AUTONEWS

Ten new cars to buy in Europe in 2026, so it doesn't hurt the wallet

More than 100 new automotive models are expected for 2026, but here you will find 10 of the most affordable. And you will notice that six of them still depend on the "old" combustion engine, which has seen its life extended in Europe after 2035, after years of announcing its end.

It is true that we will hardly see new models arriving that are only combustion-powered in the coming years. In a lighter or heavier form, all will be electrified, especially since there are still emissions targets to be met.

What matters to you, the potential buyer, is that you can still choose from several technologies that best suit your needs or budget: mild hybrid, hybrid (without needing to plug in), plug-in hybrid and, of course, 100% electric.

In this list of 10 new models, you will find completely new or updated models, but which maintain the focus on achieving the best cost-benefit ratio in the most affordable segments of the market.

Dacia Sandero...Opening this selection of new and affordable cars for 2026 is the renewed and inevitable Dacia Sandero. It was the best-selling car in Europe in 2024 — a feat it will repeat in 2025 — and has been one of the best-selling in its segment in Portugal.

Dacia has revised the Sandero's look, improved its technological offering, and equipped it with new engines. 

The best part is that the Sandero maintains the same argument as always: a competitive price. With its market arrival scheduled for the first months of 2026, the Romanian compact has prices starting from 14,200 euros.

Dacia C-NEO...At the other end of the Dacia line, we will see an absolute novelty arrive in 2026 which, for now, is known by the internal designation C-Neo.

It will share the status of top-of-the-line model of the Romanian brand with the Bigster, but no longer an SUV. Dacia will bet on a typology that has fallen out of favor: vans.

With its unveiling scheduled for the second half of 2026, the objective couldn't be clearer: to defeat some of the heavyweights of the European market, such as the Peugeot 308 SW, the SEAT Leon Sportstourer and the Skoda Octavia Break, which is currently the best-selling station wagon in Europe.

Prices are not yet defined, but don't be surprised if they are in line with those of the Bigster, available from 24,556 euros.

FIAT 500 Hybrid...Coming from southern Europe, the new FIAT 500 Hybrid ends up becoming a symbol of the challenges of adopting electrification. The third generation of the city car was designed to be exclusively 100% electric, but after a strong start, sales have collapsed in recent years. FIAT was forced to take a step back and put a combustion engine back in the 500.

The biggest impact will be felt in the wallet: the new 500 Hybrid is about seven thousand euros cheaper than the 100% electric version, available from 20,850 euros. It arrives on the market during the first quarter of 2026, but we drove it. 

Kia EV2...Kia continues its strong bet on electric vehicles and one of the new models that promises to be a talking point in 2026 will be the EV2, which will be its most affordable electric vehicle. The EV3 has been a success and therefore expectations are high for the South Korean B-SUV.

Previewed by the Concept EV2, the production model is scheduled to be revealed on January 9th at the Brussels Motor Show, with the first deliveries expected during the first quarter of 2026.

It will share the E-GMP platform with the EV3, and according to the brand, 99% of what we saw in the concept will be in the production EV2.

Otherwise, nothing is known about its specifications. Kia has managed to keep its engines (power), batteries, and range under wraps. As for prices, they will be lower than those of the EV3, with the most affordable versions estimated to be below 30,000 euros.

Nissan Micra...The Nissan Micra, a historic name in the Japanese brand, has a new generation arriving in 2026. For the first time, it will be electric and only electric.

It shares almost everything with the Renault 5: platform, batteries, electric motors. It is based on the same AmpR Small platform, equipped with the same 90 kW (122 hp) and 110 kW (150 hp) motors, and uses the same 40 kWh and 52 kWh batteries, for ranges that vary between 310 km and 419 km (WLTP), respectively.

It is from an aesthetic point of view, obviously, that it most distinguishes itself from its French "cousin". In this area, the new Micra adopts a unique front and rear design, including a light signature that refers to the third generation (K12) of the model. Inside, however, these differences are practically entirely erased. Arriving on the market in 2026, the new electric Nissan Micra is already available for order starting at €27,750.

Renault Clio...The sixth and newest generation of the Renault Clio has been making headlines. To sum it up in one word, the new French hatchback is unrecognizable. The bolder design has little to do with its predecessors, the technological content has been enhanced, and it debuts new engines, including a new generation hybrid.

With prices starting at €21,990, the Clio arrives with the goal of once again becoming the benchmark in the hatchback segment and, who knows, dethroning the Dacia Sandero as the best-selling car in Europe. Which, incidentally, "is from the house" — in other words, from the Renault Group.

With the delivery of the first units scheduled for the beginning of 2026, the new Renault Clio will be available with three mechanical options — TCe 115, E-Tech Full Hybrid 160 and Eco-G 120 EDC.

Renault Twingo...Still in France, one of Renault's most important launches for 2026 will be the new Twingo. The fourth generation returns to its design roots, but now, 33 years later, it has a new responsibility to bring 100% electric vehicles to the masses, along with the other models that Renault has brought back from the past — the R5 and the R4.

Its arrival is scheduled for the end of the first half of 2026 with a promise: prices will start below 20,000 euros.

Its arguments are not limited to price, highlighting the space, versatility and practicality it offers, despite being 13 cm shorter than its "brother" R5, with which it shares the platform.

Under the bodywork it will use an electric motor with 60 kW (82 hp) and 175 Nm of torque, powered by a battery with only 27.5 kWh, for a range of up to 263 km in combined cycle (WLTP).

SEAT Ibiza...We were expecting the revamped SEAT Ibiza to arrive in 2025, but the Spanish brand surprised us and it will only arrive in 2026. It is the second significant update of the model — it was launched in 2017 and renewed in 2021 — receiving some aesthetic revisions, new upholstery and enhanced technological content.

The biggest novelty reserved for the revamped Ibiza — and also for the Arona, which was also updated — will be found under the hood, but it will only arrive in 2027. It will be at that time that 48V mild-hybrid engines will debut.

Until then, both will continue to use the engines we already know — 1.0 MPI, 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI — with prices starting at €19,339 and €22,398 for the Ibiza and Arona, respectively.

Toyota Aygo X...Still in the city car segment, Toyota is once again gaining relevance with an absolute premiere: the revamped Aygo X, the first full-hybrid city car on the market.

In addition to updating its look, the Japanese brand has replaced the previous 72 hp one-liter gasoline engine with the same hybrid engine as the Yaris, which combines a 1.5-liter engine with an electric motor, for a total power of 116 hp — 44 hp more than before.

With its market launch scheduled for the beginning of the year, the Toyota Aygo X 2026 does not yet have finalized prices, but it will run into Portuguese taxation: despite promising lower fuel consumption and emissions than the previous 1.0-liter model, the 50% larger engine displacement increases the ISV (Vehicle Tax) by around 2,300 euros.

Aygo X prices in Europe vary depending on the country and trim level. In Portugal, prices for petrol versions start at around €18,240.00 and reach approximately €23,945.60 for the most equipped versions (such as the "Envy" or "Limited Edition"). The GR Sport version, with specific adjustments to the suspension and steering, is also available.

by Autonews