China is now the world’s largest car market, so it’s fitting it hosts the world’s largest motor show.
Auto China 2026 drew huge crowds of media and the general public when doors opened in Beijing last week.
With a staggering 17 halls and more than 250 reveals among 1500 vehicles on display, this year’s show delivered more hits than serious misses as the Chinese industry flexed its manufacturing muscle and showed what it’s capable of.
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Foreign brands also did their best to prove they still have it and can appeal to Chinese buyers, in a market that sells almost twice as many new cars annually – more than 30 million – than the next biggest, the United States.
In a seemingly insurmountable task, we’ve attempted to sift out the gold among the armada of new vehicles on display at the show – along with a few that haven’t panned out quite as well.
HITS
Stunning, Lambo-like styling shows imagination and confidence from a brand not afraid to take a punt – just look at the variation in its current Australian showrooms.
Sadly, in this case, the Ioniq V is destined for Chinese buyers only.
After years of Land Rover and Range Rover copies, Chinese brand Chery has cleverly collaborated to legitimately use the iconic design language to make it socially acceptable to drive a cut-price Freelander. It falls under yet another Chery-owned brand.
Surely this won’t end well for Jaguar Land Rover…
Brilliantly executed, with elegant design and fast charging that make it a seriously attractive proposition, combining cachet, swagger and EV smarts in one package.
One for next summer, please, Denza.
Go hard or go home. The Terrano shows Nissan hasn’t been beaten in its quest for survival, with chest-beating bravado and never-say-die styling the company needs right now – and with global appeal.
Toyota product planners are surely quaking as a V8-powered Toyota LandCruiser alternative was confirmed at the show, with the 700 reviving a classic recipe for success.
MISSES
Pitching a Chery-based electric SUV with dated, bland styling against European rivals seems naïve.
It may drive well, but desirability needs more than another cookie-cutter SUV.
A well-proportioned, capable EV SUV, but is it truly Volkswagen enough?
In searching for its EV mojo, has the German brand lost its identity in this otherwise handsome tie-up with Xpeng? We think it may have.
The company once renowned for design, and wanting to be defined by it again, presents a bland, formulaic SUV for China. Is this why it doesn’t wear the four rings?
Fingers crossed it doesn’t come here.
While the #2 is straight out of the original Smart playbook, the #6 PHEV sedan is a generic, ‘could be anything’ anonymous blob.
It could be the white Camry of the 2026 show – for better and worse.
A chance to stand apart instead of blending in, yet from a design point of view it could be anything. With no clear brand identity, why would poseurs pay more?
MORE: The Chinese cars from non-Chinese brands that we’re most excited about