Hyundai is back in the Philippines under a new distributor. Operating as Hyundai Motor Philippines, the company is directly under the umbrella of Hyundai Motor Company from South Korea and will be the exclusive distributor of Hyundai’s passenger cars into the country. With them is an initial lineup consisting of 4 glam’d up vehicles – three crossovers and one van – that’s more than ready to hit the roads of the Philippines.
All the cars are available with Hyundai’s SmartSense for their upper variants to help drivers and keep the car safer. They will also be available with 5-year or 200,000km warranty, whichever comes first, for all units.
Creta
First is the smallest in the lineup – the Creta. It originally made its preview in the country way back in 2017 under the previous distributor but never really hit the streets. It’s now back in its all-new version and features a stunning front face highlighted by the Parametric grille with hidden DRLs.
Under the hood is a 1.5-liter Smartstream gas engine making 113 horsepower and 144 Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed manual for the base variant and Hyundai’s proprietary Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) for the upper trims.
It comes with LED lighting, power folding mirrors, leather seats, 8-inch touchscreen with Apple and Android, a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, manual speed limit assist, stability control, hill-start assist, rear sensors, and a rear camera. Available for the top trim are automatic climate control, drive and terrain modes, and SmartSense features including Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keep Assist among others.
There will be three variants of the Creta starting at P998,000 for the GL MT, P1,170,000 for the GL IVT, and P1,332,000 for the GLS IVT.
Tucson
A familiar name in the country, the Tucson finally gets the features it deserves to compete in its segment, albeit at a higher price tag. It has a similar front face to the Creta with the Parametric grille and hidden DRLs but makes itself distinct with geometric cuts on its side profile and fang-like taillight assembly.
It only has two variants whose major difference boils down to the powertrain. The more affordable one has a 2-liter Smartstream gas engine that makes 154 horsepower and 192 Nm of torque with a 6-speed automatic. The top of the line has a 2-liter Smartstream diesel engine with 183 horsepower and 416 Nm of torque with an 8-speed automatic.
The two trims share many features like LED lighting, automatic climate control, 8-inch touchscreen with Apple and Android, 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, and the whole suite of safety features. Where the top trim gets an advantage is with the powered tailgate, bigger 19-inch wheels, and powered driver’s seat.
The Tucson starts at P1,570,000 for the GLS Gas while the GLS+ Diesel is at P1,840,000.
Santa Fe
Those looking for something bigger for the whole family will find the new Santa Fe more than adequate. Unlike with the two 5-seaters, the Santa Fe makes do with a mesh grille though its DRL and headlight are still separate units on its front fascia. The taillights are also unique to it with a more conventional but sleek design.
Inside, it follows the design language of the other crossovers but with more flair. The Santa Fe gets additional electric heated side mirrors, powered tailgate with height adjuster, electrochromic rearview mirror, cruise control, paddle shifters, rain sensor, rear seat alert, and surround view monitor.
There’s only one variant for the Santa Fe and it runs on a 2.2-liter CRDi e-VGT diesel engine making 199 horsepower and 440 Nm of torque with a 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Price is at P2,420,000.
Staria
The successor of the iconic Starex is finally official in the Philippines. More than being instantly recognizable, the Staria is an eye catcher with its LED DRL light Bar, bronze accents, mesh grille, 18-inch brass alloy wheels, and multiple LED cubes for its headlights. The rear is just as stunning as the front with its ‘pixelated’ taillight design for all functions.
Amenities for the Staria include dual tilting sunroof, ambient lighting, smart tailgate, powered second row sliding doors, Bose speaker system, and powered captain seats with ventilation.
Powering the Staria is a 2.2-liter CRDi VGT engine making 175 horsepower and 430 Nm of torque paired to either a 6-speed MT or 8-speed AT, with the top trim available with all-wheel drive.
The Hyundai Staria is available in 4 trims. It starts at P1,560,000 for the Cargo trim; P1,850,000 for the Commuter trim, P2,320,000 for the GLS+ and P2,930,000 for the Premium+ variant.
What’s Next
Perhaps seeing the rising strength and appeal of electrified cars in the country, Hyundai also shared that soon they’ll be bringing in the Ioniq 5 which is a full-electric crossover. Also confirmed is the Hyundai Stargazer which is a 7-seater MPV that will compete against the Avanza and Xpander in the local market. Lastly, the Palisade will also return in an all-new form.
When will they arrive? The Philippine International Motor Show will happen this September so probably some, if not all, of these will be previewed there in the least.
