What will we buy when we leave the safe room: New models launching soon

Even in a month of war, Israelis continue to purchase new cars. Since the beginning of March and Operation “Roaring Lion,” the Licensing Authority reports about 11,200 vehicles that have gone on the road since the start of the operation. This is much lower than the usual pace. March 2025 closed with 27,000 deliveries, although back then there were more “aging inventory” vehicles - cars that had not been sold for a year since arriving in Israel and that importers are required to register as used.

Even while running to shelters, customers are still arriving at showrooms, including those who want to upgrade to a new car before Passover, those whose cars were damaged during the war, or those who realized they will not be flying abroad this Passover and are redirecting the money to their private parking space. Car importers have indeed stopped advertising the promotions that were running until the attack on Iran, but they continue to offer benefits in showrooms.

At the same time, new shipments continue to arrive at ports, including the renewed activity at the Port of Eilat. As revealed by Walla, a new route has been created, in which ships from China dock at the Port of Aqaba, unload the new cars, which are then loaded onto a smaller vessel that makes several short trips to unload them on the other side of the gulf, at the Port of Eilat. This new route is shorter and cheaper than sailing via the Cape of Good Hope around Africa, unloading the cars in Europe, storing them briefly at high cost, and then shipping them again to the ports of Haifa or Ashdod in the Mediterranean.

A compact electric hatchback joins GAC’s renewed lineup of crossovers in Israel and is expected to offer a combination of generous dimensions and a low price - less than NIS 140,000. Specifications include a length of 4.3 meters, a 2.7-meter wheelbase, and motors producing 136 or 204 horsepower. A 60 kWh battery promises a range of up to 420 km. After the wave of crossovers around NIS 150,000, a new generation of compact Chinese family cars is expected to help boost electric vehicle sales again in Israel.

The slowdown in electric vehicle adoption has forced Volvo to carry out another facelift for the XC60, but at the same time it has unveiled an electric crossover of the same size. It is based on a new SP3 platform, which is expected to serve all future company models and, according to Volvo, enable competitive pricing similar to other luxury hybrid crossovers, competing with the new BMW iX3 and Mercedes GLC. Batteries with capacities of 83 to 117 kWh provide, according to the manufacturer, a combined range of 660 to 810 kilometers.

This is the sixth generation of the crossover that became the world’s best-selling vehicle. The new RAV4 adopts a design inspired by the new Land Cruiser, tougher than before, although its dimensions have barely changed (4.66 meters long), and there is also a sporty GR version. The main powertrain remains a 2.5-liter engine with 183–191 horsepower, while the plug-in hybrid model receives an enlarged 22.7 kWh battery promising, for the first time, a 100 km range, with outputs of 268–306 horsepower, including a front-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid version not previously available. The cabin is more refined than before and also resembles that of the Land Cruiser.

Alongside strengthening its hybrid lineup, Toyota is not giving up on electric vehicles, offering a coupe-style shortened version of the bZ4x, with a length of 4.52 meters and a 2.75-meter wheelbase. Available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, with a 57.7 kWh battery producing 167 horsepower, or a 77 kWh battery with 224 horsepower in front-wheel drive and 343 in all-wheel drive. Range: 455–600 km. As seen in the first drive, Toyota is, for the first time, positioning itself in the heart of the market against models like the Atto 3 and Lynk & Co 02, which will also challenge it on pricing. Later, we will also see Subaru’s twin version, the Uncharted, which is slightly taller and comes with permanent all-wheel drive.

The large crossover (5.07 meters long), originally developed for the American market, was previously sold successfully in Israel for a short period and now returns in a hybrid version aligned with current trends. It features a 2.5-liter engine with 334 horsepower, improved efficiency, and permanent all-wheel drive for snow and muddy trails. The new generation’s design has been upgraded toward a more luxurious and SUV-like appearance, as has the equipment, which includes a BOSE sound system, electrically adjustable rear seats, and a choice of 7 or 8 seats.

For those seeking a large fully electric crossover, Hyundai will launch a twin model to the Kia EV9. Its size is similar to the Palisade (5.06 meters long, with a longer 3.2-meter wheelbase), but with 7 seats. Output ranges from 214 horsepower with rear-wheel drive to 430 horsepower with all-wheel drive. A 110 kWh battery promises a range of 620 km. Inside, there are three continuous screens totaling 44 inches, second-row captain’s chairs, a front refrigerator, and a 14-speaker sound system. Equipment includes V2L, a panoramic roof, and automatic doors.

Four years after introducing its first dedicated electric crossover, Lexus updates the RZ with an interesting technological innovation: Steer-by-wire, meaning no physical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels. This development was presented at launch but only now reaches the road after regulatory approval. Additional improvements include a larger battery (from 71 to 77 kWh), stronger motors, and a significantly extended range of up to 568 km in the front-wheel-drive version. For the first time, there is also an F Sport version to compete with BMW’s M models, including simulated gear shifting, 408 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and 0–100 km/h in 4.4 seconds.

Peugeot revives the three letters associated with the sporty 205 from the 1980s (which itself borrowed them from the Golf GTI), a bold statement for an electric car that struggles to deliver the driving qualities that made the French hot hatch legendary. The powertrain is the same as seen in the Alfa Junior, Abarth 600, and Opel Corsa GSE. The classic acceleration takes 5.5 seconds, and with a 54 kWh battery, the combined range is only 350 km. It also features bucket seats, stiffened suspension, and larger brakes.

Since launching the impressive but expensive EV9, Kia has been gradually moving down the electric vehicle categories and price ranges. This year it will launch a small electric crossover, competing with the Skoda EPIQ, about 4 meters long, with a combined range of around 420 km - better figures than the smaller Hyundai INSTER. The suicide doors shown in the concept are not expected to reach production, but the clean and relatively spacious cabin will. It is expected to be one of the cheapest electric crossovers on the market, which should drive strong sales. It will be available with two battery sizes, 44 and 61 kWh, with the latter offering a range of 448 km - the longest in its category.

Europe continues to tighten emissions regulations, and Kia is dropping the popular 1.2-liter 79-horsepower version sold in Israel in favor of a 1.0-liter engine with 68 horsepower and the same 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Performance is slightly reduced, fuel consumption is similar, and there is no change in equipment, which includes an 8-inch screen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and more. The advantage: The Picanto will remain significantly cheaper than the Toyota Aygo X, which launched as a hybrid but starts at NIS 125,000.

The small Korean crossover receives a refreshed design, mainly a front end reminiscent of an electric vehicle that successfully changes its appearance, along with a new rear. Accordingly, the cabin now resembles that of electric cars, with a pair of 12.3-inch screens serving as the instrument cluster and multimedia display, along with a separate control system for climate and audio. There is no change in the powertrain: The same 1.0-liter turbo gasoline engine with 100 or 115 horsepower and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.