Best hatchbacks and sedans arriving in 2023

Peugeot 308 GT Sport PHEV – March

The 308 will be powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

The majority of the new 308 hatch and wagon range is expected to land in Australian showrooms in 2022.

But one of the more exciting members of the new-generation 308 family lands in 2023, and that is the plug-in hybrid GT Sport.

The sporty yet frugal hatch will be powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an 81kW electric motor for a total system output of 165kW and 360Nm.

MG5 – H2

Specs and powertrain details are yet to be confirmed for the new MG5.

Set to fill a gap in its line-up between the cheap MG3 light hatch and the ZS small SUV, the MG5 undercuts its key small sedan rivals on price, starting from $24,990 drive-away.

Two grades use the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine to motivate the front wheels, but outputs vary between grades.

Peugeot 408 - Late 2023

The mid-size 408 liftback will likely arrival in late 2023.

If you like the idea of the Peugeot 308 but want something a bit bigger with more space, then Peugeot's new fastback-style 408 could be for you.

Stretching some 300mm longer than the 308, the 408 has a much bigger boot and shares much in common with its Citroen C4 cousin.

Australian powertrain specs are yet to be confirmed, but in Europe the base variant uses a 97kW petrol engine, while adding an electric motor to the two hybrid versions ups outputs to 134kW or 168kW, depending on the model.

Alfa Romeo Giulia - H2

Having first launched in Australia in 2017, Alfa Romeo will again update its Giulia mid-size sedan for 2023 with slight styling tweaks and minor revisions to in-cabin technology.

Engine options however, are expected to carryover from before, meaning a choice of a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol in two states of tune, or a flagship 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine in the Quadrofogilio.

It is likely this will be the last update to the Giulia before the brand pivots towards the electrified future.

Subaru Impreza - H2

From the outside, the new-generation Impreza might not look much different from the outgoing Subaru small car, but step inside the cabin and tech changes are much more evident.

A new multimedia system features, borrowed straight form the WRX, and is available in either 7.0-inch form or a portrait-style 11.6-inch unit.

Overseas versions also score an RS-grade range topper that uses a 2.5-litre petrol engine to bridge the gap between the mainstream Impreza and the performance-honed WRX.

Mercedes-AMG C63 - H2

The new C 63 S E Performance accelerates from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds.

Look, we get it, dropping the V8 in the new-generation C63 might be a deal breaker for some, but seriously just look at the output numbers.

Fitted with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with an electric motor, the 2023 C63 punches out a massive 500kW/1020Nm to all four wheels for a 0-100km/h run in just 3.4 seconds.

Yep, this mid-size luxury sedan that will fit your kids and groceries can destroy even a Ferrari F40!

Hyundai Sonata - Second half

Hyundai is breathing new life into the sedan segment with a major update for its long-running Sonata that gains sharp design elements from other fresh models like the next-gen Kona.

Described as "more than a simple facelift", the Sonata also gains new tech inside. It becomes Hyundai's first model to adopt a curved widescreen housing two 12.3-inch screens - one for multimedia and the other for driving information.

Hyundai i30 Sedan - Second half

While the future of the i30 hatch is uncertain, the i30 sedan will get a boost later this year with the arrival of a sharply designed facelift.

Tech updates include all-LED headlights, the addition of Hyundai's Digital Key, and safety upgrades like a surround-view camera and blind-spot cameras.

Mazda6 - Mid-2023

Another Mazda that's been around for a long time, the Mazda6 sedan and wagon will live on in Australia despite being dropped in another right-hand-drive market - the UK.

The 2023 model gains a new limited edition 20th Anniversary Edition that will sit at the top of the mid-sizer's range.

Mazda2 - July

It's been around since 2014, but the Mazda2 has been given yet another refresh, this time ushering in design changes that bring it into line with its Mazda stablemates.

Pricing has gone up slightly, but the grades remain the same. There are no changes under the skin, but the 2 remains the second most popular car in its segment.

Kia Picanto - late 2023

Kia Australia has confirmed the punchy turbo-petrol Picanto GT will be discontinued with the facelift of the micro hatchback coming later this year.

Kia will introduce a facelift for its popular Picanto micro car later in the year, that ushers in a daring redesign and a change to the model grades. The perky 1.0L turbo GT Line has been dropped, but it gets a tech and interior upgrade.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class - July

An updated version of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class hits showrooms in July, and it comes with price increases across the range and some line-up tweaks.

The A180 has been dropped, AMG Line is now standard across the range and the A200 now gets a mild hybrid powertrain.

BMW 5 Series - Q4

Positioned at $114,900 before on-road costs, the new 520i is $7200 pricier than before.

The eighth-gen 5 Series marks a couple of dramatic changes for the famed premium nameplate. The design represents a big departure over the previous two generations, and it's the first time the 5 will come as an EV.

We will get two electric grades in Australia and one petrol-powered 520i that kicks things off from a touch under $115,000.