There are plenty of new cars and 4x4s to look forward to in 2017. The big news for 4x4 drivers will be the arrival of the new Land Rover Discovery, which is a design departure for the brand. There are new models further down the SUV market from Skoda, with the Kodiaq, while Seat will be using the year to start a huge campaign for its first SUV, the new Atica. Ford has a new Kuga to offer and Dacia has given the Duster an upgrade.

Small car drivers will have lots of new models to see in 2017. Ford has a new Ka and the Fiesta gets a significant upgrade. Nissan has a new Micra on the way for the second quarter of 2017 and it’s sure to appeal.

Further up the line, Volkswagen’s new Golf and the Fiat Tipo are fresh for 2017. Both will appeal at different price levels and both are packed with the latest driver technology. Opel has a newly designed Insignia on the way, while BMW’s 5 Series is appealing at the higher executive end of the market. And if you have an appetite for luxury then the new Mercedes-Benz models will be worth waiting for during 2017.

There will be plenty of new van offers on the way with the arrival of the new Volkswagen Crafter and new models from Nissan, Renault and Opel, alongside the new van series that’s almost common in design between Citroën, Peugeot and Toyota.

Here we profile some of the new models for 2017; there’s plenty to offer and value comes early in the new year.

Discovery will set new design style

For 4x4 drivers the big news for 2017 will be the arrival of the new Land Rover Discovery. This new model comes as a full-sized, three-row, seven-seat SUV with capability and versatility. It will be available for sale from spring 2017 with early indicative pricing in Ireland to start from over €60,000.

The design of the Discovery is a departure from the past, with styling lines that are similar to those of the new Discovery Sport, except that it’s noticeably bigger. Land Rover claims the new Discovery will maintain Land Rover’s reputation for all-terrain capability.

This new model is 480kg lighter than the older one that it replaces. This helps to reduce the CO2 rating to 189g/km, from 207g/km in the past with the V6 diesel engine. The new Discovery will be available with two new four-cylinder diesel engines options with two output levels, either 180bhp or 240bhp. The larger power unit uses a twin turbo system. The V6 diesel is retained and that tops the range at 258bhp, marginally up in power, while torque stays the same at 600Nm.

The Discovery importantly retains its 3,500kg towing rating for the bigger power models, dropping to 3,000kg for the entry level model. Land Rover will be offering a semi-autonomous Advanced Tow Assist system for the Discovery to take the stress out of difficult reversing manoeuvres.

The new Discovery is marginally longer than the older model and has a longer wheelbase, which should deliver better comfort. This makes the turning circle marginally longer, while the wading depth for those venturing off-road goes increases marginally with better ground clearance.

Ford launches next-generation Fiesta

Ford has launched the next-generation Fiesta model and it claims that this super-mini car will be the world’s most technologically advanced small car. The new generation Fiesta is available in either three- or five-door format.

The new Fiesta will be the first Ford with Pedestrian Detection that can help prevent collisions at night. It will also be available with Active Park Assist with a new braking system to prevent low-speed bumps when parking hands-free

The new Fiesta is also the first Ford to feature a premium B&O PLAY Sound System. Ford’s SYNC 3 connectivity is supported by floating high-definition touch screens that are up to 8in in size.

Engine options for the new Fiesta include a 140bhp EcoBoost compact three-cylinder engine and an improved 1.5-litre 120bhp diesel engine, which is Fiesta’s first high-power diesel. The CO2 emission levels on some models will be as low as 82g/km and all engines meet Euro Stage 6 emission standards.

Ford claims that fuel efficiency is further enhanced with Start-Stop technology offered for all engines. A new Eco button for manual transmissions adjusts engine and throttle settings to help drivers save even more fuel when desired. Ford claims that new under-body aero shielding also further reduces aero drag and helps fuel efficiency.

The interior of the new Fiesta will be available with new personalisation options. The car claims more driving refinement, with road noise reduced 7% and an 8% improvement in braking distance.

Nissan reinvents the Micra

Nissan has reinvented the Micra, one of Ireland’s favourite city cars. The fifth-generation Micra looks different and is claimed to have grown up in terms of size and specifications.

This new Micra includes the distinctive V-motion grille, rear door handles hidden in the C-pillars and an extended roofline that incorporates a spoiler. Driver comfort gets more attention, with a lower driving position for what Nissan claims is a more secure driving feel. The seat adjustment has been improved, and the new Micra will come with a fully adjustable steering wheel.

