Nine New Car Trends We’re Seeing For 2026 and That’ll Make Cars Better
And, these trends will help you find the best car for your future ride
2025 turned out to be quite the interesting year. Between tariffs and ongoing supply issues, price hikes, huge discounts and an uncertain market, the year ended as one of the strongest on record. But what does that say for 2026?
With the start of the new year some things are clear: the new car trends we’ve seen in recent years will continue, the weaker trends will end and those that just began to bud at the end of the year are poised to take the stage. Here are the trends that will dominate car stories in 2026, and probably, beyond.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Many Cars Will Be Cheaper — Or at Least Not More Expensive
This is great news for new car buyers—not just because many cars will see a hold on prices or even lower prices in 2026, but because buyers will still get more standard features, better safety features and often, premium details like leatherette or AWD, still at a lower price. That’s because car makers have figured out how to add these features at a lower cost and still keep prices down or at parity with last year’s model.
It’s also due to some changing strategies at carmakers like Jeep, which restructured its lineup to reduce prices, and Toyota, which is upgrading its entire fleet to all hybrid, PHEV or electric and holding pricing in check.
Get Ready for EREV
The bad news: We have a new acronym to learn. The good news: This is a great powertrain that offers the best of both worlds, gas and electric power. EREV, which we may also simply hear as plug-in hybrid electric, or PHEV, stands for extended range electric vehicle. It is essentially an EV with a gas-powered generator that can be used to charge the battery. It drives like an EV, with the instant torque, silent performance and extra power, but it can be powered with gas or a plug.
We’ll see EREV pop up in the Ford F-150 Lightning, Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Wagoneer and models from Hyundai, BMW and Scout Motors, among others.
We’ll See More EVs
And they’ll have more power, more range, lower prices and can be charged at charging stations that continue to be built. Thanks to the growing global importance of EVs in international markets, as well as a superior power output and ultimately, a lower price to buy and maintain, this is a market that all carmakers have at least some focus on. And we’ll see many new EVs on the market in 2026.
Personalization Will Increase
Personalization is a strong new car trend that, in the past, wasn’t all that easy to accomplish unless you were buying a Rolls-Royce or Bentley thanks to the intricate process of design and production.
But thanks to new tech, better manufacturing process and systems such as Toyota’s SCAFT, or supply chain and future transformation fulfillment process, carmakers are figuring out ways to allow buyers to be more intentional about colors, interior finishes and options rather than just settling for what’s on a dealer’s lot.
Events Will Continue to Be The Place For Cars to See And Be Seen
We’ve seen events become more important to new car trends in recent years, from the rise in Concours d’Elegance events for owners such as Mini Takes the States, to car brands staking out a corner at South by Southwest to new events like Electrify Expo, all in addition to the local auto show.
And each event isn’t just a place to look at cars; it’s an opportunity to slide behind the wheel and take a test drive, hop into the passenger’s seat and feel an SUV’s off-road mastery or get an in-depth walk through from a product specialist, not a salesperson.
Heritage Continues to Lend Charm and Personality
The resurrection of heritage models and design over the last few years has been a game changer for many brands, from Dodge, which has led its entree into the modern EV era with a heritage-designed Daytona, to the return of the Ford Bronco, one of the most significant models on the market.
But look for more in 2026, from more teases from Scout Motors (slated for a 2027 debut), Jeep continuing its evolution of the Wrangler, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, and the BMW Neue Klasse, which shifts into a new new era with its Neue Klasse philosophy that framed the last era of the brand’s design. We’ll also see the return of heritage names form Honda with the 2026 Honda Prelude and the return of the Acura RSX. And that’s just the start.
More Adventure Vehicles Deliver More Capability
If there’s one trend that defined the last few years, it was the addition of an adventure trim to nearly every SUV on the road. You’d think carmakers are done, but no. The concept has proven so popular that we can expect to see more adventure iterations of popular SUVs from a smaller off-roader from Rivian, the R2, to a more off-road capable Kia Telluride to an all electric Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk edition and a new Land Rover Defender version. We expect some surprises, too; perhaps the Infiniti QX80 Trail edition will see its way to dealerships. And I’d be shocked if there are no new off-road editions from Toyota, Honda and Nissan.
Family Cars Still Rule New Car Trends
You have babies and they build cars to accommodate them. But the demand doesn’t stop there; those family cars, it turns, out, are great for long-distance travel, hauling large items, towing trailered toys and moving things around. And, people are willing to pay for what they want and need in a large SUV, so the market for these large vehicles continues to grow. Expect to see more new or redesigned family SUVs in 2026 as the market continues to fight for space in your driveway.
Used Cars Will Remain Pricey
While this may not sound like great news—who hasn’t hoped to find a hidden gem on a used car lot—but it’s a silver lining. Yes, used cars continue to hold the line on pricing, with prices on the most reliable and option-filled recent model cars rivaling that of brand new less-premium models.
The good news is that if you’re trading or selling a car, it should be worth more; and if you’re buying a used car, it should be more reliable and have a lot of valuable features. Of course, if you’re buying a used car, do your homework and ensure you’re getting a good car at a good price.
Overall, in 2026 expect what we’ve seen for the last decade or so: Lots of innovation, more standard features, more premium details and yes, higher prices overall. But with a smart approach, the right car at the right price is out there for you thanks to many of the trends we see forming for 2026.
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