The most important new cars coming in 2023 for Australia's biggest brands: Toyota bZ4X, Mazda CX-60, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and more

A new year brings with it new hopes and expectations for Australia’s biggest brands. The likes of Toyota, Mazda and Kia have maintained their strong sales thanks to consistent renewal of their line-ups to keep customers coming back for more.

Most brands will introduce several new models in any given year, but one typically stands out as having greater expectations and importance. Whether it be introducing a new technology, something that expands the appeal of the brand or just filling a gap in the range, there’s always something that stands out when you look ahead at what’s coming.

So, what are the most important models for Australia’s best-selling brands? We’ve run through the details of what’s coming and picked one new offering to highlight.

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Toyota bZ4X

The bZ4X could prove to be a major turning point for EVs in this country.

Better late than never, Australia’s most popular brand will join the electric vehicle brigade in 2023. Not to put too much expectation on it, but this could prove to be a major turning point for EVs in this country.

Australian buyers see Toyota as a reliable and dependable brand, so for any remaining EV skeptics, the bZ4X may be the car that finally convinces them to consider an electric alternative. 

With a claimed range of more than 500km and in a stylish SUV body-style that should help its consumer appeal, the bZ4X seemingly has everything going for it. However, with a recall in the US for wheels that fell off (literally) and no clarity on timing or pricing, there are still some questions the brand has to answer to ensure it’s a success.

However, given it’s Toyota, it’s a safe bet it will be right in time for the local launch and it will effectively replace the now-departed Prius as the technology flagship to usher in the brand’s new EV era.

Mazda CX-60

The CX-60 is priced to compete against the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLB.

The CX-60 is important to the brand for two reasons. Firstly, it will be the brand’s first plug-in hybrid offering and introduce a new range of inline six-cylinder engines. Secondly, it is a more premium offering that has been designed and positioned to expand the brand’s reach and appeal in an attempt to pinch sales from the likes of BMW and Audi.

It’s certainly a stylish SUV on the surfaces, and underneath sits on the brand’s new-generation underpinnings that feature a rear-biased all-wheel drive system, as well as 3.3-litre petrol and diesel straight-six engines.

But it’s the PHEV that could make the biggest impact for the brand, with its 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor to make 241kW/500Nm while using just 2.1 litres per 100km. 

It’s priced to compete against the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLB, but whether or not it will woo buyers from those brands or just entice existing Mazda owners to stay in the brand for another model remains to be seen.

Mitsubishi Triton 

Tipped to break cover around the middle of the year, the new Triton is crucial to the brand’s success.

Likely to be a latecomer in the year (or possibly even wait until early 2024), a new-generation Triton is clearly the most important model for the Japanese brand. 

Tipped to break cover around the middle of the year, the new Triton is crucial to the brand’s success, as it is a sales leader in Australia, often one of the closest challengers to the class-leading Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

It will reportedly be based on an all-new small truck platform that is being developed for both the Triton and the Nissan Navara, as part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.

It also underpins its Pajero Sport SUV, so ensuring both of these models remain popular is critical to the success of the brand.

The new Triton will also reportedly see the revival of the Ralliart brand as a performance hero for Mitsubishi. Currently, the return of Ralliart has been limited to mild, mostly aesthetic packs in overseas markets, but a Triton Ralliart could give the brand a rival to the Ranger Raptor.

Kia Sportage Hybrid

Kia is yet to confirm when the Kia Sportage Hybrid will be available for local sale in Australia.

A new-generation Sportage arrived in Australian showrooms in ‘22 and proved a popular addition, closing the gap to the segment-leading Toyota RAV4. However, while the Sportage has impressed customers it is missing a critical option to compete against the RAV4 on equal terms - a hybrid.

Fortunately, there is a Sportage Hybrid available overseas. It uses a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and small electric motor and battery pack to make 169kW/350Nm while using 5.7L/100km.

The problem is Kia Australia hasn’t been able to get confirmation of when it will be available for local sale from its South Korean factory. But when it does arrive here, it will only help the Sportage close the gap to the RAV4 in the sales race.

Hyundai Ioniq 6

The Ioniq 6 will take Hyundai another step closer to its long-term electric future.

The arrival of the Ioniq 5 has been a success for the brand, with every one of the Australian-bound models snapped up in record time by EV-hungry buyers. The stylish SUV will get some more help in ‘23 with the arrival of the Ioniq 6 sedan.

This gives Hyundai a rival to the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and even the Polestar 2, broadening the appeal of the brand’s EV line-up and expanding the volume of EVs available to enthusiastic customers.

Hyundai doesn’t like the term ‘sedan’ and refers to the Ioniq 6 as an ‘Electrified Streamliner’, which sounds like marketing-speak until you look at the stats. Despite using the same ‘e-GMP’ platform as the Ioniq 5, the more aerodynamic body of this four-door model means it has a maximum claimed range of 610km.

Supply constraints will mean the Ioniq 6 isn’t the brand’s biggest seller in ‘23, but it will be its most important new model, taking it another step closer to its long-term electric future.