Paul Tan's Automotive News » Hyundai

Sime Darby Auto Hyundai upgrades Prai 3S centre

Danny Tan — Tue, 22 May 2012 02:12:38 +0000

Sime Darby Auto Hyundai (SDAH) officially opened its new 3S centre in Prai, Penang recently. The ceremony was officiated by Kim Hoo-Keun, Head of Asia & Pacific Regional Headquarters.

SDAH invested close to RM6 million to upgrade the 3S centre, which spans 17,483 sq ft. Located on Jalan Baru, the centre has a spray-painting facility, six service bays (expandable to 12) and a WiFi lounge with beverages. SDAH Prai also offers Quick Service, a 24-hour key drop service and shuttle service to Megamall Pinang.

This new 3S centre also complies with the Hyundai Dealer Enhancement Programme (DEP). DEP was introduced by HMC to reinforce Hyundai’s brand presence by aligning it with Hyundai’s global corporate image.

The 3S centre is part of Wisma EMC, which can be found at 972, Jalan Baru, Prai. Call 04-3997788 (service) and 04-3993988 (sales) for enquiries.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (8) Think (2) Angry (5) Happy (3) Sad (1) Meh (12)

No related posts.

Hyundai i30, besieged by primates, goes ape for 10 hours

Anthony Lim — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:56:41 +0000

You’ve met Gorilla Glass. Now, meet Baboon Car.

Yes, it was definitely a case of monkeying around when the clever folk at Hyundai UK decided to put the new i30 up to a very different type of wear and tear challenge – in the first endurance test of its kind in the UK by a car manufacturer, cheeky safari park baboons were let loose on the hatchback.

Baboons from Knowsley Safari Park on the outskirts of Liverpool were the volunteers, chosen for their well-known love of tearing park visitors’ cars apart – Wayne Rooney will certainly remember them well; his vehicle was subject to their scrutiny when he visited the Merseyside attraction last year.

An i30 was parked in the baboon enclosure, and was immediately besieged by dozens of the park’s primates. The monkeys simulated the punishment a typical family might subject a car to: jumping up and down on seats, pushing and prodding buttons and opening and closing storage bins.

They even checked the durability of cupholders with plastic drinking beakers. Meanwhile, other baboons tested the fabric of seats by eating their lunch in the car, and some played with their toys in the i30’s sizeable boot.

Outside, the paintwork was smeared and scraped, but the hard-wearing paint protected the car from significant scratches and chips.

Ten hours later, playtime was called to an end, and the car – specially-designed for families and their ‘little monkeys’ in the back – emerged virtually unscathed. Seems the extra strong materials used to build the interior, easy wipe plastics and tough fittings held up to the abuse.

“For a baboon, to have a car to play with for a whole day is manna from heaven,” said David Ross, the GM at Knowsley. “I’ve seen thousands of cars pass through this enclosure, get mobbed by monkeys, and none have lasted the distance as well as this Hyundai.”

“These baboons are incredibly inquisitive. If you put them on any car they will scour it for the weak points and find any faults. At one point there were 40 monkeys in the car, pushing it to its limits – that’s ten times the size of the average human family.”

Well, now that the baboon car has come about, I wonder if any other manufacturer will attempt to ape the feat. Maybe use some lions? Elephants? Have a whale of a time?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (39) Think (8) Angry (2) Happy (14) Sad (3) Meh (20)

BMW and Hyundai rumoured to be in engine tie-up talks

Anthony Lim — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:13:57 +0000

Some news on the cooperation and partnership front. The latest talk about bedfellows concerns BMW and Hyundai – according to reports, the two companies are supposedly discussing a possible tie-up in engine development and other areas. Talks are at an early stage, said a source close to the matter.

Automobil Produktion, a German industry publication, had reported last week that Chung Euisun, Hyundai chairman Chung Mongkoo’s son, met top BMW personnel in Munich to discuss sharing engine development costs.

The sum reportedly goes to the tune of one to two billion euros. Another source said that both parties had been discussing a comprehensive alliance, including jointly developing an engine and sharing development costs equally.

The need to meet requirements of stricter European Union carbon-emission norms in 2020 means companies have to spend considerably in research and development of new conventional and alternative energy powertrains.

In addressing the tie-up talk, BMW dismissed the speculation it might look to add another technology partner beyond Peugeot, Toyota and possibly General Motors, with chief executive Norbert Reithofer telling reporters that further cooperation partners are currently not foreseen.

A Hyundai Motor spokesman added there were no alliance talks or meetings between senior company officials, stating the speculation was groundless.

Meanwhile, analysts said some form of tie-up with Hyundai would be beneficial to BMW, since its 1.6 million vehicle sales base limits its scale compared to Audi, which can share development costs with parent company VW.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (27) Think (2) Angry (4) Happy (1) Sad (4) Meh (7)

Hyundai Langdong launched in China – it’s the Elantra MD

Danny Tan — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:55:54 +0000

Hyundai, whose joint venture in China is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, unveiled the Elantra Langdong at the ongoing Beijing show. Langdong, which can be translated as a “dynamic (car) for the young, new generation,” is based on the C-segment ‘MD’ Elantra, but with a more conventional chrome bar grille. Which face do you prefer?

As with our Elantra, Hyundai’s 1.6L (Gamma) and 1.8L (Nu) MPI engines with D-CVVT will be offered on Langdong. With six-speed automatic and manual transmissions, and Active ECO driving mode, Hyundai claims best in class fuel economy in China.

Premium features include a navigation system, dual-zone auto air con, ventilated/heated powered seats, push start button, side airbags and a tyre pressure monitoring system, among other things.

Also, Hyundai will introduce its Blue Link infotainment system in the Langdong. Blue Link offers a variety of features such as safety and maintenance alerts, navigation and remote control. This Blue Link service will be introduced throughout the brand’s range in China this year.

The Langdong will be produced at Hyundai’s new, third plant in Beijing in the second half of 2012. Currently under construction, the plant will raise Hyundai’s maximum production capacity in China to one million units.

Click here for our local launch report and here for our review of the Elantra.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (6) Think (3) Angry (4) Happy (1) Sad (6) Meh (19)

DRIVEN: Fifth-gen Hyundai Elantra MD tested in Korea!

Danny Tan — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:54:06 +0000

There’s a war between Japan and South Korea. No, the East Asian neighbours aren’t pointing missiles at each others’ territory, or even joining forces against the belligerent North – the “war” is happening right in our backyard. Waged between fervent Japanese car fans and their Korean counterparts, our comments section and mamak car talk are the battlegrounds, among other forums.

This is of course a new phenomenon. No such battle existed five years back, when Korean brands were still finding their way in auto world. The Japanese, and their salesmen, never felt threatened – Korean cars were dismissed as lower quality wheels for budget hunters who couldn’t shell out more for a Toyota or Honda. And they were mostly right – besides value for money, there were little else going for previous gen Hyundais and Kias.

How things have changed. The Koreans haven’t abandoned “value for money” as a proposition, but perceived quality, technical ability and styling have all caught up, and in some instances, surpassed the stalwarts. No, today’s Hyundais aren’t perfect cars, but they’re really giving the Civics and Corollas of the world a real fight.

Let’s now take a look at the fifth-generation Hyundai Elantra, the reigning North American Car of the Year. Coincidentally, the last time a compact won that title was in 2006, when the revolutionary eighth-gen Honda Civic wowed the crowd…

One of the main pillars of Hyundai’s transformation from also-ran to almost-desirable is styling. You can built a great car, but if it’s boring from the outside, it’s never going to get the attention it deserves, especially so for a challenger brand. Hyundai’s decision to give its new range bold styling was risky, but it’s paying off handsomely.

Personally, my eyes don’t fully agree with every Fluidic Sculpture product that they’ve churned out so far. Never really got the Sonata and Tucson’s fussy faces, and I think the size/proportions of the Accent don’t speak the design language very well. But the Elantra is a different matter.

For me at least, everything looks “right”. I’m no designer, but the Elantra has enough size for the flowing lines to come into play, and the shape is very athletic – the roofline is truly coupe-like (a term that’s overused and abused these days) while the daylight opening (side window area) is sportscar-like shallow.

The Sonata can appear thick on its sides despite the Passat CC inspiration, but there’s no such issue here. Best angle for me is the rear three quarters view, where those wavy tail lamp clusters guide your eyes down the “spine” that skewers both door handles.

There’s no empty patch that will make you go “I think they should have put something here”. The rear also doesn’t look narrow and tall, something that afflicts many C-segment sedans today. Brilliant.

If the exterior is shapely, the dashboard matches it in flair. It’s a riot of curves and shapes in here, but the focus point is the centre stack, or more precisely, its narrow waist. This set of opposing curves is repeated on the steering wheel as well.

It’s a little too busy for me when paired with our Korean test car’s two-tone interior, but the local spec’s all-black theme softens the impact. Not to all tastes, but no one can accuse Hyundai of being safe and boring! Proceed to the Volkswagen camp if you want a solid but sombre business-like atmosphere.

Speaking of VW, the German “air of solidity” isn’t present here, but I suspect that it’s down to the effect of the funky vs serious dashboard design. Like how one would presume that the guy in the suit is more successful/wealthier than the guy in tee and jeans.

Probing deeper, quality wise, there’s nothing the Elantra’s cabin lacks compared to Japanese rivals. The feel of the materials, the way the knobs turn and the fit of the buttons are all good. Cabin quality has been good for quite some time now, but the Koreans are picking up more finesse as they go along.

We tried the 150 PS/178 Nm 1.8-litre automatic and it was so much better to drive than the previous-gen Elantra. Compared to its predecessor, the MD Elantra’s controls feel a lot more natural – the steering has more weight to it and feels more connected to the ground, while the brakes aren’t too grabby.

The engine is very well insulated at idle and low revs, and it provided sufficient pick-up and linear response to not feel lacking.

The six-speed automatic does its job competently in the background. Hyundai’s self-developed slush box isn’t the fastest shifting or most “sporty feeling” around, but it’s far from the worst six-speed auto we’ve tried. I don’t remember it being indecisive or hunting in the Elantra.

But no, the Elantra isn’t one to delight the super keen driver. It does well for the most part, but once you really drive it hard, it’s apparent that the Hyundai is tuned for comfort.

