Hyundai Motor Philippines is under new management, and they just hit the ground running with a new 4-vehicle lineup. Recent events have seen the Korean marque go through some rather apparent challenges, but the new distributor handling them in the country is very keen on breathing new life into the brand with these new models, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction.
During their “official dealer, brand, and model launch” yesterday, Lee Dong Wok, Hyundai Motor Philippines’ President had this to say:
“Hyundai Motor Philippines has been working on rebuilding the brand to provide excellent customer experience through the launch of a broad range of new, innovative and exciting product line-up in the Philippine market.”
Hyundai hits the PH arena running with 4 new models, and that’s just the start
While not literally “new”, the 4 vehicles in the Hyundai PH lineup are the latest-generations of every specific model. Leading their charge into the market are the Creta and Staria, the successor of the well-loved and very-much-favored Starex.
So without further ado, let’s have a look at their Starting 4, shall we?
Photo: Hyundai
Starting with the Creta, Hyundai is bringing in their B-segment SUV fighter. Based on the “Sensuous Sportiness” design language, it looks strong, elegant, and bold despite it’s small size. But don’t let its looks fool you because it has seating enough for 5, and prides itself in having the most number of safety features found standard in its segment.
The Creta features LED headlights, DRLs, and rear combination lamps. It also has a wheelbase of 2610mm and a 200mm ground clearance, which is pretty good, with the former contributing to more passenger space in the cabin. The exterior is finished off by 17″ alloy wheels as well as new-design sporty bumpers. Powering the Creta is a 1.5-liter Smartstream engine paired with and improved CVT.
Photo: Hyundai
If there’s one truly eye-catching model in the Hyundai lineup, that will have to be the Staria. Replacing the Starex, the Staria is the perfect choice for those who want to travel in VIP comfort. It comes in a 7- or 11-seat configuration, that both feature a “Lounge” concept for comfortable travels. Its main draw is its spacious interior, with the former featuring smart sliding doors, a smart power tailgate, dual sunroofs, and a slew of safety features. The latter, along with the 3-seater cargo variant, has twin swinging doors which are perfect for both carrying people and hauling cargo for travel or business needs.
Photo: Hyundai
The all-new Tucson also makes its way into the revitalized brand’s lineup. Sporting the “Sensuous Sportiness” design language as the Creta, its Paremetric Jewel Pattern Grille and Unique Side Character lines give it a strong and commanding presence on any road. The tucson also features a long wheelbase that makes for extra legroom and a more comfortable ride.
Two variants are available – gas and diesel – and it is driven by a shift-by-wire transmission that was designed to work well with either engine choices to provide what Hyundai describes as a “fun driving experience”.
Photo: Hyundai
The Hyundai Santa Fe’s all-new model likewise makes its way to the Philippines. This time, it looks all the more luxurious and thanks to the premium materials used, it’s definitely earned its place among its premium competitors. Its T-Shaped DRLs provide a unique light signature and the new cascading grill and front bumper give it a wider, stronger looking look at the front end.
The new Santa Fe rides on the new modular Gen 3 platform of Hyundai which is made and optimized for unparalleled driving experience. Available in one variant, this diesel-powered SUV has a 2.2-liter Smartstream engine at its heart that is mated to an 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, a first in Hyundai’s SUVs.
Hyundai PH vehicle lineup and pricing
The variants and prices for this current lineup of Hyundai vehicles is as follows:
- Creta
- 1.5 GL 5MT = PHP 998,000
- 1.5 GL IVT = PHP 1,170,000
- 1.5 GL IVT (Limited Red) = PHP 1,323,000
- 1.5 GLS IVT = PHP 1,332,000
- Staria
- 2.2 CRDi 6MT (Cargo) = PHP 1,560,000
- 2.2 CRDi 6MT (Commuter) = PHP 1,850,000
- 2.2 CRDi GLS+ 8AT = PHP 2,320,000
- 2.2 CRDi Premium+ 8AT AWD = PHP 2,930,000
- Tucson
- 2.0 GLS AT (Gas) = PHP 1,570,000
- 2.0 GLS+ AT (Diesel) = PHP 1,840,000
- Santa Fe
- 2.2 CRDi GLS 8DCT = PHP 2,420,000
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If you’ve noticed, we said that this is the “Starting 4” of Hyundai, and that’s because they are looking at adding more vehicles to they lineup. And they want to introduce them into the PH market as soon as possible, too.
Hyunda Motor Philippines wasn’t kidding around when they got new management and when they said that they are here to stay and strengthen their place in the local market. The brand has always had a following, no doubt, and with their plans for a nationwide service campaign and warranty program to highlight their improved after sales commitment to their customers, it shouldn’t be too hard to keep liking them.
President Lee later added:
“Now that we are starting to introduce these models, we will ensure that the brand is accessible to all our customers through the launch of Hyundai Live in September. This is a two-way communication with our customers using the website as our online showroom that will provide information to meet our customers’ needs”
We confess that the Hyundai vehicles of the past that we’ve driven were very good products albeit still with points for improvement. But those said points aren’t major enough to mar the brands’ reputation or their products’ quality. With all these plans and their open commitment to our market and their customers in the Philippines, we hope we can continue looking at big things happening from Hyundai Motor Philippines from hereon.
