Demand for EVs and SUVs is running hot – and manufacturers are working hard to bring new brands and models to New Zealand. We have gathered a list of the top five exciting cars you’ll spot on our roads in 2023:

1. Opel Mokka

German car brand Opel launched in New Zealand in mid-2022, and the eye-catching Mokka is the crowd-pleaser among Opel’s four available models. The Mokka is a compact SUV with buckets of personality, a well-equipped interior and excellent efficiency – all at a very appealing price.

Its light steering and raised ride height make it well suited to comfortable driving. The Pure Panel dashboard and smartphone mirroring are standard, along with a heated steering wheel and paddle shifters on every model. Although it’s not super-roomy, the Mokka will be ideal for zipping around town, either with a young family or just your stylish self. Our vehicle experts recently had the opportunity to test drive the Mokka-e, keep an eye out to see what they thought of it. 

Available in the base model Edition (details below), the SRi and the 100% electric Mokka-e, which all qualify for clean car rebates.

• Engine type: 3-cylinder petrol turbo
• Price: from $38,990 + on-road costs
• Clean car rebate: $1,923

2. Nissan Qashqai

Solid, steady, and safe, the Nissan Qashqai has always been an excellent car to drive and the latest version is no exception. A real all-rounder, the Qashqai is a family-oriented crossover SUV with crisp styling and practical features. As a compact SUV, you’re sitting up high on the road, there’s room for the kids, and parking is easy, but on the flipside it’s not super-roomy in the back seats and boot. The technology across the Qashqai range is very impressive for the price: phone pairing, intelligent emergency braking, rearview camera and advanced driver assist features.

The Qashqai is currently available in ST (details below), ST-L, Ti and Ti-L models, all petrol powered.

In 2023, the all-new Qashqai e-POWER will launch, offering a hybrid version of the ever-popular Qashqai compact SUV. The hybrid will be more powerful than the petrol versions. There is no information out if the hybrid will qualify for the clean car rebate.

• Engine type: 2-litre petrol
• Price: from $37,790 + on-road costs
• Clean car rebate: $0

3. BYD ATTO 3

BYD also launched in New Zealand in mid-2022, and the Atto 3 is its trailblazing model. A battery-electric vehicle (BEV), the Atto 3 offers up to 345km range from its ‘blade’ battery, achieves the maximum clean car rebate and has a staggering suite of tech features that make it outstanding value for money.

It has a sleek external design, and it’s a swift and stable drive that will suit almost anyone looking for a spacious SUV. Inside, you’ll get an unusual but practical design with a surprising amount of space for passengers and cargo. Plus voice activation, heated front seats, an electric sunroof, a large 12.8-inch touchscreen with phone pairing and intelligent safety features. You can even run appliances off the battery. The AA recently had the opportunity to test drive the BYD Atto 3 as well. Keep an eye out for the review.  

Available in the Standard (details below) model and the Extended model with a larger 60kWh battery.

• Engine type: 50kWh
• Price: from $55,490 + on-road costs
• Clean car rebate: $8,625

4. Volvo C40 Recharge

Volvo’s first pure electric crossover, the C40 Recharge is a powerful BEV crossover SUV with all the features you’d expect from a premium vehicle. The base model battery gives you a range of 438km, and it has a towing capacity of 1,500kg, which is quite respectable for a BEV (although remember that towing will considerably reduce your range).

The C40 Recharge gives you 19” wheels as standard, as well as a panoramic sunroof and a regenerative braking system to maximise your range. Inside, it has built-in Google apps and services, a 12-inch driver display and heated front and rear seats. A smooth drive with the high build quality and superb safety features that Volvo is famous for, this is an ideal luxury family vehicle.

Available in the single-motor Plus (details below) and the twin-motor Ultimate model which has a longer range and higher towing capacity.

• Engine type: 69kWh
• Price: from $87,900 driveaway
• Clean car rebate: not eligible due to price

5. GWM Haval Jolion

Another small SUV designed with families in mind, the GWM Haval Jolion is spacious, safe and affordable. Its amazing array of technological features and driving aids make it a stand-out in its price range. The base model includes lane assist systems, blind spot monitoring, driver fatigue monitoring and traffic sign recognition. The digital controls can be slightly frustrating to navigate, and the safety systems are noisy in the default settings, but the Jolion is a huge amount of car for the money.

Instead of going for the less expensive but thirsty petrol engine, why not consider the Ultra Hybrid at $43,490 plus on-road costs? Unlike the petrol models, it’s eligible for a clean car rebate of $2,026.

Available in Premium (details below), Lux, Ultra and Ultra Hybrid.

• Engine type: 1.5L petrol turbo
• Price: from $29,990 + on-road costs
• Clean car rebate: -$1,322.50 (petrol models incur a fee)