It feels lightweight and agile enough in corners, but there’s quite a bit of body roll, the steering could do with more feel, and it isn’t the last word on grip. Also, the Nu engine isn’t as sweet revving as the 1.8 SOHC in the Honda Civic.

So it’s no driving champion, but the Elantra rode well, at least on smooth Korean roads (we’ve yet to drive it in Malaysia) and is a much sharper tool than before. Now that it’s launched here, I’m looking forward to reacquaint myself with the Elantra again, in 1.6 manual form perhaps.

The fact that it isn’t the best car to drive hard doesn’t matter a bit to buyers in this segment. What really matters is that Hyundai has brought to market a great package that includes standout looks, good quality and decent performance. For me, it does one thing very well, all else decently, and nothing wrong at all, the Elantra.

The Hyundai Elantra is now in showrooms. Click here for our media preview report for full specs and prices.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (124) Think (10) Angry (25) Happy (21) Sad (20) Meh (37)

No related posts.

Hyundai 3S centre opens in Shah Alam

Anthony Lim — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:12:25 +0000

News of another opening of a 3S outlet, and this one is a Hyundai outing. Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors dealer Sutera Gemilang Auto’s spanking new facility in Shah Alam, launched over the weekend, is the latest integrated sales, service and spare parts centre for the brand in the country.

The 31,500 sq ft centre, located at Lot 7960, Jalan Batu 3 (off Jalan Subang), has a total of nine service bays, and is targeting to service approximately 32 vehicles a day. It carries the same features as all Hyundai 3S centres, which includes a premium Wi-Fi lounge, a kids corner and free flow of beverages to provide greater comfort and convenience for its customers.

The dealership – which has invested close to RM3 million in setting up the centre – also offers Quick Service and a 24-Hour Key Drop facility, as well as a free hourly shuttle service to Citta Mall (and anywhere within the radius of 15 km from the facility).

Meanwhile, HSDM isn’t stopping on its expansion plans – the company is looking to have a total of 22 3S centres nationwide by the end of 2012, and add a further four more next year.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (5) Think (4) Angry (5) Happy (3) Sad (3) Meh (10)

No related posts.

Hyundai Santa Fe – two wheelbase options for third-gen

Anthony Lim — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:13:00 +0000

Hyundai’s third-generation Santa Fe, which premiered in New York last week, is set to make its market debut sometime in mid-year. The SUV arrives in two wheelbase variant forms, a standard five-seater model as well as a long wheelbase version, which will appear in early 2013. The latter will offer seating for up to seven over three rows, but will only be available in left-hand drive format.

The exterior for both versions features elements of what the company calls the ‘Storm Edge’ design concept, which supposedly captures the strong and dynamic images created by nature during the formation of a storm. You’ll be seeing more of this urban-style design cues on future Hyundai models.

As for numbers, the new Santa Fe rides on a 2,700 mm wheelbase, and measures in at 4,690 mm long, 1,680 mm tall and 1,880 mm wide – a lowered height and extended overhang gives the new offering a sportier look. Meanwhile, the LWB has a longer wheelbase of 2,800 mm, with increased overall length of 4,905 mm, and adds 10 mm and 5 mm to height and width over the SWB.

As well as its wider appearance, the new SUV delivers more spacious cabin room compared to the outgoing model. Front- and second-row legroom have been increased, by 38 mm and 45 mm respectively, while luggage space in the trunk has been increased by 37 mm in depth over the existing Santa Fe, yielding a class-best luggage capacity of 534 litres with the front five seats upright.

For the US market, two petrol engines will be available, a 2.4 litre Theta GDI normally-aspirated four-pot as well as a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbocharged Theta mill. In terms of output, the 2.4 offers 190 hp and 245 Nm, while the 2.0 turbo unit delivers 264 hp and 365 Nm.

In Europe, the Santa Fe will also be available with Hyundai’s Euro 6-compliant 2.2 litre ‘R’ diesel engine featuring a variable geometry turbo (VGT). The all-aluminium engine generates 197 hp and 431 Nm of torque, whilst achieving CO2 emissions of just 145 g/km. There’s also a 148 hp 2.0 litre R diesel variant, though European buyers won’t get the petrol turbo option.

Transmission choices are a six-speed manual and six-speed automatic, which have been tuned to suit the power delivery of the engine line-up.

As part of Hyundai’s efforts to present a unified brand image, Hyundai has adopted a new global naming strategy of one consistent name for one model worldwide, so the SUV is set to be known as Santa Fe in all markets. However, according to local markets’ preferences, the sub-name may be differentiated – the Santa Fe will be called the Santa Fe Sport in the US.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (44) Think (3) Angry (4) Happy (6) Sad (5) Meh (20)

Hyundai MD Elantra arrives – 4 variants, RM87k to RM112k

Anthony Lim — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:49:03 +0000

The much-awaited fifth-generation Hyundai Elantra has finally arrived, well, almost. Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors officially introduced the MD Elantra – which wears Inokom badging – earlier today at a media preview, though the car will only be available in showrooms from April 6 onwards.

The arrival of the 4.53 metre-long C-segment sedan has definitely been long awaited; after all, it’s almost two years since the Avante version of the car made its debut in Korea. The locally-assembled vehicle will be available in four variants and two engine configurations here, these being three 1.6 litre models and a range-topping 1.8 litre version.

The range is made up of the 1.6 MT Standard and 1.6 AT Standard baseline models, a better specified 1.6 AT High Spec variant, all three powered by a Gamma 1.6 litre MPI D-CVVT mill, and the single 1.8 litre job is known as the AT Premium, which wears a Nu D-VVT 1.8 litre MPI D-VVT engine.

In terms of output numbers, the 1.8 litre – which features an offset crankshaft design – offers 150 PS at 6,500 rpm and 178 Nm at 4,700 rpm, while the 1.6 Gamma (MPI) is good for 130 PS at 6,300 rpm and 157 Nm at 4,850 rpm. As for the transmissions, both the manual and automatic gearboxes are six-speeders, with the auto equipped with Shiftronic manual control.

Standard kit across the range includes headlamp auto light control, fog lamps, dual airbags, ABS and steering wheel audio controls. There’s also Vehicle Stability Management and ESP, but these are only to be found in the 1.8 AT Premium and the 1.6 AT High Spec.

Leather seats feature throughout the entire 1.6 range, with the 1.8 litre model getting Nappa leather as well as environmentally friendly foam for its construction material; supposedly, it offers passengers greater comfort when travelling on rough roads.

Steering wheel tilt adjustment is offered with both 1.6 Standard models, with the 1.6 AT High Spec and 1.8 Premium getting a tilt and telescopic wheel. Elsewhere, with the exception of the manual variant, the range gets full keyless entry and a start/stop ignition button.

The 1.8 features an array of additional features, as befits its premium tag and added asking price – the list includes automatic rain sensing wipers, a full auto climate control system with an auto defogging system and cluster ionizer system as well as an audio visual navigation (AVN) system, with a reverse camera visual display.

It’s also the only variant to be fitted with a sunroof, a 10-way adjustable driver power seat as well as auto cruise control.

As for wheels, the three 1.6 models come with 16-inch alloys wrapped with 205/55 series tyres, and the 1.8 wears 17-inch units and 215/45 profile tyres. Seven colours are available for the MD, namely Ceramic White, Sleek Silver, Hyper Silver, Clean Blue, Tomato Red, Santorini Blue and Phantom Black.

Pricing for the MD Elantra range starts from RM86,888 for the 1.6 MT Standard, followed by RM91,888 for the 1.6 AT Standard. The 1.6 AT High Spec rolls in at RM96,888, while the top-of-the-range 1.8 AT Premium goes for RM111,888, all prices on-the-road, with insurance.

While you won’t be able to walk in and view the MD in the showrooms just yet, you can get up and close with the car at a test drive event this weekend, which is March 30 to April 1, at Citta Mall, Ara Damansara, from 10 am to 6 pm daily.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (252) Think (19) Angry (81) Happy (22) Sad (112) Meh (52)

Team Hyundai to promote brand for EURO 2012 – Casillas, Podolski, Rossi, Benzema and Sturridge are ambassadors

Danny Tan — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 01:08:11 +0000

Click to enlarge

Introducing Team Hyundai, a five-man ambassador team for the Korean carmaker at the upcoming UEFA EURO 2012 tournament. Football fans will need no help, but for the benefit of all, they are Iker Casillas (Spain), Lukas Podolski (Germany), Giuseppe Rossi (Italy), Karim Benzema (France) and Daniel Sturridge (England).

The fab five will fulfil their roles as ambassadors through a series of marketing activities as part of Hyundai’s promotions and campaigns for EURO 2012. In addition, Hyundai will launch a new charitable initiative that supports young people and players to realise their ambitions.

By entering the dedicated application on Hyundai’s global Facebook page – www.facebook.com/Hyundaiworldwide – fans can ‘like’ their favourite Team Hyundai player. For every ‘like’, Hyundai will donate €1, and the company is targeting a total donation of €250.000.

Hyundai has been a partner of UEFA for more than 12 years, spanning four EURO tournaments. For the upcoming one in Poland and Ukraine, Hyundai will deliver a fleet of more than 350 vehicles to transport teams, VIPs and officials.

What’s your five-a-side EURO fantasy team?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (12) Think (0) Angry (2) Happy (0) Sad (4) Meh (14)

No related posts.

Hyundai Santa Fe – first images of 3rd-gen SUV out

Chris Ng — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:05:58 +0000

Click to enlarge.

Hyundai has released teaser images of its new, third-generation Santa Fe, which bears the ‘DM’ codename in Korea. The DM Santa Fe is set to be premiered at the New York International Auto Show in April.

Based on the company’s current design philosophy called Fluidic Sculpture, the Santa Fe’s lines are adapted into its own concept called ‘Storm Edge’. The rationale states that this design captures the strong and dynamic images created by nature during the formation of a storm.

Click to enlarge.

So, the Santa Fe’s new lines are bolder, with more voluminous surfaces and it loses the curves of what we see usually see, like on the Sonata. What is similar though is the hexagonal grille that is on the fascia of every Hyundai car on the market.