It will feel bigger because it sits on a longer wheelbase and Nissan claims that the interior space will be among the best in class. The Micra will come with a 7in full colour central display. This will provide access to the audio system, satellite navigation, mobile phone, downloadable apps and Siri voice control via Apple CarPlay. Nissan will be offering its Intelligent Mobility system in the small car and that brings with it Intelligent Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Prevention.

The Micra will be available with a choice of a 0.9-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine or a 1.5-litre diesel, both developing 90hp. The range will be joined soon after by a naturally aspirated 73hp 1.0-litre petrol engine. Prices will be announced closer to the Micra launch in spring 2017.

BMW boosts 5 Series technology

The new BMW 5 Series is the seventh series of the range that has proved popular among Irish drivers. The new version claims to use the latest technology from within BMW to create a car that’s more refined than ever before, significantly lighter, safer, and more fuel efficient. Prices start from €52,800 on the road.

Engines for the 5 Series come from a new generation of TwinPower Turbo engines and BMW claims they provide performance gains while also showing advances in reducing fuel consumption and emissions. The cars will be available with new driver assistance technologies as the German brand also takes a notable step towards fully autonomous driving.

The 5 Series will launch with a lineup of engines that ranges from the benchmark 520d to the all new flagship 540i. xDrive all-wheel-drive will be offered for the first time on a 5 Series in the Irish market and is available from launch on the 520d, 530d and 540i.

Shortly after the new 5 Series Saloon is launched, BMW will add a further two engines to the lineup. Under the bonnet of the BMW 520d SE EfficientDynamics model lies what BMW claims is the most efficient incarnation of the 190hp four-cylinder diesel unit, which helps the car to achieve a fuel consumption of 72.4mpg, meaning it boasts joint best-in-class CO2 emissions of 102g/km.

A plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 5 Series Saloon will also be launched in March in the form of the BMW 530e iPerformance model. The BMW eDrive system and a four-cylinder petrol engine work in unison to achieve ultra-low CO2 emissions of just 49g/km, while generating overall output of 252hp. Fuel consumption is claimed to be 2.1l/100km and the electric system on its own has a range of up to 46km.

Insignia lighter and more dynamic

Opel has a new Insignia on the way and claims to have given the upgrade model everything a middle-class saloon driver demands. Opel claims that the new Insignia will be the most high-tech car in its segment.

The new Insignia is 175kg lighter than the outgoing model, and this claimed to benefit both the handling and the driving performance. The new model is lower, with an increased wheelbase, while overhangs front and rear have been reduced to give the car a more compact feel even though it’s marginally longer than the Skoda Superb.

The driver’s position in the new car is three centimetres lower than in the outgoing model. The centre console provides addition support and all controls can easily be reached.

Opel claims to have further refined FlexRide chassis which is designed to adapt dampers, steering and propulsion automatically or via the selectable Standard, Sport and Tour modes.

When the driver selects the Sport mode of the FlexRide chassis, the dampers are stiffened, the steering and throttle response are more direct. The ESP anti-skid system comes into play in difficult driving conditions.

The Opel FlexRide chassis claims to electro-hydraulically adapt the dampers to the road and the prevailing driving situation 500 times per second or 30,000 times per minute. The driver can also save personal preferences for the steering characteristics, throttle response and dampers via the Sport button.

Mercedes Benz shaves prices

Mercedes-Benz in Ireland is planning a busy 171 with a host of new cars on the way. The company has reduced new car prices by 10% across all Mercedes-Benz passenger cars with immediate effect. The reduction, which will apply for a limited period, will be implemented evenly across all models and all model segments, free of any terms and conditions.

Mercedes Benz claims that the intention behind the price reduction is twofold. One is to maintain market impetus as the industry faces into a new sales year. The second is to give support to its dealer organisation in its efforts to combat the effects on new car sales here following the movement in currency values from the recent Brexit result.

When it comes to new cars for 2017, Mercedes-Benz has scheduled the arrival of the new S-Class Cabriolet for the January-March period. Mercedes Benz will be adding an E-Class Coupé early in 2017, followed in mid-year by an E-Class Cabriolet. Also arriving in that period will be a new E-Class All-Terrain model and a revamped GLA entry-level SUV.

As 2017 progresses, it is expected that Mercedes-Benz will advance developments already in the pipeline, one being its entry into electric-powered motoring discussed at the recent Paris Motor Show. It is expected also that autumn will see the arrival of some top end models, with two especially exotic AMG models due, the GTR and GTC.