Family Hyundai moves upmarket

[BMWDave]

Family Hyundai moves upmarket






The Accent is on quality for Hyundai. These official pictures show the look of the new family car, due here in the autumn.

Our images, taken from US sales literature, reveal how the designers have given the hatch a more European appearance, with large, upswept headlamps, integrated body-coloured bumpers and a wide slatted grille. It's similar to the new Getz, revealed in issue 867. As with the supermini, the Accent benefits from improved cabin build quality, plus more equipment.

Changes have also been made to the engine line-up. The 1.3-litre unit is dropped in favour of a 95bhp 1.4, while a new 1.6 offers 110bhp and 45mpg. Also, the 1.5-litre turbodiesel is uprated to boost refinement and economy. Expect a slight price rise, with the new Accent costing from ?8,500 to ?11,500.

[TBR]

This car looks fine (though bland), except for the molding along the side.

[Run Away]

I seriously thought that was a Corolla for a bit.

[BMWDave]

I seriously thought that was a Corolla for a bit.

Same here...it has a very Corolla like tint to it, IMO.

[Run Away]

First thing that tipped me off that it wasn't was that the badge seemed too high.

No i"m not joking. <_<

[BMWDave]

The front of the two cars are very similar.

[Raza]

It does give a Corolla feel.  

[TurboDan]

That thing is reaching Civic and Mazda3 prices.  I can see them pricing the Sonata a bit higher, but let's be honest - this thing is still one step above a KIA Rio.  Who's going to buy it when you can get a superior car?

[Raza]

That thing is reaching Civic and Mazda3 prices.  I can see them pricing the Sonata a bit higher, but let's be honest - this thing is still one step above a KIA Rio.  Who's going to buy it when you can get a superior car?

The same people who buy Cavaliers and what not.

[Colonel Cadillac]

Ugh, the Cavalier. Everything about that car is just...crap.  

[TBR]

That thing is reaching Civic and Mazda3 prices.  I can see them pricing the Sonata a bit higher, but let's be honest - this thing is still one step above a KIA Rio.  Who's going to buy it when you can get a superior car?

Two things:

1. Where did you get pricing info? I have seen nothing released yet.
2. How do you know that the Corolla and 3 are superior? No one has test driven the new Accent yet (which doesn't even compete with the Corolla or 3 anyway, the Elantra does which placed above the Corolla in the last C/D econo car comparo IIRC).

[Raza]

That thing is reaching Civic and Mazda3 prices.  I can see them pricing the Sonata a bit higher, but let's be honest - this thing is still one step above a KIA Rio.  Who's going to buy it when you can get a superior car?

Two things:

1. Where did you get pricing info? I have seen nothing released yet.
2. How do you know that the Corolla and 3 are superior? No one has test driven the new Accent yet (which doesn't even compete with the Corolla or 3 anyway, the Elantra does which placed above the Corolla in the last C/D econo car comparo IIRC).

I just checked...it finished ahead of the Civic, Corolla, Focus, and all but one of the cars featured, the Mazda Protege.

[TBR]

That thing is reaching Civic and Mazda3 prices.  I can see them pricing the Sonata a bit higher, but let's be honest - this thing is still one step above a KIA Rio.  Who's going to buy it when you can get a superior car?

Two things:

1. Where did you get pricing info? I have seen nothing released yet.
2. How do you know that the Corolla and 3 are superior? No one has test driven the new Accent yet (which doesn't even compete with the Corolla or 3 anyway, the Elantra does which placed above the Corolla in the last C/D econo car comparo IIRC).

I just checked...it finished ahead of the Civic, Corolla, Focus, and all but one of the cars featured, the Mazda Protege.

That is what I thought. thanks. :)

[Raza]

An upmarket move for Hyundai is dangerous because of perception.  The Koreans are really making leaps and bounds.

[TBR]

An upmarket move for Hyundai is dangerous because of perception.  The Koreans are really making leaps and bounds.

Toyota used to have the same perception but they made the move to luxury and were very successful in doing so.  

[thewizard16]

An upmarket move for Hyundai is dangerous because of perception.  The Koreans are really making leaps and bounds.

Toyota used to have the same perception but they made the move to luxury and were very successful in doing so.

Good point. I wonder how long it will be until Hyundai goes for the luxury market.

[TBR]

An upmarket move for Hyundai is dangerous because of perception.  The Koreans are really making leaps and bounds.

Toyota used to have the same perception but they made the move to luxury and were very successful in doing so.

Good point. I wonder how long it will be until Hyundai goes for the luxury market.

A V8, RWD sedan is rumored to come in 2008.