The new lines also aims to deliver a more premium image, which hints on the ambitions Hyundai has for its new SUV. Expect more details on the vehicle when the New York Show opens.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (109) Think (9) Angry (5) Happy (6) Sad (1) Meh (7)

Facelifted Hyundai i20 gets super clean new diesel engine

Danny Tan — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:32:33 +0000

These are the first images of the facelifted Hyundai i20, which will debut at Geneva 2012. Hyundai’s B-segment supermini wears a new face that’s in line with the brand’s new Fluidic Scupture image, although it looks milder compared to newer, clean sheet designs such as the i40 and new i30.

In terms of dimensions, width (1,710 mm), height (1,490 mm) and wheelbase (2,525 mm) remain the same, while overall length has increased by 55 mm over its predecessor to 3,995 mm. As comparision, the 3,950 mm Ford Fiesta has a 2,489 mm wheelbase.

The big news for Europe is a new 1.1 litre, three-cylinder ‘U-II’ diesel engine. This 75 PS unit is among four powertrain options for the refreshed i20 and has the lowest CO2 emissions of any conventional powertrain car on sale today. When mated to Hyundai’s Blue Drive tech, it emits just 84 g/km of CO2. This is even lower than some hybrids, and will be good for markets like the UK where car tax is aligned to CO2 ratings, not engine capacity.

Besides this, there will be another sub-100 g/km diesel – a 1.4 litre ‘U-II’ 90 PS engine that emits 96 g/km. This is proof that diving into the deep end of the demanding European market is a sure way for a carmaker to improve itself. Sink or swim, as the saying goes.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (15) Think (0) Angry (6) Happy (9) Sad (2) Meh (9)

Geneva preview: Hyundai i-oniq range-extender concept

Anthony Lim — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:45:53 +0000

Click to enlarge.

More from the Geneva front. The Swiss show, which kicks off this week, will see Hyundai showcasing its new i-oniq concept, which is an electric sports hatchback with a range-extending petrol engine.

The i-oniq continues to evolve the company’s fluidic sculpture form language, with a design that combines gentle feature lines and muscular surface treatment to inject premium and sporty into the overall mix. Design cues include a ‘penthouse roof’ and LED headlights.

The 4.4 metre-long vehicle seats four in its driver-oriented cabin. Plenty of high-tech equipment to be found in the driver interface and controls, so it goes, while passengers benefit from a lounge-style space designed to optimise comfort, featuring sculpted surfaces inspired by musical instruments, no less.

It’s powered by a 1.0 litre, three-cylinder petrol engine mated, via a generator, to a lithium-ion electric motor, with 109 PS as the output figure. In electric-only mode, i-oniq has a range of 120 km, while with assistance from the petrol engine it can travel up to 700 km, producing just 45 g/km of CO2 in the process.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (23) Think (0) Angry (0) Happy (8) Sad (1) Meh (2)

Hyundai i30 Wagon revealed ahead of Geneva debut

Danny Tan — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:58:08 +0000

The second-generation Hyundai i30 that was unveiled in September last year welcomes a new family member in the shape of this wagon. Revealed ahead of its Geneva world debut, the Hyundai i30 Wagon shares engines and running gear with the five-door C segment hatchback, but has a longer body.

Designed for European tastes at Hyundai’s R&D Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the i30 Wagon, at 4,485 mm long, is 185 mm longer than the five-door hatch, making it one of the most spacious vehicles in segment. It’s also 10 mm longer than the original i30 wagon.

Compared with the hatch, the wagon expands trunk space from 378 litres to a best-in-class 528 litres – fold down the rear seats and cargo volume increases more than three fold to 1,642 litres.

Like the hatch, the Wagon’s front is distinguished by Hyundai’s hexagon-shaped grille and prominent “eyes”. From the B-pillar backwards, the wagon has its own style. The roofline slopes to add dynamism to the fluidic sculpture body, while a pronounced swage line runs horizontally along the sides of the body and rises all the way to the rear lights.

Click here for our previous post on the new i30 hatchback.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (34) Think (0) Angry (3) Happy (4) Sad (3) Meh (6)

Hyundai Elantra MD – four spec levels available at launch?

Paul Tan — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:52:21 +0000

Ads for the new Hyundai Elantra have started cropping up all over the city and the virtual world (even on this blog), but we’ve had no official word on the launch date, specs and pricing yet. However, a quick scour on Mudah.my to look for pre-launch ads posted by Hyundai Sime Darby Motors salesmen reveal the following:

Four specs – 1.6 litre manual, 1.6 litre automatic standard spec, 1.6 litre automatic high spec and 1.8 litre premium

Six-speed for both manual and automatic gearbox

Auto headlamps

Smart key with push start button ignition

Supervision meter cluster (self-illuminated)

GPS navigation

Reverse camera

ABS, ESP and Vehicle Stability Management

Dual airbags

iPod and USB support

5 year or 300,000km warranty

The images posted on Mudah also show an Inokom badge on the car instead of a Hyundai badge. So far there are two price ranges indicated on the classifieds ads – about RM85k to RM90k ~~and another price range of about RM120k~~. This probably means the 1.6 litre models will be around the RM85k to RM95k mark, while the 1.8 litre ~~while be around RM120k+~~. UPDATE: It appears that all the ads advertising the high spec Elantra for over RM100k have gone missing from Mudah – what’s going on?

You might be wondering what Vehicle Stability Management is. It’s basically a system that manages the ESP stability control system as well as the electric power steering to take the car’s safety assist systems to a higher level. For example, when a driver accelerates or brakes on a split-traction surface (slippery wet puddle on one side, dry pavement on the other), your steering will normally pull to one direction.

VSM detects this condition via the ESP system, and sends a signal to the electric power steering to apply steering assist – up to 8Nm of counter steering force to keep the vehicle steady; VSM works the same way during sudden lane changes or fast cornering.

Once again, these are just specs and pricing taken from salesmen ads on Mudah.my, and are in no way the confirmed specs released by Hyundai Sime Darby Motors. And of course, it’s likely that some of the features above, like the auto headlamps, GPS and reverse camera would most likely be reserved only for the 1.8 litre variant.

Sources – Mudah ad 1, Mudah ad 2, Mudah ad 3

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (120) Think (6) Angry (18) Happy (2) Sad (18) Meh (13)

Hyundai i30 launched as the Elantra GT in the US market

Paul Tan — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:21:16 +0000

Hyundai has introduced the European market i30 in the US, but the Euro-centric i-prefix name has been swapped for the moniker “Elantra GT”, which identifies the i30 as being part of Hyundai’s C-segment family. So the Yanks have a total of 3 Elantras to pick from now – the sedan, the 2-door coupe as well as this 5-door hatch. Only one engine option so far – the 148 horsepower 1.8 liter 4-pot that they can get in the Elantra sedan, available with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic.

Look after the jump or click the image above for a full gallery.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (21) Think (2) Angry (4) Happy (3) Sad (2) Meh (9)

Hyundai Elantra Coupe – two-door joins the line-up

Anthony Lim — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:04:27 +0000

Hyundai has introduced its new two-door Elantra Coupe at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. Designed at Hyundai’s North American Design Center in Irvine, California, the car continues on the company’s dynamic “Fluidic Sculpture” design principles, with a signature hexagonal front fascia opening and jewelled swept-back headlights giving it a lean, aggressive demeanour.

Other design cues include a blacked-out diffuser valance, dual chrome-tipped exhaust tips and a boot lid incorporating a lip spoiler design element at the rear. On the SE version, the car rides on five-spoke 17-inch alloys.

The car is equipped with a 1.8 litre Nu D-CVVT petrol engine, offering 148 hp at 6,500 rpm and 178Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm, with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions to be had.

Standard kit includes Vehicle Stability Management, ESC, TCS, ABS with brake assist and EBD, as well as six airbags (front, front side and side curtain), and features on the Coupe include a 7-inch touchscreen navigation system with rearview camera and iPod/USB inputs, Bluetooth and push-button ignition.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (79) Think (2) Angry (0) Happy (7) Sad (3) Meh (16)

Hyundai Veloster Turbo sports it up with 201hp and 264Nm

Anthony Lim — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:18:44 +0000

Hyundai has premiered the Veloster Turbo at the NAIAS in Detroit. The car, which is 3 cm longer and 15.2 cm wider than the naturally-aspirated Veloster, is powered by a 1.6 litre Gamma turbocharged four-cylinder GDI engine.

Output figures for the 2013 North American version is 201 hp at 6,000 rpm and 264 Nm of torque from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm. Unique to Hyundai’s twin-scroll turbocharger setup is a patent-pending one-piece cast design for the stainless steel exhaust manifold and the twin-scroll turbine housing, as well as a motor-driven electrical controller for the waste-gate.

Transmission-wise, the car is available with a choice of an in-house six-speed automatic or manual transmission. The manual features a wider gear ratio spread of 5.71 to the NA’s 5.25 to handle the additional torque output.

Speaking of increased torque output, the choice of an auto gearbox, as opposed to the NA Veloster’s DCT, is due to this. The gear ratio spread on the automatic transmission is slightly narrower than the DCT (6.0 versus 6.38), and this narrower spread maintains the engine in the power band when going from one gear to the other – Hyundai says the base Veloster’s DCT is tuned for fuel efficiency, and not for the performance feel needed for the Turbo.

The car features a sport-tuned engine intake and exhaust note – the Veloster’s trapezoidal centre exhaust has been removed and replaced with two larger free flowing circular pipes and a new intake manifold, allowing the engine to offer a more full-bodied sound.

It also gets some revised bodywork; there’s a bigger, bolder hexagonal front grille, sculpted side skirts and a new, dynamic rear bumper with prominent diffuser vents in the lower fascia, and the car is finished in a Matte Grey shade.

Additionally, the Veloster Turbo is equipped with unique 18-inch alloy wheels with chrome inserts, projector headlamps with unique LED headlight accents and a sport-tuned suspension – the front wears McPherson struts, coil springs, gas shock absorbers and a 24 mm diameter front stabiliser, while the rear features a light-weight V-torsion beam, monotube shocks and an integrated 23 mm stabiliser bar.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (82) Think (7) Angry (3) Happy (2) Sad (5) Meh (16)

Hyundai Elantra and Range Rover Evoque win 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards

Danny Tan — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:45:04 +0000

The new Hyundai Elantra is the 2012 North American Car of the Year, while the Range Rover Evoque is the 2012 North American Truck of the Year. Both victorious models were revealed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show at Detroit.

The winners were chosen by a jury of 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. Instead of being given by a single media outlet, they are awarded by a coalition of automotive journalists from the both countries who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and websites.

