[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/best-new-cars-of-2018\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/best-new-cars-of-2018\/","headline":"Best new cars of 2018","name":"Best new cars of 2018","description":"2018 saw some amazing new models arrive in UK car showrooms. It\u2019s true a fair few of them were SUVs of some sort (T-Roc, E-Pace, X2, XC40), but which new cars were the best? We\u2019ve rounded up our very favourites and listed them here\u2026 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Costing the best part of \u00a3250k, the Cullinan is the first ever SUV from Rolls-Royce and it didn\u2019t disappoint with its monstrous 563bhp 6.75-litre twin-turbo engine. This unit can get the 2.5-tonne Cullinan up […]","datePublished":"2018-12-21","dateModified":"2018-12-27","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Lamborghini-Urus-concept-2.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Lamborghini-Urus-concept-2.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/best-new-cars-of-2018\/","about":["Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":595,"keywords":["Best Cars","Best New Cars","new cars"],"articleBody":"2018 saw some amazing new models arrive in UK car showrooms. It\u2019s true a fair few of them were SUVs of some sort (T-Roc, E-Pace, X2, XC40), but which new cars were the best? We\u2019ve rounded up our very favourites and listed them here\u2026Rolls-Royce CullinanCosting the best part of \u00a3250k, the Cullinan is the first ever SUV from Rolls-Royce and it didn\u2019t disappoint with its monstrous 563bhp 6.75-litre twin-turbo engine. This unit can get the 2.5-tonne Cullinan up to 62mph in 5.2 seconds.Its luxurious feel is so obvious that one magazine wrote that even if you were blindfolded, you\u2019d know you were in a Rolls-Royce within 50 yards of setting off. It\u2019s not just a Phantom that can take off-road rubble and ruts with ease; it\u2019s a genuinely extraordinary car.Read our roundup of Cullinan reviews here. Lamborghini UrusLambo also got in on the SUV act in 2018 with this: the Urus. Boasting unmistakably Lambo styling, the \u2018world\u2019s first super SUV\u2019 can sprint to 62mph in 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 189mph.Find out what the critics made of the Urus hereFord FocusFord\u2019s family-sized hatchback isn\u2019t specifically designed to raise your pulse rate or blow minds. It just needs to do a lot of things very well, which it does. It looks great, it\u2019s efficient, spacious, affordable and \u2018drives as pleasingly as a Focus does\u2019 – according to Autocar.Check out more views on the Focus BMW X5When it comes to premium mid-size SUVs, the BMW X5 is one of the leading names. That remains the case with this new fourth-gen model, which was hailed as \u2018a fantastically capable all-rounder\u2019 by Auto Express.It may struggle to truly excel in any particular area, but the X5 remains one of the best-in-class.Find out what the rest of the motoring media thought of the X5Jaguar E-PaceYep, another SUV (we did warn you at the start) and this one is essentially a downsized F-Pace – Jaguar\u2019s debut off-roader from 2016.Auto Express and Autocar liked it, awarding four-star ratings, describing it as a \u201cgreat blend of agility and comfort with decent cruising refinement and impressive practicality\u201d, not to mention \u201cfun to drive – exactly how a Jaguar should be\u201d.However, Evo didn\u2019t, which took issue with Jaguar\u2019s money-chasing: \u201cThe E-Pace is sure to sell well, but those buyers will not be getting a class-leading vehicle. Jaguar Land Rover already has a full lineup of SUVs on offer through the Land Rover brand itself [but] Jaguar wants a slice of that growing pie too\u201d.Volvo XC40We told you all about Volvo\u2019s compact SUV in December 2017, but it didn\u2019t actually come to market until the following May, and after being named WhatCar?\u2019s car of the year, it more than deserves its place here.It\u2019s a little funkier and more youthful than the fairly mature XC60 and XC90, but no other compact SUV class offers the same mix of clever packaging, uncluttered interior design, cruising comfort and great connectivity.Audi A1Reviews for the littlest Audi weren\u2019t universally glowing (a very four-star car it seems), but anyone in the market for a compact yet premium hatchback couldn\u2019t go wrong with the second-generation A1. Despite being longer and more spacious than before, the familiar styling means there\u2019s no mistaking this new A1 for anything else.Read all you need to know about new Audi A1.Which were your favourite cars in 2018? Let us know down in the comments."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Best new cars of 2018","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/best-new-cars-of-2018\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]