[ifcar]

That thing is reaching Civic and Mazda3 prices.  I can see them pricing the Sonata a bit higher, but let's be honest - this thing is still one step above a KIA Rio.  Who's going to buy it when you can get a superior car?

Two things:

1. Where did you get pricing info? I have seen nothing released yet.
2. How do you know that the Corolla and 3 are superior? No one has test driven the new Accent yet (which doesn't even compete with the Corolla or 3 anyway, the Elantra does which placed above the Corolla in the last C/D econo car comparo IIRC).

Fully-loaded subcompacts have often reached the base prices of comparable compacts. A Civic starts at only $13,160, and a fully-loaded current Accent runs a little above that. And the Echo and Aveo go even higher.

But the price difference is much higher between comparably-equipped models, especially considering the Accent's new standard equipment.

But Dan outlined the perfect reason that subcompacts rarely sell very well. They don't appear that much less expensive than a larger vehicle; it's only too easy to upgrade to the compact.

[Raza]

An upmarket move for Hyundai is dangerous because of perception.  The Koreans are really making leaps and bounds.

Toyota used to have the same perception but they made the move to luxury and were very successful in doing so.

That's different--Toyota sells luxury cars under a different nameplate.

[TBR]

An upmarket move for Hyundai is dangerous because of perception.  The Koreans are really making leaps and bounds.

Toyota used to have the same perception but they made the move to luxury and were very successful in doing so.

That's different--Toyota sells luxury cars under a different nameplate.

A name plate that had absolutely no recognition, besides there is nothing saying that Hyundai won't go the same route.  

[Raza]

An upmarket move for Hyundai is dangerous because of perception.  The Koreans are really making leaps and bounds.

Toyota used to have the same perception but they made the move to luxury and were very successful in doing so.

That's different--Toyota sells luxury cars under a different nameplate.

A name plate that had absolutely no recognition, besides there is nothing saying that Hyundai won't go the same route.

Not being recognized is a good way of not being associated with your lower cars.  That's why Scion was created, but oppositely as well.  They thought the target market wouldn't want to be associated with Camrys and Highblanders.

[TBR]

An upmarket move for Hyundai is dangerous because of perception.  The Koreans are really making leaps and bounds.

Toyota used to have the same perception but they made the move to luxury and were very successful in doing so.

That's different--Toyota sells luxury cars under a different nameplate.

A name plate that had absolutely no recognition, besides there is nothing saying that Hyundai won't go the same route.

Not being recognized is a good way of not being associated with your lower cars.  That's why Scion was created, but oppositely as well.  They thought the target market wouldn't want to be associated with Camrys and Highblanders.

True, no recognition is better than negative recognition. However, I still think it is likely that Hyundai will introduce a new brand. In fact, I hope they do, three is the perfect number of brands imho.  

[Raza]

An upmarket move for Hyundai is dangerous because of perception.  The Koreans are really making leaps and bounds.

Toyota used to have the same perception but they made the move to luxury and were very successful in doing so.

That's different--Toyota sells luxury cars under a different nameplate.

A name plate that had absolutely no recognition, besides there is nothing saying that Hyundai won't go the same route.

Not being recognized is a good way of not being associated with your lower cars.  That's why Scion was created, but oppositely as well.  They thought the target market wouldn't want to be associated with Camrys and Highblanders.

True, no recognition is better than negative recognition. However, I still think it is likely that Hyundai will introduce a new brand. In fact, I hope they do, three is the perfect number of brands imho.

It would make sense, but it's risky.  At least they won't need to establish a new dealer network.  

[TBR]

I don't see how it is any more risky than Toyota establishing Lexus.  

[Raza]

I don't see how it is any more risky than Toyota establishing Lexus.

It's not--but that was also exceptionally risky.  

[ifcar]

I don't see how it is any more risky than Toyota establishing Lexus.

It's not--but that was also exceptionally risky.

If Honda, Nissan, and Toyota could all pull it off, so can Hyundai.  

[Raza]

I don't see how it is any more risky than Toyota establishing Lexus.

It's not--but that was also exceptionally risky.

If Honda, Nissan, and Toyota could all pull it off, so can Hyundai.

Are you sure about that?

[ifcar]

Absolutely. It will almost certainly have a rocky start, but if they can get sufficient sport into their car, they're set.

[Tom]

I don't see how it is any more risky than Toyota establishing Lexus.

It's not--but that was also exceptionally risky.

If Honda, Nissan, and Toyota could all pull it off, so can Hyundai.

I agree.  Most people, I think, don't even associate Lexus with Toyota or Infiniti with Nissan.