The awards are designed to recognise the most outstanding new vehicles of the year, benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, comfort, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar, according to the organisers.

The Elantra MD, which will be launched next month in Malaysia, scored 174 points. It beat the Volkswagen Passat (161) and Ford Focus (155). “The Hyundai Elantra is sporty, yet sensible. Luxurious, yet affordable. Spunky, but safe. The Elantra is a series of paradoxes and every one is another argument for the latest, impressive entry in the Hyundai lineup,” wrote Jayne O’Donnell, a member of the jury from USA Today. This is the second North American COTY award for Hyundai, which came up tops in 2009 with the Genesis.

In the truck category, which includes SUVs, the Range Rover Evoque scored 254 points, way ahead of the Honda CR-V’s 142 and the BMW X3′s 94. This is the first win for the British marque. “Range Rover successfully charts a new direction for the venerable SUV trailblazer with a fresh design and advanced thinking about environmental issues,” said another juror, Alex Taylor of Fortune magazine.

This is the 19th year of the awards, which was inspired by the “Car of the Year” in Europe. Last year, the Chevrolet Volt won for cars and the Ford Explorer won for trucks, but none of the Detroit carmakers made it into the top three in either category this year. Congratulations Hyundai and Land Rover!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (60) Think (1) Angry (5) Happy (8) Sad (4) Meh (11)

Hyundai HND-7 Hexa Space concept makes Delhi debut

Anthony Lim — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:59:41 +0000

Yet another world premiere at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi, and this one is from Hyundai. The Hexa Space is a multi-purpose vehicle concept showcasing how you don’t need to have big to get plenty of interior space.

Indeed, this one rides on the same platform as the company’s compact ix20, and is only slightly wider. The HND-7, as it’s codenamed, measures in at 4.3 metres long, 1.82 metres wide and 1.65 metres tall, and is powered by a Kappa 1.2 litre turbo GDI engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Targeted at young urban families in their 30s and 40s, the Hexa Space, which rides on 19-inch wheels, is a machine able to serve many roles, given a unique seat design and layout. It features eight slim, hexagonally-shaped seats that fit together like puzzle pieces, maximising internal space while minimising vehicle width. The choice of the hexagon is simple enough – from honeycombs to architecture, it’s known as an optimum shape in terms of space efficiency.

The seats offer multiple configurations for seating. The centre seats fold flat for greater comfort, while the second row folds flat to create a limousine function and the back row can be folded flat for light-cargo use. Additionally, seven seats can be folded flat for heavy hauling and all eight can be stored away for camping.

In the first two rows of the Hexa Space, the centre seats are positioned slightly behind the seats on either side, allowing passengers to sit three-abreast without feeling cramped. Ingress and egress out of the vehicle is easy due to an innovative door design – the rear doors lift out and slide back, creating wide-open entry on each side.

Other mod cons in the concept are a touch-screen centre console, a push-button shifter and a cluster ionizer air purifier, and storage spaces are tucked throughout the interior.

Live images of the Hexa Space from Auto Expo 2012 courtesy of Motorbeam.com.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (18) Think (2) Angry (3) Happy (2) Sad (2) Meh (18)

Hyundai aiming to sell seven million vehicles in 2012

Anthony Lim — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:50:53 +0000

Hyundai Motor announced yesterday that it is targeting to sell seven million vehicles worldwide this year, an increase of 6% from 2011, in which it sold 6.6 million units globally, more than a million in the US alone.

The figure – which includes Kia numbers – is however conservative, considering that the company has been posting double-digit growth in annual sales volume over the last three years. It may be reflective of the company being wary of a global economic slowdown this year, the reports say.

While continuing its efforts to consolidate its position as the world’s No 5 automaker, the Korean automaker is shifting its focus from volume to quality, in a bid to ensure its growth isn’t thwarted. In recent times, the carmaker has improved its quality ratings in advanced nations, while solidifying its position in emerging countries, the reports add.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (39) Think (5) Angry (4) Happy (10) Sad (6) Meh (17)

Five-fold mega SUV shootout: Mitsubishi ASX v Nissan X-Trail v Honda CR-V v Hyundai Tucson v Peugeot 3008!

Danny Tan — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:35:33 +0000

Granted, the sport utility vehicle segment has a different luster than that of more than a decade ago, when the class was fresh and burgeoning, and manufacturers were falling over each other to fill the slots in the new opening. Then, robustness was generally the operative word, so an SUV had to be tough to tackle terrain and yet be compliant enough for urban use. Not the easiest thing to manage, you can imagine.

Time – as well as trial and error – has seen the category become more refined, and the sparkle these days is probably better at wooing buyers. A more focused scope has come about, with the need to be able to traverse the great outdoors in rugged fashion pretty much left behind, like it should have been in the first place. Today’s SUV is very much a suburban-centric offering, aimed at the urban crowd for which a sedan doesn’t have enough space and presence, and a MPV too much, and boringly so.

Now, most of us know how capable these vehicles are, taken on their own, but how do they fare when pitted against each other? With that in mind, we decided to take a closer look at how they match up, pitting five examples – the Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson and Peugeot 3008 – in a quintet face-off to see how it all shapes up.

There are other contenders, namely the new Kia Sportage, the Suzuki Grand Vitara, the long-in-the-tooth Ford Escape as well as the likes of the Chevrolet Captiva, for example, but adding more than what we ended up with would have made the task unmanageable. It’s all nice to read a nine or 10 SUV shootout, but doing one is another thing altogether.

That said, on with the show to see which one ends up as the king of this particular hill.

EXTERIOR

Danny says

The five SUVs assembled here range from a big box to one not much bigger than the hatchback it’s based on, from building blocks to fluidic sculptures, so there’s bound to be one to suit one’s taste. Agree?

I’m not much of an SUV kind of guy (the Audi Q5 is another matter), and there is no overwhelming favourite for me either, but I like the blend of sharp lines and compact proportions of the Mitsubishi ASX. This deep shade of red probably isn’t the most flattering, and it could do with a sportier set of wheels, but I like it best.

The most flamboyant of the group by a mile is the Hyundai Tucson. It’s very eye-catching, and like Anthony, I like that muscular rear three-quarters view the best. Not so in love with the fussy face, but this is a great example of a self-confident, expressive design, as opposed to the “play safe, don’t offend” looks of previous gen Koreans. It’s a gamble, but it’s paying off big time for Hyundai.

Never liked the popping eyes + double grille look of the CR-V, which for reasons unknown, brings a startled hippo to mind. The Honda is no longer repulsive thanks to familiarity, but it’s not pretty either, which brings us to the Peugeot. The 3008 is just too odd for me – the proportions, overhangs, and that face – I just don’t get it. Would love to interview the designer someday, just to know what inspired him. I quite like how its MPV sibling 5008 looks, though

One can’t fault the X-Trail for being a box, because that’s wholly intentional on Nissan’s part. The carmaker says that first-gen X-Trail owners (and there are many of them) love their SUV’s macho square cut lines, so they made more of the same. And with more rivals going the crossover route, the “keep it true” X-Trail may find itself serving a large number of taste buds.

As they say, one man’s meat…

Harvinder says

Lets face it. Looks are somewhat important when you talk about cars and it’s correct to assume so in this case. Good looking cars somehow attract us, but at end the of the day, if a car is good looking to one it doesn’t necessarily mean it is good looking to another. All subjective, to say the least.

In the case of these five SUVs I must admit that two cars stand out from the pack. One is the Peugeot 3008, while the other is the Hyundai Tucson. I think you can safely guess why the 3008 is in my standout list. Well, yes, you’re right, it stands out because it does look a little quirky, perhaps a little too modern for today’s tastes.

Don’t get me wrong, the 3008 does have some good angles, but definitely not as many compared to the rest of the line-up we have here. The taillights remind me of strawberries for some reason, while the front makes me think of JAWS. Weird, I know, but that’s what crossed my mind. Then we have the Hyundai Tucson at the end of spectrum, something that has gone through a lot to come this far.

At first glance, the Tucson strikes you as a good looking thing. Very sweet and pleasant from almost any angle. Hyundai’s designers have been working around the clock to come up with the designs they have now, which I must say, are rather appealing. In this case, just like other Hyundais at the moment, the form is treated with the fluidic design concept and it’s working well here.

However, I do feel that the car is a little too ‘fluidic’ for me, if you know what I mean. There’s a tad too much on the design lines, which I consider the only off-putting thing the Tucson has in terms of design. Nevertheless, that’s just me as the design seems to the be cup of tea to many out there, and I can understand why.

As for Nissan X-Trail, I find this one a bit too utilitarian, a little too boxy. It looks as though it has a lot of design elements that doesn’t seem to fit well together. At times, I feel that some design elements on the X-Trail are afterthoughts. The Honda CR-V seems like a decent looking offering, with the right proportions and not overcooked. However, I think the Tucson comes up ahead of the X-Trail and the CR-V in the design department.

Among all the SUVs we have here, I consider the Mitsubishi ASX as the SUV with the right balance in the looks category. I like the fact that it has Mitsubishi’s trademark jet fighter grille. The aggressiveness is a nice touch and it doesn’t breach the “too much” point in the scale. The ASX looks very good from almost every angle, and is the only SUV here that really looks like a car.

Overall, the Hyundai Tucson and the Mitsubishi ASX are my choices in terms of design. Comparing both, I find that the Tucson is a bit too flashy for me, probably like a model who has a little too much make up, while the ASX feels about right.

Anthony says

The assembled bunch looked every bit the motley crew, what with the box-like X-Trail mixing it up with the flowing Tucson, and the ASX and 3008 looking more crossover than SUV. An interesting mix of shapes, to say the least.

From an aesthetics point of view, the X-Trail isn’t going to win any contests for being the curviest creature, or indeed the sexiest thing on four donuts. With a shape that feels like slabs chunked together, this is very much a box on wheels. The utilitarian shape, however, hints at the volumetric scope within, and you just know this one – which is larger than the first-generation model – is going to offer loads of it. Function over form, indeed.

The Tucson takes its place at the other end of the swing, and showboats all those curves and swoops like it’s going out of fashion. Certainly, there’s nothing reserved about how it parades its wares, though I have reservations as to how the lines will hold up as time progresses. I love the rear though, viewed straight on from behind; of the five, it’s the derriere with the most flair and appeal.

