With the tumultuous year that was 2020 nearly behind us, many folks are looking forward to getting a fresh start in 2021. Car enthusiasts also have good reason to look forward to the new year, as there will be no shortage of exciting new cars arriving at Canadian dealerships in the next 12 months or so.
From supercharged V8 pickup trucks to battery-electric crossovers, all sorts of great new vehicles are coming to Canada’s shores in 2021, so let’s take a look at the ten most highly anticipated vehicular arrivals of the new year.
10. Ram 1500 TRX
The Ram 1500 TRX is Ram’s answer to the venerable Ford F-150 Raptor. Its party piece is the standard 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine, which produces a whopping 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque.
The truck also gets a beefed-up suspension with Bilstein dampers, an electronic locking rear differential, and 18-inch wheels shod in 35-inch all-terrain tires. The interior is surprisingly luxurious as well, featuring a standard 12-inch infotainment screen, a flat-bottom steering wheel, contrasting stitching, carbon fibre trim and other high-end appointments.
Pricing for the 2021 Ram Rebel TRX will start at $93,995 in Canada. The truck will arrive at Ram dealers early next year.
9. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392
Jeep finally went ahead and dropped its powerful 6.4-litre HEMI V8 engine under the hood of its iconic Wrangler, creating the 2021 Wrangler Rubicon 392. This four-door V8 Jeep will arrive in Canada next year, though pricing has yet to be announced.
It’s virtually the same as the standard Wrangler Rubicon, except it has that massive 470-hp V8 under the hood, rather than a four-cylinder or V6. It also comes standard with 17-inch beadlock wheels, 33-inch tires, Fox off-road shocks, and an electronic locking differential.
8. Volkswagen Golf R
The eighth-generation VW Golf will only be available in Canada in the sporty GTI and high-performance R guises for model year 2022.
Between these two, the Golf R is the more powerful and thus more exciting offering, doling out 315 hp from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder. The turbo four is paired with a standard six-speed manual and all-wheel drive, with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic also on offer. Other go-fast parts include a downforce-inducing rear spoiler, cross-drilled front brake rotors, and 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.
Pricing will be announced closer to its Canadian arrival late next year.
7. Nissan Ariya
The Nissan Ariya battery-electric crossover will go on sale in Canada toward the end of next year. The crossover will come standard with a 65-kWh battery and a single electric motor mounted on the front axle producing 215 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. When equipped with the optional 85-kWh battery and front-wheel-drive, the Ariya will be able to travel up to 482 km on a single charge.
An all-wheel-drive model will be available as well, which is good for 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The estimated range figures for the AWD Nissan Ariya have not been divulged. We’re also still awaiting Canadian pricing.
6. BMW iX
The BMW iX is the latest battery-electric offering from the German automaker and while it won’t arrive in the U.S. or Canada until 2022, our European friends will be able to buy an iX from their local BMW dealer next year.
The vehicle has a dual-motor powertrain producing roughly 500 horsepower, along with an 80-kWh battery pack providing an estimated 482 km range. Details on pricing, availability and options should be released closer to its Canadian arrival in early 2022.
5. GMC Hummer EV
The GMC Hummer EV First Edition will go on sale in late 2021. The battery-electric pickup, which is GM’s answer to the Tesla Cybertruck, features a dual-motor powertrain producing 1,000 horsepower, along with a 200-kWh battery providing an estimated 563 kilometres of range. Other versions of the truck with less power and less range will eventually be available as well. Canadian pricing for the First Edition has not yet been announced, however, American customers can expect to pay a whopping $112,995 USD for it – equivalent to roughly $144,000 CAD.
4. Volkswagen ID.4
The VW ID.4 electric crossover will go on sale in Canada in the summer of 2021. The base model will feature a 201 hp rear-drive motor, while an 82-kWh lithium-ion battery will provide an estimated 400 km of range. Also available is a dual-motor all-wheel-drive model that will churn out 301 hp.
Canadian customers will be happy to hear the VW ID.4 will come well prepared for harsh winters, with heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a heated windshield all offered as standard equipment.
Pricing for the VW ID.4 has not been announced. Customer deliveries are expected to commence early next year, though, so stay tuned for more information on this highly anticipated EV.
3. Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in Canada, so it goes without saying that the arrival of an all-new generation is a big deal. The 2021 Ford F-150 offers numerous improvements over the outgoing model that it replaces, with Ford saying the truck is 92 per cent new or revised.
It will be available with a wide range of powertrains, including a new hybrid model with a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine. This latest F-150 will also spawn a new high-performance Raptor model, along with a highly anticipated battery-electric variant.
2. Honda Civic
The eleventh-generation Honda Civic will hit Canadian dealers in 2021. Previewed by the 2022 Honda Civic Prototype, the next Civic will feature less-busy styling than the current model, giving it a more distinguished and grown-up appearance. The interior is also much more tidy, incorporating a minimalist design with an uncluttered dashboard, new digital gauge cluster and a new tablet-style infotainment screen.
Performance enthusiasts can rest easy knowing that Honda is planning a new sporty Si model and high-performance Type R. Coupe fans are out of luck, however, as Honda has ditched the two-door model, so this new Civic will be offered as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback only.
1. Ford Bronco
It’s hard for a vehicle to live up to the kind of hype that surrounded the new Ford Bronco, but the American automaker delivered exactly what fans were looking for with the revived off-roader.
The new Ford Bronco is available in two-door and four-door body styles and features removable roof panels and removable doors. The standard engine is a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder, which makes 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. A twin-turbo 2.7-litre V6 is also available, which makes a healthy 310 hp and 400 lb-ft. Both engines come standard with a 10-speed automatic, although the four-cylinder can also be ordered with a unique seven-speed manual.
The new Ford Bronco will also deliver with regards to off-road equipment and capability. Adventurous customers can order the Wildtrak variant, which comes with 17-inch beadlock capable wheels and massive 35-inch tires.
The first Ford Bronco models will be delivered to customers early next year. If there’s any vehicle to look forward to in 2021, this is it.
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