These 7 New Family Cars Will Hit the Market Within the Next Year
If you’re shopping for a new car for your family, you might want to wait a few months, as a slew of new family-focused SUVs are set to hit the market soon.
While a few minivans still remain on sale, the SUV has supplanted the minivan as the de facto American family car. There are dozens of models to choose from, but if you’re in the market for a new car to haul the kids to school, carry their baseball equipment to tournaments, and embark on memory-making road trips, you might want to hold off for a little bit, as a host of new family-friendly SUVs are set to go on sale within the next year. From the hybrid-only 2026 Toyota RAV4 to the glamorous three-row 2026 Hyundai Palisade, there will be plenty of fresh rides to pick from in the coming months. Scroll through for details.
2026 Hyundai Palisade
2026 hyundai palisade calligraphyView PhotosHyundai
The second generation of Hyundai’s largest SUV reaches dealerships this summer, with a new hybrid model expected to arrive in the fall. The 2026 Palisade sports bold, Range-Rover-esque styling and introduces a new XRT Pro variant that wears more rugged bodywork, sits an inch higher, and gains additional drive modes for navigating trickier terrain. The standard engine is a V-6 producing 287 horsepower, but Hyundai is also adding a V-6 hybrid that’s good for 329 hp. All-wheel drive comes standard on the hybrid and is optional on the nonhybrid. The spacious cabin can seat up to eight and packs a pair of 12.3-inch screens.
2026 Jeep Cherokee
2026 jeep cherokeeJeep
After a brief hiatus, the Cherokee nameplate is set to return on a new compact crossover, this time featuring a hybrid powertrain. Jeep hasn’t revealed too many details just yet, but we expect the Cherokee to pair a four-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor and a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. We also wouldn’t be surprised to see a plug-in hybrid version wearing the “4xe” badge, offering more power and all-wheel drive. More details on the Cherokee should come later this year.
2026 Kia Telluride
2026 kia tellurideIllustration by Avarvarii|Car and Driver
Kia is expected to unveil a new, second-generation Telluride SUV before the end of the year. The 2026 Telluride will be closely related to the revamped Palisade, and will likely feature the same engine lineup, with a 287-hp V-6 and a 329-hp hybrid model. Spy photos suggest the Telluride will get a tougher, broad-shouldered look compared to the glitzy styling of the Hyundai, as seen in this artist’s rendering. The new Telluride should debut in the next few months, with sales likely kicking off early next year.
2026 Mazda CX-5
2026 mazda cx5View PhotosMazda
Mazda just revealed the third iteration of its bestseller, the CX-5. The 2026 CX-5 is, stylistically, an evolution of the existing SUV, with a smooth shape and handsome features. For 2026, the CX-5 is only offered with the same 187-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder found in the outgoing model. The turbocharged engine has also been dropped from the lineup, set to be replaced for the 2027 model year by a new hybrid system developed completely in-house by Mazda. The CX-5’s cabin, however, is far more modern for 2026, with an optional 15.6-inch screen and very few physical controls. Sales start early next year.
Learn more about the 2026 CX-5
2026 Subaru Outback
2026 subaru outback wildernessView PhotosSubaru
Subaru’s long-running wagon has fully morphed into an SUV for its latest generation, with boxier bodywork and brawnier styling. The Outback, of course, comes standard with all-wheel drive and is powered by a 180-hp four-cylinder. The off-road-focused Wilderness model upgrades to a 260-hp turbocharged four-cylinder (also available on the XT trim), while also boasting extra ground clearance, electronically controlled dampers, and all-terrain tires. Inside, a new 12.1-inch touchscreen is standard across the lineup, paired with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The Outback goes on sale later this year, with the Wilderness joining the party in early 2026.
2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
2026 toyota rav4 phevView PhotosToyota
The Toyota RAV4 is the third-biggest-selling vehicle in the United States and is undergoing a dramatic update for the 2026 model year. Not only does Toyota’s compact SUV now wear snazzier styling, but it will be offered exclusively with hybrid powertrains for its sixth generation. Front-wheel-drive models will use a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, combining for 226 hp, while all-wheel drive brings a third electric motor and bumps output to 236 hp. The plug-in hybrid model returns, with standard all-wheel drive and 320 horsepower. The PHEV can also be paired with a GR Sport trim that brings more aggressive styling, revised suspension, tweaked steering, and summer tires. The 2026 Toyota RAV4 arrives at dealerships before the end of this year.
2026 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo
2026 volkswagen tiguan sel r line turboView PhotosVolkswagen
Volkswagen already launched the new Tiguan for the 2025 model year, but for driving enthusiasts, the German automaker is adding a new SEL R-Line Turbo model for 2026 with a bit more gusto. Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, related to the unit that motivates the Golf GTI hot hatchback and producing 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo will sit atop the SUV’s lineup and comes fully loaded, including 12-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats and a head-up display. Sales of the sportier Tiguan begin this fall.
Headshot of Caleb Miller
Caleb Miller
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
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