As for the CR-V, the third-generation model is heading towards its end of duty tour, but retains a balanced appeal about it. Not the most exciting, the RE, but plying the safe route means the exterior has held up well enough over the four years plus of its life cycle so far. For sure, the buying public has found – and continues to find – its quiet elegance to be more than agreeable, and this includes my other half; the CR-V here happens to be her vehicle.

Meanwhile, the Peugeot rolls into the fray here looking a bit of an oddity, like it doesn’t quite belong. It’s the smallest looking vehicle of the bunch, and the shape drew mixed opinions from the team. I quite like the front from certain angles, but for sure it’s not the type of vehicle you’d gawk at the whole day. The European influence in its lines is unmistakable though, and it does look very solidly hewn compared to the Asian opposition.

Finally, the ASX. It’s the one with the leanest, most athletic stance, essentially looking very much the prowler. The wedge front works for me and the overall lines offer good proportionate scale, despite its lack of overall mass.

Indeed, it’s my pick of the five from the exterior point of view, the ASX. I’ve always preferred my cars lean and on the smaller side, and while the 3008 may also be so, its disposition is a bit too soft and too rounded for my taste. I’ve gotten so used to the CR-V it’s become a familiar shoe, so it doesn’t have quite the charm it once had. You can probably tell the X-Trail doesn’t work at all for me, and it never did even with the first incarnation. The Tucson’s flash is striking though, so it’s a close second in my books.

INTERIOR

Danny says

Throughout our test period, I spent the most time in the Nissan and Peugeot, collecting the former and returning the latter to their owners. I love the X-Trail’s cabin for its excellent view out (lots of glass, square corners) and comfort. The fabric seats are big and cushy, typically Nissan, and there’s nothing to learn or get used to – you just step in and drive.

However, the spartan look and feel may be a disadvantage in the showroom, making Nissan look stingy. But that’s not entirely true either.

While the X-Trail lacks some basic kit such as climate control, leather and buttons for the steering, as well as flashy toys such as the Hyundai’s push start button/panoramic roof, Mitsu’s 2-DIN head unit or Honda’s cool instrument panel, it’s the only car here to come with electric adjustment for the driver’s seat as well bi-xenons, kit that even the “fully-loaded” Euro-spec Peugeot doesn’t have. And if given a choice, I’d have those over auto air con and auto cruise.

It’s a car that that the family will love as well. Tall seating position, high roof, large windows and the useful boot trays with compartments are good for road trips or ronda-ronda sessions.

The Peugeot is a good family car as well, if you have a small family with young kids, that is. The expansive panoramic glass roof is spectacular, but rear legroom is very tight. Passable if someone my height is seated in front, but if they are tall, rear knee-room can go down to almost nothing. The 3008 must be tried for size, because it’s not for all.

It’s for those who want some sports car feel from their SUV. The Pug’s driving quarters is very cozy and enclosed, with a sloping centre stack and a tall centre console that divides the front section into two distinct areas.

It’s very cockpit like, and the driver is boss, which matches the driving character of the 3008. He/she is faced with plenty of toggle switches and twin pod dials. There’s also the much boasted head-up display (HUD), although I personally find this to be rather gimmicky.

Unlike BMW’s version, the image here is shot on a separate screen that can be erected by a toggle switch, and although the image (only digital km/h) can be adjusted for height, I still had to lower eye focus to view it, defeating the very purpose of HUD. The operation of the screen in our test car was also very noisy.

That aside, I wasn’t very comfortable with the angle of the left foot rest, and my idle foot became quite restless as a result. This is an unusual observation, since I’m usually immune to many ergonomic challenges pointed out by Paul and Harve.

Step into the Honda CR-V and it becomes clear why this is THE SUV to have for many upper middle-class households. It doesn’t have as many toys as some other cars in this test, or even as much soft touch plastics, but feels the most premium from behind the wheel. This isn’t easy to explain, but the lighting, that nice MID between the dials, the brushed trim, the tactile quality of the knobs and buttons, and the full house centre stack gives off a full-function, technical and expensive feel.

I also like the abundance of storage spaces and cubbies in the Honda, derived from locating the gear lever on the centre stack. Rear passengers are also in for a treat – legroom is superb in this company, although it could feel even more spacious with a lighter coloured cabin, as opposed to black.

The Mitsubishi ASX, which also has a dark room cabin, is much less spacious than the CR-V inside, something the spec sheets won’t tell you – the ASX’s 2,670 mm wheelbase is actually 50 mm longer than the Honda’s.

The good stuff surrounds the driver – nice sporty steering wheel, long magnesium shift paddles, clear (almost VW/Audi like) dials – but MMC has improved perceived quality over that in the Lancer.

The dash areas closest to occupants are now padded with soft touch plastics, as are the door caps. The multi-info display is colourful and high res, a big improvement over the jagged figures in the Lancer. Also, the instantaneous FC bar also has a “bookmark” for the average done so far, so there’s extra motivation to be light-footed, if that’s your direction.

The head unit is the usual locally-fitted (by MMM) Kenwood system, which isn’t the most user friendly, but it’s feature-packed (reverse camera, DVD player, large full colour touch-screen, etc) and looks impressive, so no complaints.

Last but not least, the Hyundai Tucson. Just like the bold shell, Hyundai has gone for showcar dashboard design that matches the exterior bravado. Lots of sweeping curves and elements means your eyes are in for a workout. There’s this theme of two opposing kinks in the overall dash mould, the centre stack as well as the steering wheel. As with modern Hyundais, the theme is blue. I can understand the modern, techy appeal of the Tucson’s dash, but personally I prefer something more subtle and refined.

Plenty of adjustment available in the Tucson, so driving positions for various sizes shouldn’t be a problem. Outward visibility is not great in this group, a high waistline and shallow windows see to that. Off the shoulder rear view is also poor, but with such a design, you can’t win it all. The showroom appeal and many toys (keyless entry, push button start, integrated stereo with USB, iPod and AUX input) might delay the dreaded knuckle rap, which reveals hard plastics. They don’t feel super nasty or cheap though, and is not an issue to many.

It’s also good that our 2.0 High Spec test car comes with a panoramic glass roof (split into two, like the W211 Merc E-Class, Sonata YF), since the cabin feels rather enveloping and dark in this company.

In terms of design, in and out, the Tucson is everything the X-Trail isn’t, vice versa. One is unapologetically utilitarian and functional, the other designed to wow and impress. I want some from both ends, and like the CR-V’s blend of good comfort and space, plus premium feel dashboard.

Harvinder says

The cabin is one of the most important things one should consider when buying a car, and unfortunately many potential buyers or owners out there spend less time thinking about a car’s interior before making the decision. It is a place where the driver and his passengers will spend most of the time throughout the ownership experience.

Before I continue with my bit on the interior, I must point out that out of all the SUVs we have here, three are Japanese, one is Korean while another is French. Now, I don’t think I need to emphasize that when it comes interior, the European guys have been doing it well and the Asian rivals, although some are pretty good, are still playing catch up in this department.

To me, I feel that is is true in this case at least. The Peugeot 3008 to me, has the best interior when it comes to tactility and comfort for the driver. As soon as you get into the driver’s seat, you’ll instantly tell yourself that “this is not a driver’s seat, this is a cockpit”. The driver’s section is truly like a jet-fighter’s cockpit with the centre dash somewhat focused towards the driver.

Even the switches and knobs make you imagine you are in a car with wings. The tactility of the interior is pretty good as well, with soft-touch materials in the right places. Personally, I take seat comfort seriously and it is important to have something that is able to support your back properly. It pays when you have those long distance drives and to me, the seat also plays a role to making you feel that you are in a premium vehicle.

The French have got it right with the 3008. The front seats are very comfortable and they offer the best support among all SUVs we have here. I particularly like the headrest design, which reminds me of the ones used in the W211 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. You can tilt it forward to better support your lower neck.

Other features like the glass roof, the rear two-piece tail gate, dual zone air-conditioning and electric parking brake is a nice touch too, but I do agree with Danny on the part HUD portion which is a bit tricky to use. The major downside of the 3008’s interior is that the rear legroom is a little on the tighter side of things. It’s not a very comfortable place for large-sized occupants. Also, it would be great to have a fully-electric front seat, at least for the driver.

The Nissan X-Trail is not a bad place to be in either. It does look a bit utilitarian on the inside, with a rather simple feel to things, but it is quite comfortable and the space, including the rear cabin, is pretty good too.

If you’re okay with the simplistic approach, the X-Trail’s interior can be a nice place for you to be in. There are plenty of compartments, including a double luggage floor system, as well as a 6-way adjustable power seat for the driver, which interestingly is not offered with rest of the SUVs we have here.

The Honda CR-V also has a decent interior and for some reason, it does feel a little premium despite not having many soft-touch surfaces. Honda seems to be good in doing this, even with less expensive cars like the entry level City.

To me, the most striking thing about the CR-V’s interior is its rear legroom, which is very good. You’d be a very happy rear passenger; it’s reminiscent of the Civic, which also offers good legroom space. Just like the X-Trail, storage compartments are very much adequate in the Honda. There are also features like dual zone air-conditioning and cruise control, similar to the 3008.

Just like the exterior, the interior of the Hyundai Tucson also has carries over the flowing design. It looks pretty good if you ask me, but there is a let down though. The interior does not feel premium and it is even outperformed by the X-Trail, if you ask me. There are hard plastics everywhere and even for a car that has done over 30,000 kilometers, the interior felt worn a little, which isn’t a good thing.

Don’t get me wrong, the design is nice, but you have to wonder if it’ll last the distance. Things like the start-stop button are nice to have, but it does little to overshadow the flaws. The ASX has a decent interior which doesn’t look cluttered and at the same time, it doesn’t look cheap as well.

The seating position for the driver is just about right, making it a better option for those who like a sporty feel behind the wheel. I find that the full colour high-resolution LCD multi-information display nestled in between the instrument gauges quite a cool feature to have, thanks to a fuel consumption monitor that incorporates both instantaneous as well as average readings. The rear cabin could have used a little more legroom though.

Overall, I find that the Peugeot 3008 has the best interior; I can make do with the smaller rear cabin, although I really feel that an electric driver’s seat should have been included.

Anthony says

From an interior perspective, the differences in character continue to show. With practically most of the time being spent in the driver’s seat during the comparo, there was little time to delve in detail the sub-practicalities of things such as boot space and rear seat comfort levels, save for the CR-V, which I’m, erm, rather intimate with.

