Rivian, a good sign.
Porsche IS sports cars. Porsche Taycan (TIE-kahn) is where the automaker is going (eventually): purely electric power, dual motors / all-wheel-drive, and an 800-volt electrical system. It charges faster than Tesla, handles better, testers say, but lacks the room of the Tesla Model S. The Taycan Turbo ($152,000) and Turbo S ($186,350) will be joined by cheaper Taycans. Porsche is banking on a charging network that will make the lesser range less of an issue.
Automakers have more on their minds as they head into the decade of the 2020s — and we’re not getting into arguments over if that’s 1/1/20 or 1/1/21 — than where they’ll make up their losses selling EVs. Prices continue to climb in raw-dollar terms; Kelley Blue Book said the average transaction price (ATP) of new cars last month increased to $37,590. Buyers are opting for longer payment terms knowing they’ll be upside down — owing more than their car’s residual value — for two years, sometimes more. Economists say the number of people buying cars with subprime loans (they’re poor credit risks) and people buying over 50-84 months are signs their personal budgets are strained, that or they just want to buy cars with more features.
Longer-term there are concerns that as cars continue to get more reliable, people will hold onto their existing cars longer. The bigger concern is than when self-driving cars become real 2030-2040, even the flat 17 million sales expected this year will seem long the best of times. Concerns aside, 2020 cars and SUVs are exciting, more so if you shop electrified vehicles.
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