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Opinion - Hyundai, Kia - Mini SUV (Punch Rival) White Space Analysis

Opinion - Hyundai, Kia’s Mini SUV White Space Analysis | V3Cars

After receiving a confirmation from Hyundai, we had reported in 2021 that the Casper won’t come to India. However, our analysis revealed that Hyundai still have a big white space in their portfolio to rival the Punch, Ignis, C3, Tiago NRG and normal petrol variants of the Kiger and Magnite.

Hyundai-Kia Mini SUV

Also Read: Opinion - Is Hyundai Casper Coming To India Or Not?

In our 2021 opinion, we examined the Casper and saw room for a small SUV in Hyundai’s portfolio. Finally, we’re hearing rumours that Hyundai might fill that up in 2023, but with a brand new model and not with the Casper. Perhaps the Casper’s dimensions make it less suitable for the Indian audience.

Hyundai SUV To Rival Tata Punch Arriving In 2023

So, in this article, we’ll take a look at this white space and try to understand what the upcoming Hyundai-Kia mini SUV could offer to cash in on the SUV craze.

Let’s start with examining the white space with the following table:

Number of SUV/Crossovers

 

Entry Level

Compact

Affordable <4m

Premium 4m

Total

Maruti Suzuki

S-Presso

Ignis

-

New Brezza

3

Toyota

-

-

-

Urban Cruiser

1

Renault

Kwid

-

Kiger

Kiger turbo

3

Nissan

-

-

Magnite

Magnite turbo

2

Hyundai

-

-

-

Venue

1

Kia

-

-

-

Sonet

1

Tata

-

Tiago NRG

Punch

Nexon

3

Mahindra

-

-

-

XUV300

1

As you can see, Renault, Maruti Suzuki and Tata have 3 SUVs/crossovers each. Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra and Toyota, each have 1 car to capture the SUV market share.

Mahindra have found success in the large —- and extremely profitable — SUV game while tasting failure with the small SUV space. Their efforts at popularising KUV100 were all in vain. Toyota are happy just borrowing Maruti cars and rebadging them. Until the Grand Vitara - Hyryder duo, all cars coming out of the joint venture were designed and engineered by Maruti Suzuki.

Renault have the Kwid in the micro SUV space, the Kiger normal petrol in the mini SUV price range and the Kiger turbo to challenge the premium SUVs. Nissan have the Magnite normal petrol and Magnite turbo petrol to rival the Punch and Nexon, respectively. This way, Renault and Nissan, both have managed to cover a wide price band with a single vehicle.

That leaves us with Hyundai and Kia. Both of these brands have big ambitions. Sharing R&D costs makes it possible for them to enter hot segments without spending huge sums of money.

In terms of pricing, the mini SUV space starts out with the Ignis at Rs. 5.35 lakh and tops out at almost Rs. 9.0 lakh with the Kiger and Tata Punch automatic. Given Hyundai’s history of positioning their product as a premium alternative, we can expect them to counter the Punch and start in the Rs. 6.0 - 6.5 lakh price band.

This approach will make them good money as they’re likely to use the Nios/Aura platform. This is a more affordable option as the B1-segment hatchback’s platform is cheaper than that of a B2-segment hatchback. For example, the Tata Punch shares its platform with the Altroz, which is a B2-segment hatchback. So, there’s added expense there in making the Punch. If they used the Tiago’s platform, it’d have naturally had a smaller price tag. But, it’d also create an overlapping product as they already have the NRG to capture that sub-segment.

HYUNDAI-KIA MINI SUV RIVALS

PRICE COMPARISON

 

Tata Punch

Tata Tiago NRG

Citroen C3

Nexa Ignis

Magnite (Base Petrol)

Kiger (Base Petrol)

Base Model Manual

Rs. 5,92,900

Rs. 6,41,900

Rs. 5,88,000

Rs. 5,35,000

Rs. 5,97,400

Rs. 5,99,000

Top Model Manual

Rs. 8,31,900

Rs. 6,82,900

Rs. 6,80,000

Rs. 7,22,000

Rs. 8,33,900

Rs. 8,39,400

Base Model Automatic

Rs. 7,29,900

-

-

Rs. 6,49,000

-

Rs. 8,04,500

Top Model Automatic

Rs. 8,91,900

Rs. 7,37,900

-

Rs. 7,72,000

-

Rs. 8,94,400

In terms of dimensions, we can expect the upcoming Hyundai mini SUV to have a length similar to that of the Punch. The C3, Magnite and Kiger will continue to offer a bigger SUV for the price but with a smaller engine.