First up, the Tucson, which lends its allure through more sweeping contours on the inside, as well as with a host of tech bling – there’s stop-start button ignition and an auto dimming rear view central mirror, for starters. These mask the lack of items such as cruise control and going the manual air-conditioning route.

If there’s a gripe with the Tucson’s interior, it’s with the presentation – no complaints about how the layout is presented, but the design elan notwithstanding, the hard-looking plastics cheapen the visual appeal considerably. There are also questions about material durability. The interior of the evaluator, with more than 30k on the clock, looked a bit worse for wear. For example, the engine stop-start button’s wording was already looking quite worn, hence the questions.

Still, there’s much more fanfare in it than on the likes of the X-Trail and ASX, which both feature rather austere cabins. The ASX, with its blackened interior, feels the more spartan of the two, and is reminiscent of the Lancer sedan’s bare approach. It’s more premium in feel though than the Lancer material-wise, so points for this.

The ASX also doesn’t feel as small as you think it would be. The cabin is intimate, but not claustrophobic, even if larger-sized drivers in the Mitsubishi look like they’re driving a Hyundai Getz (not my words). The driving enthusiast will find much to like in this one, with everything presented in line with the vehicle’s sporty pretensions, as will those who like their porridge plain.

Meanwhile, the X-Trail offers very much the same path, presenting a cabin that looks plain bare upon first glance. The plastics are typically Nissan, serviceable but not the final word in premium. This plainness is offset by plenty of practical features – cubby holes and storage space are to be found galore, and items such as rear air-con vents, for example, add to the list. And that volume suggested from the outside is translated when you’re in the vehicle. It feels downright spacious, the X-Trail does.

A note too about its seat comfort, which is the softest in terms of comfort of all the five vehicles; it is a little bit too soft for my liking, especially over long distances, but many will no doubt value its plushness. The Peugeot’s front seat, however, is the standout for me.

The Peugeot’s cabin also features the best material and trim, clean and unfettered, but all hewn together in solid fashion and very elegant in its presentation. Cabin space, however, feels pinched, and if you have tall occupants in front, it’s bad news for those in the rear, where legroom is concerned.

And the 3008 still feels lacking in open and accessible storage space, as previously noted when I drove it during its original media test drive a good while back – attempts to house wallet, phone, keys and cigarettes without having to call in the large storage box were as challenging as before. I still think there’s a photon torpedo launcher housed underneath that huge-assed centre console tunnel, but the firing button is proving rather elusive to find.

So, of the lot, my pick is with the CR-V’s interior. It’s easy to forget how well Honda gets it right where it matters – aside from the excellent rear legroom, the cabin presentation has a premium feel to it, even if there’s not much bling and fanfare in terms of tech and features.

The plastics may be hard, but they don’t look cheap, and the centre console layout, along with the instrument cluster – especially lit up at night – is fetching. It’s not quite Pug territory, but it’s well ahead of the rest of the group. Storage in the CR-V’s front is more than adequate, though there are quirks elsewhere, like where the 12V socket is placed, which is set too low and difficult to access, especially in the dark.

Still, throw in items such as cruise control and auto climate control as well as the small, almost imperceptible tactile bits (the feel of the switchgear operation is a perfect example) and you can see exactly how the Honda scores where it counts.

PERFORMANCE

Danny says

Although it’s no sports car, the Peugeot is the sports car of the group. It’s the only Continental on call here, and preaches Europe’s downsizing philosophy – direct injection, smaller capacity, forced induction. The 156 hp it makes is no big deal in our 2.0L SUV party, but it’s the turbo engine’s 240 Nm from a mere 1,400 rpm that makes all the difference here.

This gives the 3008 useful punch away from standstill, and good flexibility. Although the pace is subdued a little from the 308 Turbo, which it shares its drivetrain with, possibly due to the extra weight, it should be more than enough go for those shopping in this segment. The official 0-100 km/h time is 9.5 seconds – it practice, the 3008 feels faster than that. As usual, it’s smooth revving and quite linear in delivery.

We must also mention the six-speed automatic gearbox, which is a quantum leap over the “Porsche Tiptronic” four-speeder of old. It’s still not the fastest or snappiest torque converter auto around, but it no longer has a mind of its own, and is competent enough to not annoy.

The “sports car of the group” rep isn’t just from the pace, though. The 3008 feels quite agile and pointy in the bends, and the way the car resists body roll is impressive. This flat stance encourages one to push harder, since there’s no clumsy weight transfer to put you off. No, it doesn’t claw into corners like a hot hatch, but one can at least make the most of what he has in the Peugeot with ease. Sacrifices? Ride comfort is not the best, others soak up bumps better.

If there’s an element from the other SUVs I would want in the Peugeot’s drive, it’s the ASX’s steering. Direct and blessed with good feel, the Mitsu’s helm is as “sporty” as the wheel itself looks. The ASX is also good to drive, but one downside is the lack of cruising refinement. There’s a good deal of road/tyre roar seeping into the cabin. I wonder if a tyre swap would help…

The ASX carries over the Lancer’s 4B11 engine and CVT gearbox. I’m not a fan of CVT, but the transmission works well, and there’s always the manual mode when the mood arises, although it still doesn’t feel 100% natural in those six virtual ratios.

For non-fans, the company in the best position to persuade is Nissan. Their Xtronic CVT works like a charm in the Sylphy and the X-Trail we have here. It’s the CVT, as advertised. Mostly smooth and cohesive like the best torque converter autos (except pedal to metal from rest, perhaps), I never once used the manual mode because I couldn’t have done it better. There’s real connection between the speedo and tacho needle, and the drivetrain feels almost resistance-free as you pull away.

Stats that read 139 PS and 198 Nm look below par on paper, but the X-Trail’s smooth flowing style meant that I didn’t crave for more go. The only time it felt lacking was when we were searching for top speed way above the speed limit – a lot of effort was needed to get past the 130-140 km/h zone.

That easygoing drivetrain is part of a similarly likeable package. The X-Trail’s ride comfort is best of the lot for me, soaking up bumps like they were never there and staying rock steady on the highway. We get our supply from Indonesia, so perhaps it’s the local tuning to suit the harsh roads there at work? Whatever it is, our roads aren’t great either, so it’s all good.

All these fit well with a tall ride height with cushy seats and good all round visibility, making the X-Trail a great urban machine and a soothing long distance one.

The Honda CR-V would have also been a good highway cruiser, if not for its hyper sensitive steering. It’s good for the most part, but I found myself feeding constant small inputs to keep it on course during highway drives. It’s not a major or safety issue, but it meant that I wasn’t fully relaxed, and my hands got tired after awhile.

Other than that, the popular segment leader is typically Honda. The engine revs happily with a familiar mechanical buzz, and is quite nice to work on, although more grunt would have been very welcome here. The five-speed auto is as precise and quick as ever. The CR-V’s well judged ride is firm, but never crashy or noisy.

Which leaves the Tucson. I truly admire Hyundai’s brave new direction with its latest products, which has dramatically increased desirabilty. Their cars are now technically on par with class leaders, if not better, and there are plenty of toys to maximise showroom appeal. For me though, the most effective weapon in their new arsenal is design, capturing the imagination of many who previously overlooked Korean wheels. Perfect cars then?

Not yet. Technically, all’s good, but the Tucson (and Sonata) aren’t class leaders in subjective matters. For instance, while the 2.0 Theta II engine’s 166 PS and 197 Nm sound impressive and provide decent go, the engine isn’t the smoothest revving four-pot around, and is quite resonant in the third half of the rev range. The six-speed gearbox, while competent, isn’t as intuitive as the Honda’s, for instance.

There’s not a lot of mechanical grip either – I’ve seen the ESP light come on in corners where I didn’t expect any help. And steering, a very subjective thing, is something that Hyundai-Kia has yet to master.

But these finer points are invisible to the majority of buyers, so we don’t blame Hyundai for not putting “driving pleasure” and “finesse” as top priority. If I were them, my resources would have went into the exact same areas: on paper spec, equipment to wow and bold design.

Strangely, I ended up preferring the X-Trail in this segment, although the Peugeot’s pace and Mitsu’s steering are on the wish list. For me, SUVs are family cars, and the Nissan’s ride comfort, ease of use and silky drivetrain is the best combo here. Looking in the rear view mirror, my family agrees too!

Harvinder says

Now to the part I love the most. Let us start off with the CR-V. It comes with a 2.0 litre i-VTEC that makes 148 hp and 190 Nm of torque from 4,200 rpm. The numbers are anything but impressive, and unfortunately with 1,540 kg to haul it feels as if the CR-V can do with a more powerful engine.

Acceleration does feel heavy but once you’ve reached a set cruising speed, the power issues fades away, until you slam the accelerator to overtake the car in front of you, that is. The shifting of its five-speed automatic is decent enough and the electric power steering feels a little heavy at times, but it’s not really an issue to me.

Its ride comfort is good, with no irritating bumpiness whatsoever. In terms of handling, I find the CR-V performance at an average level. The X-Trail’s MR20DE twin-cam engine has less power than the CR-V, at 137 hp, though torque is slightly higher, 198 Nm to be exact, from 4,400 rpm. It does pull away slightly better than the CR-V, and it uses Nissan’s Xtronic CVT transmission, with a six-speed manual mode.

To be honest. I am not a fan of the CVTs – I find the sound that the engine makes because of it being rather irritating. However, the Xtronic isn’t that bad and it works smoothly, or fluidly, to use another term. Acceleration is effortless; however, it does take a while for it to achieve higher speed. In terms of ride comfort, the X-Trail does well in absorbing bumps and irregularities. At the same time it is also firm enough for high speed travel. The Nissan boys have got it right with this one.

The Hyundai Tucson’s Theta II 2.0 litre engine is quite powerful on paper, with 164 hp and 197 Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm, and carries over the power into actual driving. It does however tend to sound a little rough when you rev it hard. The power unit is paired with a six-speed slush box, which does its job well enough, although it could use a little more refinement.

This applies to the drivability of the Tucson as well. It handles good enough for normal day-to-day driving and its un-refinement is easily hidden if you don’t push the car hard. Even so, you can actually toss the Tucson around corners, though it would definitely benefit from a more refined handling and a steering with a better feel. In terms of ride quality, this Korean seems to be a bit stiff, a little bumpier on the rough roads.

