By now, it’s well established that the SUV market is booming, and it applies to all segments and price points. Brands have been busy reloading and expanding their SUV offerings, as worldwide consumer preference towards the high-riding machines shows no sign of abating.
Kia has one more crossover up its sleeve, and it will be revealed this year. The Korean brand, in an earnings presentation today, said that it plans to launch a small SUV in South Korea this year. The “crossover utility vehicle” will be based on the company’s current Pride sedan, which is the name of the Rio sedan it its home market, Reuters reported.
No further elaboration was made on the statement. Kia already has a B-segment SUV in its ranks. Called the Niro, it made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show early last year and is a dedicated hybrid model, Kia’s first. The Niro Hybrid was also rolled out in Europe last year, and was recently launched at the Singapore Motor Show for the city state. It shares a hybrid system with the Hyundai Ioniq that was recently launched here.
Kia also said that it planned to introduce a small SUV in Europe this year, without elaborating. Could it be a raised Rio hatch (fourth-gen launched late last year, and coming to Malaysia later this year) or something more funky to differentiate itself from the Niro and take on the Nissan Juke? Your guess is as good as ours.
GALLERY: Kia Niro Hybrid
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Jika Malaysia dengan Proton, China dengan Chery manakala Korea dengan Kia. Kesetiaan rakyat Korea terhadap jenama kenderaan buatan tempatan yang begitu kuat sehingga rakyat negara itu yang membeli kereta asing dianggap pengkhianat.
Proton adalah kebanggaan anak tempatan. Pengeluar kenderaan buatan tempatan sebagai enjin pertumbuhan ekonomi serta keperluan domestic, pembangunan industri sokongan dan latihan kemahiran automotif.
Tp Proton kata malaysia tiada market utk suv. Tp kia, hyundai, honda, toyota semua pasarkan suv & crossover di malaysia9
Tp market utk SUV tak hebat pun. MPV lagi banyak di jalan. Bukankah bodo utk buat kreta baru hanya semata mata pasaran yg sebegini sedikit?
John lagi pandai daripada ceo honda, toyota, mazda, kia etc nampaknya. Pandai cakap tapi kosong
Oh.. honda toyota kia hyundai nissan tu semua lebih bodo dari Proton.. ok.. fine..
P1 cater mostly for local market, that’s why
Betul la Honda lebih bodoh dari Proton. Tengok la booking crossover BRV hanya 4000 unit saja dalam 3 minggu. Mcm mana nak lawan proton ertiga yg dah 3 bulan di pasaran malaysia. Lain kali jgn keluarkan crossover suv la honda.. nanti tak laku tak boleh lawan Proton.
Ertiga is not crossover or SUV
Long story short. I have 2008 BLM (quite a bit of problems, service center sucks!). I still continue to support Proton by placed a booking for Persona Premium. BUT an unprofessional SA decided to scam my booking fee. Now the SA is suspended. Both Proton and its dealer refused to take responsibility. I lost my booking fee.
What did you said? Kebanggaan? Kesetiaan?
I suspect the Niro designer’s favourite actor is Robert De Niro
Kia: “We introduce you the Niro.”
Hyundai: “We introduce you the Tucson.”
Honda: “We introduce you the BR-V. And we also have the HR-V and CR-V.”
Toyota: “We introduce you the C-HR.”
Mazda: “We introduce you the CX-3 and CX-5.”
Mitsubishi: “We have the ASX, Outlander and the Pajero Sport. A new compact crossover will be unveiled at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.”
Renault: “We introduce you the Captur.”
Peugeot: “We have the 2008.”
Suzuki: “We have the SX4 and the Vitara”
BMW, Volvo, Mercedes Benz, General Motors, Land Rover: “You know what we have to offer.”
Proton: “We don’t think there is an SUV market here in Malaysia.”
Proton: “Hmm. market share shows MPV is more popular than SUV. Lets come out with Exora”. BOOM! One of the best selling MPVs in MY was born.
Proton very smart!
Mind you all those auto makers market is all over the world but p1
Rebadge as Naza Citra soon?
Bizarre, all auto companies on the planet have accepted that SUV’s are in great demand on the planet…….but the the most intelligent auto company is one started by a Mamak called Proton…….news on the street is that they don’t think SUV’s are in demand !!! I think, they can’t admit that no other car company will grant them the permission to re badge their SUV. This new. Kia Rio should do well in Malaysia, if it’s a CKD, it should not be more than MYR 92k.
Proton suprima S have potential to be suv crossover.. but proton says no market in malaysia
P1 dun need more variants of similar car. That was its biggest mistake then.
P1 and VW will need to seriously regain the trust of the whole nation or they will be left behind!
Nope. Now its toyota & P2 that needs to gain trust of the consumers and not just to send pipu to early afterlife