We’re calling it: family vehicles have had their moment in 2022. And that momentum appears set to continue well into 2023, with plenty of new models on the way, whether they be traditional three-row standards; or the truly viable larger electric vehicles the market has been waiting for.
Here’s a look at some of the family vehicles we’re most looking forward to experiencing in the next 12 months, presented in no particular order.
Toyota Grand Highlander
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Any time Toyota launches something new, it can be counted on as a Big Deal. That goes doubly so for the Toyota Grand Highlander that’s set to make its debut at the Chicago auto show in early February.
What we do know: the Grand Highlander will be longer and larger than the standard Highlander, but won’t go all the way to the new Sequoia’s enormous dimensions. The Hybrid Max badge has also been spotted on the tailgate on spy photos, which suggests it will sport the same turbocharged 2.4-litre inline-four powertrain seen on the Crown sedan, which in that application puts out 340 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. We’ve also learned that the Grand Highlander will offer semi-autonomous hands-free driving in certain scenarios, as well as self-parking technology.
What we don’t know: will the Grand Highlander just be an extended-wheelbase version of the Highlander with similar design features and technology, or will it get its own development that will set it apart? These answers will be revealed in just a few weeks.
Honda Pilot
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Just as the Grand Highlander is set to make a splash, Honda is releasing a completely redesigned version of its Pilot three-row SUV. The new design remains on unibody construction but is boxier and more truck-like in appearance. A 3.5-litre i-VTEC V6 engine produces 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque sent through a standard 10-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive, and fuel economy is kept in check via variable cylinder management.
The new TrailSport trim features a black front grille, shark-grey 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, gloss black door mirrors and handles, heated second-row captain’s chairs, and a standard trailer hitch receiver. In Canada, the 2023 Pilot will be sold in five trims, with pricing starting from $50,650 before fees and a $1,950 destination charge. That seems steep, so we’re very interested in exploring what the Pilot will bring to the table.
Hyundai Ioniq 7 and Kia EV9
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Hyundai Auto Group is rounding out the line-up in its Ioniq sub-brand, which is now focused on battery-electric vehicles. As a result, the Ioniq 7 three-row electric vehicle and its Kia stablemate, the Kia EV9, are preparing for launch in 2023. Both SUVs are similar in size to their gas-powered equivalents, the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. In the Ioniq 7, range is reportedly estimated at 483 kilometres and combined power output lands at 308 horsepower; while the EV9 will share the same platform and power figures are expected to be similar. Much more information on these vehicles is expected to become available as they launch next year.
Volkswagen ID.Buzz
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Who doesn’t love a VW microbus? Whether it’s an affinity for the character Fillmore from the movie Cars or the fried-out Kombi from the Men At Work song “Land Down Under,” it seems just about everyone finds a connection to the original people-mover as it transitions into its zero-emission era. Technically we’re still waiting on its precise launch timing, so living this nostalgia may need to wait until 2024. Available with five, six, or seven seats, the ID.Buzz’s first drives are likely to take place mid to late next year.
Honda CR-V
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For 2023, the Honda CR-V compact crossover finally matches its perennial competitor, the Toyota RAV4, by offering a hybrid variant north of the border. And it competes on another front, too: like the RAV4, the sixth-generation CR-V and its hybrid version will be assembled right here in Canada. What we know so far: the hybrid will be sold in a single trim, priced at $48,890, and is rated to average 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres combined. There’s also a lot going on styling-wise that matches the interior of the Honda Civic, which makes sense since the two vehicles share a platform.
Unfortunately, the gas-only versions are heavier and slightly less frugal in fuel efficiency, with estimates of 8.4 litres per 100 kilometres. Pricing starts at $34,790 with front-wheel-drive; and $37,590 with all-wheel-drive. What we don’t know: how this compact SUV fares over a test drive lasting longer than a couple of hours. For more on that, watch this space early in 2023.
Lexus RX
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Speaking once again of vehicles assembled in Canada, we’ve also driven the redesigned 2023 Lexus RX, which will come with three new hybrid powertrains, including one that creates the most powerful version of this mid-size luxury SUV that the company has ever built: the RX 500h peaks at 367 hp and 406 pound-feet of torque between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm. The Lexus RX will be sold in RX 350, RX 350h and RX 500h variants, while an RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid will follow soon afterwards. The refined drive dynamics and much more fashion-forward interior promise to help the RX retain its crown as a best-seller in its segment.
Starting MSRP ranges from $58,650 for the base model; to $79,800 for the RX 500h, and with deliveries beginning momentarily, we’re stoked to find out what this SUV is like to live with in contrast to the outgoing model. (We’re also curious to see whether the Toyota Grand Highlander and its rumoured luxury version, the Lexus TX, might see more success than the less-than-stellar three-row RX L that preceded it.)
VinFast VF 9
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We recently took a deep dive into the interior features of the VinFast VF 8 mid-size sedan here at Driving.ca, and while we haven’t yet taken that vehicle for a meaningful test drive, we’re also intrigued by the upcoming three-row version known as the VF 9. With a range estimated to be just shy of 600 kilometres for a single charge and a unique pricing model that makes vehicle battery ownership optional, VinFast appears set to sell EVs in ways Canadians aren’t yet used to.
We’re expecting the VF 9 to come with a dual-motor electric powertrain producing 402 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque that drives all four wheels, while a large 15.6-inch infotainment display and many driver assistance features will be standard. Pricing in Canada will start at $79,990; or $103,790 with an outright battery purchase.
Mazda CX-90
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Early news on the Mazda CX-90, which is larger than the current CX-9 three-row SUV, is promising. For one thing, it will mark the debut of Mazda plug-in hybrids in Canada. That version is expected to be powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a 100-kW electric motor matched with a 17.8-kWh high-voltage battery that sends power to rear-wheel-drive. In the related CX-60 that’s not sold in North America, this combination creates 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, though these figures are likely to be slightly different in this larger SUV.
This version, along with the all-wheel-drive gas-powered variant with a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, will make their hotly anticipated debut in January 2023.
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