High-rise wagons with off-roading abilities – or pretensions – are now the most popular pick for Aussie parents, and the catalogue of fresh family-sized SUVs for 2016 reflects that.

The year’s arrivals are headlined by the likes of Volkswagen’s long-awaited second-gen Tiguan and Mazda’s next-gen, turbocharged CX-9.

There is some innovation in medium and large sedans – long the family mainstay – but it’s SUVs in the driver’s seat.

VW-Tiguan -front -side

Expect to see front- and all-wheel-drive variants with power from a range of small turbo petrol and diesel engines. VW’s second-gen compact SUV will bring safety equipment such as pedestrian detection, automated city emergency braking and lane-keeping assist systems.

Mazda’s new CX-9 (pictured top), as the last of the line-up to adopt SkyActiv engine tech, will bring a new 2.5-litre petrol turbo engine in place of the outgoing model’s 3.7-litre V6. The big Mazda SUV, which is due in June, will continue to be offered in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive forms. It should use a lot less fuel than its predecessor, without sacrificing real-world performance.

Toyota -RAV4-driving -front

A facelifted Holden Captiva will arrive early in 2016. New frontal styling incorporating LED daytime running lights will introduce the updated version, which will boast a redesigned interior featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto multimedia connectivity. There will be five-seat and seven-seat options within a single model, with Holden dropping its dual-model Captiva 5 and Captiva 7 strategy.

VW-Passat -side -front

A sibling for the VW Tiguan, the Skoda Yeti, will also arrive in next-gen form, underpinned by the Volkswagen group’s MQB chassis component set. We’ll also see Skoda’s as yet unnamed large SUV during 2016.

The plug-in hybrid variant of Mitsubishi’s updated Outlander is likely to lob in January, and Kia is set to spring a new Sportage on us in March.

In more traditional family form, Volkswagen is poised to take its midsize wagon off the beaten track with a new Alltrack version of the polished Passat (pictured above). And, finally, Skoda’s big sedan/liftback and wagon, the Superb, will be reborn as a classier, more upmarket model about April.