The Mitsubishi ASX is one car that seems to excel in the handling department. This is one SUV or crossover or what ever you fancy that handles like a car. Agile and nimble would be the right word to describe the ASX. It is no Megane RS, but among its rivals in this shootout, it is right at the top.

You can practically chuck it around bends and it won’t bite back, as long as you don’t go overboard. The chassis seems to communicate with you well through the steering wheel, which also offers a good feel. In terms of power, it is decent with its 2.0 litre DOHC MIVEC putting out 148 hp , identical to the CR-V, and 197 Nm of torque at 2,400 rpm.

Although quite similar in terms of power figures, you do feel more punch in the ASX. This also joins the X- Trail in offering a CVT unit with six-speed manual mode.

Finally we have the Peugeot 3008, which doesn’t really give us an apple to apple comparison in terms of engine type when put against the other four SUVs we have here. There are two major differences. First up is the fact that the engine is a 1.6 litre, instead of a 2.0 litre with the rest. Secondly, it is force-inducted. It is basically the same engine as the MINI, the rather famous 1.6 litre Prince unit.

It makes 156 hp and most importantly, 240 Nm of torque from as low as 1,400 rpm. The higher torque at lower revs proves to be very instrumental in zipping around traffic. Overall, you can safely say that 3008 is the most powerful of the lot, all thanks to the turbo, so no issues at all with acceleration and getting fast quickly. The Pug uses a good old six-speed transmission, which works without a fuss.

The ride comfort is pretty good, with high levels of comfort too. In terms of handling, you can take some pretty serious corners with it, but I still prefer the ASX. Something about the latter’s character makes the whole driving experience sportier. Overall, my pick would be the ASX in regards to overall performance from the SUVs we have here.

Anthony says

Ambling along the highway isn’t how one should define which of the lot to be the best, but the time spent plying the route did reveal a fair bit about each vehicle’s character; there was some hard driving done briefly on each later, which revealed yet more, but given that 99% of these SUVs owners aren’t likely to subject their rides to such, most of the basis – for me at least – was from that gleaned waltzing along.

The Tucson was my first ride out, and as before, when I drove it at point of launch, the 2.0 litre Theta II mill proved willing to get things moving. It feels perky from the get-go, buoyant in its character; conversely, it feels that bit less refined when pushed, and can be a bit zingy at the top end. As a cruiser the Tucson does well enough, though there is a fair amount of road noise, and the steering needs a bit of corrective input in terms of straight-line retention, but the light, easy feel of the rack makes it simple on the shoulders.

The plastics notwithstanding, the itemisation of the layout and switchgear operation in the Hyundai is pretty much fuss-free. One minus is the lack of reach adjustment for the steering, something that is also an oversight on the X-Trail and ASX. Seat comfort is decent, though not group-leading.

As a driver’s car, or crossover, if you prefer, the ASX is by far the leader of the assembled five-pack. The level of steering feel and communication is by far the highest of the lot, as is the vehicle’s response to dramatic changing load/direction. Agile, in a flamboyant manner, the main reason why you’d want one is because you love to drive, with everything else secondary.

Meanwhile, the 3008 drove well, and the turbocharged Prince 1.6 mill chugged along with the least amount of strain of all the engines throughout the drive. It felt like it was consuming the most fuel, based on the onboard readout, but this proved to be deceptive (see fuel consumption section below). In-cabin comfort is high, and the plushness of the interior, despite that pinched feeling, makes doing the miles all that bit easier.

Still, its size means that it is at a slight disadvantage compared to the rest of the crowd here, the ASX notwithstanding. I still don’t think it’s a SUV, which it was tagged when it was launched. A good compact-ish crossover for the young urban family, yes. Super utility people mover, er, no. Drives well though, so it gets brownie points here.

From an interior perspective, the Nissan simply overwhelms the rest. The rather-too-soft driver seat aside, everything about the X-Trail screams functionality. It isn’t the fastest, nor the most agile, nor does it have the sense of presence or grandeur. But there’s acres of space in that cavernous cabin, and something about it works, at least to me – I found myself liking it more with every passing mile.

Easy to drive, there’s nothing imposing in its character; it’s vanilla, really – you get in, turn the key and get to your intended destination without fuss, fanfare or any sort of emotion, for that matter. All that functionality, dished out in a completely neutral manner. It isn’t as bad as it sounds, actually.

Finally, we come to the CR-V. I spent the least amount of time in it during the test session, but driving it regularly keeps reminding me why so many view it as the de facto choice in this market when it comes to putting their money on the table for a mid-price, mid-size SUV.

Yes, the 2.0 litre block can feel slightly underpowered at the lower end pushing that mass (it felt the laziest of the lot in start-offs). The steering is also on the heavier side of things, and needs quite a bit of corrective input during highway driving.

But in every other sense, the Honda gets it right. From the tactility of the switchgear operation (which makes all the others, save the 3008, feel cheap) to the interior presentation levels, the CR-V feels good to the touch and sight. It is agile enough when asked, and balanced would best describe its overall level of driving engagement. In all, it feels well thought out, the type of product that you know a copious amount of time has been spent refining all the key points. In this regard, it’s an absolute toss-up between the neutral functionality of the X-Trail and the refined, cultured presentation of the CR-V.

FUEL CONSUMPTION

During the group test drive, we travelled 412 km from the Klang Valley to Ipoh, and back. It included stop and go traffic, town driving and, of course, highway cruising along the PLUS Expressway.

The route we selected allowed us to test the cars in various road conditions where we spent quite a bit of our time on the highway. During the test drive we also carried out a fuel test for all the SUVs involved, with measures employed to ensure accuracy such as adhering to the 110 km/h national speed limit, keeping a safe distance between the cars, ensuring that all cars are driven by all test drivers (to make sure all SUVs get a consistent driving pattern overall) and so on.

Here are the final results:

Peugeot 3008 (1.6 litre Turbo) – 7.37 litres / 100 km
Mitsubishi ASX (2.0 litre NA) – 7.5 litres / 100 km
Honda CR-V (2.0 litre NA) – 8.3 litres / 100 km
Nissan X-Trail (2.0 litre NA) – 8.6 litres / 100 km
Hyundai Tucson (2.0 litre NA) – 8.7 litres / 100 km

The 3008 took the top honours, with the ASX following closely behind. These were the only two which breached the 8.0 litre per 100 km mark following the test, and the 3008’s lower displacement (and turbocharger) 1.6 liter engine likely has contributed to its number one spot here.

It’s also interesting to note that the ASX, which uses a normally-aspirated 2.0 litre engine, achieved 7.5 litres per 100 km, just 0.13 litres behind the 3008, which makes it the most fuel efficient vehicle among its 2.0 litre competitors and it is also very comparable to the Pug.

We reckon that the ASX achieved almost similar numbers due to its engine tune, its MIVEC (or Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system) calibration and of course its transmission tune. The engine also utilises a lightweight aluminium block which helps the ASX achieve positive such results. We must also take the vehicle kerb weight into account. It appears that the ASX is lighter than the 3008, with a kerb weight of 1,375 kg. Its French rival is 1,450 kg in comparison.

CONCLUSION

Danny says

Big or small, boxy or curvy, there’s an SUV for every one. No lemons here, just entries that excel in various areas. At the end of the day, it depends on what you want out of an SUV, whether as a great family wagon (Nissan fits the bill, Peugeot is out), a personal urban mobile (Peugeot and Mitsu are compact enough and drive well) or great value and bold design (Hyundai).

I love to drive, but I also view the SUV as a family car, which means that practicality and comfort are high in the list. The Honda CR-V is a good all-rounder, but I like the honest, self-confident X-Trail. The Nissan is comfortable in its own skin, and will make you feel as comfortable, too. As for those itchy moments, I’ll buy a cheap fun car.

Harvinder says

Overall, there’s no obvious winner here – all the SUVs here definitely pass the minimum requirement, so it’s a matter of personal choice. You should also look at other factors such as safety features and pricing. The 3008 comes with a 5-star Euro NCAP rating which is made up by 6-airbags, ESP and ISOFIX points, among others. It retails for RM146,888 (all prices here are OTR including insurance).

The Tucson on the other hand has two airbags and ESP and it retails at RM139,888 for the 2.0 litre High Spec. The ASX is also fitted with dual airbags and ESP (or ASC, as Mitsubishi calls it). Also in the list is Hill Start Assist. The ASX goes for RM139,980, which is similar to the Tucson. The CR-V comes with four airbags and ESP (or VSA) and it goes for RM149,980.

Finally, the X-Trail, which goes for RM149,500; it comes with, yes, you guessed it right, dual airbags but without ESP, which is interesting to note. It only has ABS with EBD and BA. That’s a bit of a downside, given a price tag that’s a shade off being the most expensive of the lot. To me, the fight would go down between the Mitsubishi ASX and the Peugeot 3008, if I were shopping for an SUV.

Anthony says

There wasn’t a runaway pick of the heap, not where I’m concerned; it’s nice to see how close things have gotten in the segment that there wasn’t one dominant player. The ASX is my weapon of choice from a driving perspective – the CVT aside, it is engaging, to say the least. But that’s never the only reason why one buys a vehicle in this segment. and its size means that those shopping for a full-fledged SUV may find this crossover too small for their needs.

The same goes for the 3008. Pluses are a highly refined interior and tractable, crowd-pleasing mill, but its lack of heft may preclude it as a straight choice to most. Its appeal lies with those who find the allure of a Continental offering winsome, and provides those seeking an alternative to the predominantly Japanese/Korean crowd a perfect option. A small family (quite literally, for rear occupants!) is also a prerequisite.

The Tucson shows how much the Koreans have closed the gap, but still, haven’t quite gotten the cigar – there are key areas in which its lack of absolute refinement shows it up (it’d have been very interesting pitting the plusher Sportage cousin into the mix against the Japanese competition). Still, the external shape is light years ahead of the previous one, and its main point is that it now offers a serious contender as an alternative if you don’t want to go with a Jap offering, and think a Pug is too much work.

In the end, from the assembled crew, I’d take my pick from the X-Trail and CR-V. I didn’t expect the X-Trail to figure as highly as it did – looks truly can be deceiving. I liked its honesty; it doesn’t paint anything more into the picture than it should, and it goes about everything in such clean, unfettered fashion there is much to like about it and its character.

