The Geneva motor show is the first major European motoring event of the year and it usually gives us a good indication of the themes that will pervade through the motor industry throughout the year.
Whether that’s electrification, autonomous driving or improvements in connectivity, we can’t say for certain, but we’ve picked out what we think are the ten most important new cars for fleets that made their debuts at this year’s show.
Keep reading and let us know what you think via our social media channels.
1. Volkswagen Arteon
Sitting just above the Passat in the Volkswagen line-up is the new Arteon, a stylish five-door fastback that replaces the discontinued CC.
Longer, taller and wider than its predecessor with a boot measuring at 563 litres, the new Arteon mirrors many of the engines available in its Passat sibling, the popular 150hp 2.0-litre diesel will be particularly appealing for fleets, while the new 1.5-litre petrol, launched in the recently revised Golf, will also be available. A plug-in hybrid is expected to go on sale by the end of the year too.
Set to rival the likes of the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport, Audi A5 and BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe, the new Arteon will be available in front- and all-wheel drive and comes with a host of new driver assistance systems including a revised version of Emergency Assist, which can now change lanes autonomously to avoid a collision.
Order books for the new Arteon open in the autumn, with first deliveries due to start before the end of the 2017.
2. Volvo XC60
Set to arrive in the summer this year, the well overdue second-generation of Volvo’s mid-sized SUV has been uncovered at this years show.
Available in four-wheel drive only, the new XC60 shares its platform and many styling cues with its bigger brother, the XC90, and will rival the Audi Q5 and Jaguar F-Pace.
It’s longer and taller than the previous model and sits 14mm lower than the outgoing XC60 for a sportier look and drive.
Among the familiar design features are the eye-catching ‘Thor’s hammer’ headlights, which now extend into a revised version of the grille. The new car also showcases a number of Volvo’s innovative safety systems and will be available with the familiar four-cylinder engines seen in the XC90, all paired with the firm’s eight-speed automatic gearbox. Likely to be the most popular is the 190hp D4, a T8 plug-in model will join the line-up a little after launch.
Pricing is yet to be announced but we’re expecting the new XC60 to cost from around £35,000.
3. Nissan Qashqai
This latest iteration of the genre-defining Nissan Qashqai crossover aims to add an element of extra quality, a more premium feel, greater refinement and a huge increase in the amount of technology on offer.
This is especially true of the new car’s safety kit, which includes intelligent emergency braking at launch, with pedestrian detection being added later. Rear cross-traffic alert will also be available, as will traffic sign recognition and intelligent park assist.
Alongside these changes, there’s a new look up front, and a new kit-laden Tekna+ trim level. Engines and transmissions are unchanged, however.
4. DS 7 Crossback
One of our favourite cars from this year’s show, the DS 7 Crossback is the brand’s first foray into the large SUV territory and showcases a number of technological innovations and luxurious design touches.
Due to go on sale in early 2018, headline features for the new car include revolving headlamps that rotate up to 180 degrees, a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, diamond-themed styling throughout and a predictive suspension called Active Scan, which uses a high-mounted camera to read the road ahead and adapt the cars settings to suit.
The DS 7 Crossback will also be the first car in the PSA line-up to features the firm’s phase 2 autonomous driving technology, which, among other features, will use camera technology inside the cabin to monitor driver input.
Launched initially as front-wheel drive only, a number of petrol and diesel powertrains will be available, plus a plug-in hybrid option will join the line-up in 2019.
5. BMW 5 Series Touring
Often seen as the archetypal executive estate car, the new BMW 5 Series Touring enters one of the most competitive markets out there. With the latest Mercedes E-Class estate winning plenty of plaudits and the Volvo V90 signalling a very impressive return to form for the Swedish brand, the 5 Series won’t have things all its own way. However, if the recently launched saloon is anything to go by, that won’t mean it’s not a fantastic car – especially in terms of how it drives.
The new car is more efficient, more practical and more tech-filled than ever before and it’ll almost certainly be one of the class leaders. Orders are open now, with prices starting at £38,385.
6. Suzuki Swift
The latest version of Suzuki’s answer to the Ford Fiesta has finally been uncovered and it bucks the supermini growth trend by staying resolutely true to its compact dimensions.
Shorter than the outgoing car, yet lower and wider, interior space has improved and boot space has grown to 254 litres – up 54 litres.
Significantly lighter than before, the new Swift will be available with the firms new 1.0-litre Boosterjet petrol engine that promises headline figures of 61.4mpg and CO2 emissions from 104g/km. Also available is Suzuki’s ‘mild hybrid’ system, which uses the starter motor as a generator to charge a small battery, and will reduce CO2 emissions further to around 97g/km.
The new Swift is based on the same platform as the Ignis and Baleno and will be available as a five-door only, it’s already on sale in Japan and order books are due to open here in the UK on 1 June.
7. Ford Fiesta
It seems like an age ago when we attended an exclusive preview of the new Fiesta in Germany but the UK’s biggest selling car finally gets its world premiere in Geneva.
Revamped inside and out, the new Fiesta has grown 71mm in length, which means interior space has much improved, while the engine line-up will include the award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol with new cylinder deactivation technology to boost fuel economy.
Available in six trims. The familiar Style, Zetec and Titanium will be available, with the middle-spec Zetec expected to take the bulk of sales. Also joining the range will be an upmarket Vignale version, a sporty ST-Line variant, and Active, the first in a new line-up of crossover-styled versions that will roll out across the Ford family.
Prices and specifications were revealed at the show, with Ford confirming that the next-generation supermini will start from £12,715 when it arrives in the UK in the spring.
8. Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer
Along with autonomous driving, electrification and active safety, cars aiming to be ‘more premium’ is a defining feature of this year’s Geneva show and the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is an obvious examples of this trend.
The brand has spoken extensively of its ambitions to make the Insignia more desirable and has worked hard with the styling, the amount of equipment on offer and with the way the car drives to instil this in potential customers. It’s more practical too, with a boot capable of swallowing up to 1,665 litres and a longer wheelbase adds a whole heap of extra rear passenger space.
Its extensive range of petrol and diesel engines also help it to be up to 10% more efficient than the outgoing Insignia estate too.
9. Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Big news from the Mitsubishi stand this year is the launch of the firm’s all-new mid-sized SUV, the Eclipse Cross.
Sitting between the ASX and Outlander in the firm’s line-up, the Eclipse aims to take on hugely popular SUVs like the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga and Seat Ateca.
Alongside its striking exterior design, inside showcases a new infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Full engine details are yet to be announced but we’re expecting a 1.5-litre turbo petrol to be available alongside a modified version of the firm’s 2.2-litre diesel, a plug-in hybrid version is also likely to join the line-up.
On sale in early 2018, it’s the first of five SUVs that will join the line-up by 2021.
10. Hyundai i30 Tourer
It’s been a busy few months for Hyundai. 2017 has seen the launch of the new i10 city car, the new i30 hatch, the plug-in hybrid Ioniq and now this, the new i30 Tourer estate. It aims to rival the class leaders in terms of practicality, with the boot measuring 602 litres with the rear seats up and 1,650 litres with them folded, while there are loads of storage cubbies dotted about too.
There’s loads of standard safety equipment as well, including rear cross traffic alert and lane keeping assist, while the car comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while wireless inductive phone charging is also available.
Additional reporting by James Richardson.