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HYUNDAI MINI SUV VS COMPETITION

DIMENSIONS COMPARISON

 

Tata Punch

Tiago NRG

Citroen C3

Nexa Ignis

Magnite

Kiger

Length

3827mm

3802mm

3981mm

3700mm

3994mm

3991mm

Width

1742mm

1667mm

1733mm

1690mm

1790mm

1750mm

Height

1615mm

1537mm

1604mm

1595mm

1572mm

1600mm

Wheelbase

2445mm

2400mm

2540mm

2435mm

2500mm

2500mm

Ground Clearance

187mm

181mm

180mm

180mm

205mm

205mm

Boot Space

319L

242L

315L

260L

336L

405L

Speaking of engines, we’re pretty sure that Hyundai's mini SUV will retain the 1.2L normal petrol engine. It’s also natural for us to expect an AMT-type automatic transmission, which is also available with the Nios.

The trump card in Hyundai’s favour could be the option of a diesel engine. No other carmaker in this segment has a diesel engine option. Hyundai have a small 1.2L turbo diesel engine in their portfolio with a manual as well as an AMT automatic transmission. They offer this with the Nios and Aura. Adding one more car to the list could make the engine viable for the long-term.

HYUNDAI MINI SUV VS COMPETITION

ENGINE SPEC COMPARISON

 

Tata Punch

Tiago NRG

Citroen C3

Nexa Ignis

Magnite/Kiger

Engine

1.2L Normal

1.2L Normal

1.2L Normal

1.2L Normal

1.0L Normal

Cylinder

3

3

3

4

3

Displacement

1199cc

1199cc

1198cc

1197cc

999cc

Power

86PS @ 6000rpm

86PS @ 6000rpm

82PS @ 5750rpm

83PS @ 6000rpm

72PS @ 6250rpm

Power:Weight

86PS/t

85.49PS/t

87.33PS/t

97.08PS/t

76.68PS/t

Torque

113Nm @ 3300rpm

113Nm @ 3300rpm

115Nm @ 3750rpm

113Nm @ 4200rpm

96Nm @ 3500rpm

Torque:Weight

113Nm/t

112.33Nm/t

122.47Nm/t

132.16Nm/t

102.24Nm/t

Manual

5-speed

5-speed

5-speed

5-speed

5-speed

Manual FE

18.97kmpl

20.09kmpl

19.8kmpl

20.89kmpl

18.75kmpl / NA

Automatic

5-speed AMT

5-speed AMT

-

5-speed AMT

-/5-speed AMT

Auto FE

18.82kmpl

20.09kmpl

-

20.89kmpl

-/NA

The sedan and hatchback buyers usually prefer petrol engines, SUV buyers are more open to considering a diesel engine. So far, there aren’t any diesel options in this body-style and price range. In fact, there are barely any diesel SUVs in the sub-Rs. 10.0 lakh price band. Just a year or two ago, we had multiple options including the Venue and Sonet.

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According to recent reports, Hyundai plan to bring this new SUV in 2023. Since Hyundai and Kia share platforms and powertrains, we can expect a similar vehicle from Kia in 2024.

Based on this analysis, we can conclude that Hyundai and Kia are keen to fill their mini SUV white space. The success of the Punch gives them even more incentive to walk this path. We expect it to be about as big as the Punch and about as powerful too. In terms of pricing, we expect it to cost between Rs. 6.0 lakh and Rs. 9.0 lakh. If they add the diesel engine option too, then the top-spec variant with the diesel engine could very well carry a price tag of under Rs. 10.0 lakh (ex-showroom).

Also Read: Punch Becomes A Consistent Performer For Tata Motors

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mahesh Yadav

Mahesh is a fan of compact, quirky and underrated vehicles that punch above their weight. Multix, Nano and Navi are his favorites.

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