As for the CR-V, well, its strength is in its overall presentation and coherency – here, it never led in any particular aspect, but scored high and kept pace with its overall level of refinement and, most importantly, its consistency in delivery across the board. A large number of buyers have likely found that very essence – and composition – appealing, given the numbers shifted through the years. With this household being one of these, I’m not inclined to disagree with the collective, that plying the safe, consistent route is not such a bad thing. The tick goes in this box for me then in this particular five-way.

Look after the jump for mega photo galleries of all 5 contenders.

GALLERY: Mitsubishi ASX

GALLERY: Honda CR-V

GALLERY: Nissan X-Trail

GALLERY: Peugeot 3008

GALLERY: Hyundai Tucson

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (117) Think (15) Angry (17) Happy (20) Sad (6) Meh (23)

Hyundai i-oniq – taking ‘fluidic sculpture’ to the next step

Anthony Lim — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:03:53 +0000

Click to enlarge.

It promises to preview the next evolution of Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ form language, the i-oniq concept, and the wraps are supposed to come off the vehicle in Geneva next year. For starters, the company has decided to tease the form as a simple silhouette sketch.

Two strong arched curves define the silhouette of the i-oniq, creating a playful contrast between the sharp character lines and soft but muscular features, so goes the brand’s European chief designer, Thomas Bürkle. Nothing beyond that on the car, which is designed and developed at the company’s European R&D centre in Russelsheim, Germany, so more as it gets closer to the Swiss show.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (24) Think (4) Angry (4) Happy (1) Sad (4) Meh (10)

Hyundai Elantra to be launched by February next year – fifth-generation MD set to be locally-assembled

Anthony Lim — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:18:23 +0000

Some news on the anticipated Hyundai Elantra – it’s coming early 2012. Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has announced that it plans to launch the fifth-generation vehicle here by February, at the latest. The MD will sport an Inokom prefix, and the car is set to be locally-assembled.

The sedan, which is also known as the Avante in Korea and other markets (yep, the photos are of Korean M16 GDI Avantes), will be available here in two engine variant forms, these being the 1.8 litre Nu MPI and 1.6 litre Gamma MPI.

Both D-CVVT engines will be mated to a six-speed transmission, built in-house by Hyundai. In terms of output figures, the 1.8 litre Nu four-pot will offer 150 PS at 6,500 rpm, while the 1.6 litre Gamma mill puts out 130 PS at 6,300 rpm.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (218) Think (9) Angry (31) Happy (11) Sad (13) Meh (21)

Hyundai Genesis Coupe facelifted – 3.8 V6, 350 hp, 400 Nm

Danny Tan — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:00:17 +0000

UPDATE: More images added, including rear shot

Hyundai has given it’s Genesis Coupe a facelift at the Korea Speed Festival 2011 in Yeongam, Korea. These official pics show the refreshed sports flagship in action on Korea’s Formula 1 track, and we can see that it now wears the company’s new face, plus new headlamps as well as the must have LEDs.

Under the hood of the Genesis Coupe is Hyundai’s latest Lambda 3.8-litre GDi engine, capable of 350 hp and 400 Nm of torque. This means that the direct injection V6 is 43 hp and 40 Nm up on the current V6, and the horse count also trumps six-pot rivals from America (Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro) as well as the 3.7-litre V6 in the Infiniti G Coupe.

Hyundai says that “in order to raise the emotional quality in the Lambda 3.8 GDi model, a sound generator is applied to replace the rough engine sound with a classy and sporty sound.”

The base engine has also been upgraded. Out goes the current car’s 2.0 turbo four that makes 210 hp and 302 Nm, and in comes the Sonata Turbo’s twin-scroll turbo engine with a larger radiator intercooler. The new 2.0L lump churns out 275 hp and 375 Nm, guaranteeing brisk performance.

There’s more good news for the markets that will get this left hand drive car. Both the V6 and inline-4 will be paired to Hyundai’s eight-speed automatic transmission. Previously, the base car made do with a 5-speed auto while the V6 had six speeds. Of course, both can be had with a good old six-speed manual ‘box as well. Yummy!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (93) Think (2) Angry (10) Happy (4) Sad (5) Meh (16)

Hyundai Elantra Coupe to get Chicago 2012 debut!

Paul Tan — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:53:59 +0000

We first saw these renderings of a Hyundai Elantra Coupe by Theophilus Chin earlier this year when we reported that US Hyundai dealers had given positive feedback on the possible introduction of such a model. After all, there’s already a Kia Forte Koup, why not an Elantra Coupe as well, especially for the US market – one of the very few markets where C-segment and D-segment coupes still sell in large numbers.

Apparently the dealers are getting what they wished for – it’s reported that Hyundai would be introducing the Hyundai Elantra Coupe in February next year at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. Some American journalists have already previewed the coupe in Michigan this month, but they have nothing to show us as photography was not allowed.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (43) Think (1) Angry (4) Happy (4) Sad (6) Meh (10)

Hyundai Veloster arriving in Malaysia Q1 next year

Anthony Lim — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:15:35 +0000

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors says it will be launching the Veloster three-door coupe sometime in the first quarter of 2012.

“We have been receiving enquiries about the new Veloster from Malaysian car enthusiasts and I’m delighted to announce that this revolutionary three-door coupe, the first of its kind in Malaysia, will be arriving on Malaysian shores in the first quarter of next year,” said HSDM’s MD Dennis Ho.

The car will arrive here in its 132 hp 1.6 litre Gamma II engine form. Stick shifter fans will be pleased to know that the Veloster 1.6L will be available in both automatic and manual transmission versions.

Complete specifications of the model will only be announced at the launch in Q1 next year, though HSDM adds that it’s currently studying the possibility of bringing in the GDi (Gasoline Direction injection) and Turbo GDI models in the near future, with a consideration of the fuel quality here – a decision will be made upon the completion of this study.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (232) Think (11) Angry (17) Happy (5) Sad (6) Meh (30)

Hyundai sells 2.95 million units worldwide through third quarter 2011 – sales up by 10% over same period in 2010

Anthony Lim — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:17:45 +0000

Hyundai Motor Company has reported that it has sold 2,949,914 units worldwide in the first nine months of the year, up 10.5% from the same period a year earlier. Of the total, 510,228 units were sold domestically, while 2,439,686 vehicles were shifted in other global markets. The Korean automaker’s overseas sales rose 11.2% from the same period last year, while its domestic sales increased 7.3%.

The growth has been led by the launch of new models and strengthened product competitiveness throughout its lineup, the company said. New models such as Accent (badged as the Verna in some markets), Grandeur (Azera), Veloster and i40 drove up sales in all regions.

Net profit increased 34.1% to 6.1 trillion won as of the end of September from a year earlier, while operating profit rose 27.1% to 5.95 trillion won. Improved product mix and sales growth boosted sales revenue by 18.2% to 57.28 trillion won.

For the remainder of the year, however, the company said that global demand is expected to be lower than the industry’s original forecast earlier this year, due to unfavourable external factors such as the European financial crisis and slower growth in emerging markets. It added it would strengthen its focus on qualitative growth and implementing innovative marketing strategies to overcome these hurdles.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (34) Think (9) Angry (6) Happy (12) Sad (6) Meh (12)

Hyundai Santa Fe: standard spec joins lineup, RM151k

Anthony Lim — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:41:29 +0000

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has introduced a standard specification variant of the Inokom Santa Fe, available only in the vehicle’s 2.4 litre petrol form. This version of the seven-seater SUV rolls in around RM8,000 cheaper than the premium specification model announced recently, being priced at RM150,888 (on-the-road, with insurance).

Again, no difference to the output figures of the 2.4 litre Theta II engine, which are 174 PS and 228 Nm. The vehicle comes with a six-speed maintenance-free automatic transmission and continues to feature an electronically-actuated 4-wheel drive system that changes from two- to four-wheel drive or 4-wheel lock at the touch of a button.

The main differences from the premium variant are in terms of interior trim, and some features have of course been omitted. Off the item list are the Audio Visual Navigator/GPS (AVN) unit, sunroof, smart key/push start button, reverse camera and driver power seat. The standard spec version features black leather seats.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (19) Think (8) Angry (12) Happy (6) Sad (13) Meh (31)

Hyundai-Sime Darby opens new 3S centre in Penang

Anthony Lim — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:34:27 +0000

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has opened its latest 3S centre in Penang, and the Sungai Pinang branch becomes the the third 3S outlet for the brand on the island. The showroom is operated by Sime Darby Auto Hyundai (SDAH), a subsidiary of Sime Darby Motors.

The 31,000 sq ft centre, located at 3, Jalan Sg Pinang, features a total of 11 service bays, enabling a quicker turnaround time, and can accommodate 30 Hyundai vehicles a day.

The outlet features, among other things, a premium customer lounge with free Wi-Fi and refreshments, as well as Quick Service and 24-hour Key Drop to its customers. Quick Service eliminates long waiting hours at the service centre, though it only applies to basic car servicing and doesn’t include repairs.

The 24-hour Key Drop enables customers to leave their car at the service centre at any time of the day for servicing or repair. It’s as simple as filling up a form and dropping off the key at a secured box. Once the envelope is picked up by the Service Advisors, a call will be made to confirm the type of service or repair required.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (23) Think (3) Angry (8) Happy (10) Sad (5) Meh (17)

No related posts.

Hyundai Motors CEO Steve Yang resigns – his role to be taken up by domestic and foreign sales chiefs

Anthony Lim — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:45:09 +0000

According to reports, Hyundai Motor has said that its co-CEO Steve Yang has resigned from his role for personal reasons. Following this, the company’s heads of domestic and foreign sales will now split Yang’s role – the new structure sees Kim Choong-ho and Kim Seung-tack promoted to head Hyundai’s domestic business and overseas business respectively.

Yang, who will be 58 this month, stepped down due to health issues and is to take up an advisory role, the reports add. He was one of three CEOs of Hyundai, along with chairman and founding family member Chung Mong-koo, and was also the head of Hyundai’s production at its top plant.

Among the marketing guru’s achievements during his tenure was notching up record sales for the brand in India in 2005 while serving as the company’s sales head there, reports said.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 12:41:39 +0000.

This story makes me...

Excited (3) Think (0) Angry (2) Happy (1) Sad (2) Meh (11)