The second half of summer 2021 was a quiet time for new-vehicle launches in Canada, likely a result of the ongoing microchip shortage that’s hampering vehicle manufacturing.
In any event, there wasn’t much to talk about in August and September, which is why we haven’t published our usual monthly round-up of new arrivals since July.
October is shaping up to be more interesting, though, thanks to the promise of an all-new Honda Civic hatchback, revised Volkswagen Tiguan, and BMW X3 and X4 SUVs. We’ve also got a couple of September stragglers on board from Jeep and Nissan.
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan
Volkswagen has treated its second-generation Tiguan to an update for the 2022 model year that brings revised styling and a handful of new standard features.
The new kit includes LED headlights, a heated steering wheel, and a digital gauge cluster, all of which were options last year. As of 2022, all Canadian Tiguan models also come with VW’s 4Motion AWD system, eliminating 2021’s front-drive Trendline model.
Those changes contribute to a higher starting price of $32,995 (not including $1,950 for freight/PDI) for the 2022 Tiguan Trendline, a $1,000 premium over last year’s Trendline 4Motion model. Carried over from last year’s Trendline are 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, heated side mirrors, blind spot monitoring, a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, six-speaker audio, cloth upholstery, and seating for five. A third row of seats is an $800 option. A 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine (184 hp/221 lb-ft of torque) and an eight-speed transmission are also carried over from 2021.
The Comfortline trim comes in at $36,795 (a $1,650 bump over 2021) and adds 18-inch wheels, adaptive cruise, Travel Assist semi-autonomous driving, 8.0-inch touchscreen and 10.25-inch gauge displays, passive keyless entry, dual-zone A/C, power driver’s seat, rain-sensing wipers, and a power tailgate. A panoramic sunroof is a $1,500 option.
New for 2022 is a Comfortline R-Line Black trim ($39,495) with 19-inch black wheels, trim-specific bumpers and sills, chrome trim inside and out, sunroof, 15-colour ambient lighting, and a steering wheel trimmed in perforated leather.
Finally, the Highline R-Line is a $42,995 package that gains 20-inch wheels (up from last year’s), adaptive headlights, automatic high beams, park assist, 360-degree cameras, road sign recognition, leather seats, ventilated front seats with electric front passenger adjustments, heated rear seats, and a hands-free tailgate. (Last year’s top trim, which was simply called Highline, went for $40,195 and came with 19-inch rims.)
2022 Honda Civic Hatchback
This October, Honda will begin stocking its showrooms with an all-new Civic Hatchback to join the 11th-generation sedan that went on sale earlier in the year as a 2022 model.
As we write this, Honda has revealed prices for the Civic Hatchback’s three trims (LX, Sport, and Sport Touring), but has not published a full list of features. We know that the starting price of $28,000 (plus a $1,700 destination fee ) includes a 2.0L four-cylinder engine (158 hp/138 lb-ft) previously reserved for entry-grade Civic sedans, along with a six-speed manual transmission, 7.0-inch touchscreen, part-digital gauges, LED headlights, and an improved version of the Honda Sensing suite of driver safety assists.
The Sport trim ($31,500) adds a 1.5L turbo engine (180 hp/177 lb-ft), 18-inch wheels, a better stereo, and a heated steering wheel. Sport Touring adds fog lights, a larger touchscreen, and a full-digital gauge cluster for $35,000.
All of the Civic Hatchback’s prices include your choice of the standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional automatic CVT.
2022 BMW X3 and X4
October brings refreshed versions of the BMW X3 and X4 compact crossovers to Canadian showrooms as 2022 models, marking the first major update to designs introduced in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
The X3 and X4 are more angular than before, with new taillights and a new version of the brand’s twin-kidney grille inspired by (but far more conservative than) the one that fronts the latest 4 Series coupe.
Both models’ powertrain options are carried over from 2021. The X3 starts out as the xDrive30i with a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine (248 hp/258 lb-ft), an eight-speed transmission, and AWD. An xDrive30e adds an electric motor with plug-in charging (288 hp/310 lb-ft), and M40i trim trades up to a 3.0L turbo six-cylinder (382 hp/365 lb-ft). The X4 xDrive30i and M40i share their drivetrains with the X3; there is no PHEV X4.
BMW’s prices start at $56,245 for the X3 xDrive30i and $59,755 for the X4 xDrive30i. The X3 xDrive30e starts at $58,245, and M40i models come in at $70,245 for the X3 and $73,245 for the X4. The new X3 PHEV’s starting price is $5,000 less than last year, while all other 2022 X3 and X4 models are a few hundred dollars more than their 2021 equivalents.
2022 Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer
There weren’t enough September new model arrivals to write about last month, so we’re including a couple in this article, starting with the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, a pair of large SUVs that aim to improve the brand’s presence in the luxury utility segment.
The two Wagoneer models also represent two-thirds of Jeep’s push into three-row SUV territory, along with the smaller, less-expensive Grand Cherokee L.
Jeep’s Wagoneer pricing starts at $79,995, while the Grand Wagoneer goes hunting for Cadillac Escalades and Range Rovers with a starting tag of $100,995. Both boast standard V8 power: The Wagoneer uses a 5.7L engine with eTorque mild hybrid assist (392 hp/404 lb-ft), and the Grand Wagoneer gets a 6.4L V8 (471 hp/455 lb-ft). Both engines use an eight-speed transmission and a choice of three different 4WD systems.
Among the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer’s notable features are a front-passenger infotainment touchscreen, twin 10.1-inch rear-seat entertainment monitors, and a McIntosh sound system with 19 speakers and 950-watt amplification.
2022 Nissan Frontier
The other September arrival we have to tell you about is the 2022 Nissan Frontier, a completely redrawn version of Nissan’s formerly compact, now mid-size pickup truck. The Frontier is also Nissan’s only pickup model at the moment, following the discontinuation of the full-size Titan.
Nissan starts the Frontier off in King Cab configuration, which is an extended cab with narrow rear doors accessing small, folding rear jump seats. The longer Crew Cab has full-size rear doors and a proper rear bench. King Cab trims include S, SV, and Pro-4X; Crew Cab comes in SV, SV Sport, and Pro-4X.
All Frontier models use a 3.8L V6 engine (310 hp/281 lb-ft), a nine-speed transmission, and four-wheel drive. Prices start at $39,998 for King Cab S and top out at $47,498 for Crew Cab Pro-4X.
The Frontier’s standard kit comprises forward collision detection with automatic braking, intelligent cruise control, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with smartphone integration. The SV trim adds alloy wheels, heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone A/C, and remote engine start. The SV Sport gains LED headlights and side step rails, and the Pro-4X package includes all-terrain tires, off-road shocks, underbody skid plates, an electronic locking rear differential, and a 9.0-inch touchscreen.
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