They launched the Santa Fe sport in competition with the Fortuner, not the Santa Fe 7 seater "Grand". The Santa Fe sport is almost the same price as the Tucson elsewhere in the world where both are offered. I believe Santa Fe was more expensive than the Fortuner when it launched too. Anyway, why I said they maybe could've just postponed for Fortuner's announcement is that the new Fortuner would end up touching a higher price bracket, almost certainly 35L+. That way if Tucson comes close to 30L on road, it won't look so bad. If they were bullish about the product, they could've easily launched the product
before Diwali as originally planned and started deliveries later à la Hexa.
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Originally Posted by Axe77 The Santa Fe goes smack against Fortuner on positioning. I'm not sure Fortuner pricing has any relevance to Hyundai's strategy of Tucson pricing and I don't think their launch would be waiting for Fortuner. |
Is Elantra pricing well structured though? It is kinda like that of Creta's. The base model starts at a good price for both but for all bells and whistles, which Hyundai has spoiled us with in the past, you *have* to go for the top end model. That is a diesel manual in the Creta, and a fuel agnostic auto in the Elantra. I mean, even for keyless entry and go in the new Elantra, you have to go for sx(o). It's not even there in sx AT. Jesus.
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Originally Posted by Axe77 I am hoping the Tucson pricing is as well structured as the recent Elantra launch and doesn't follow the Creta model. I also expect them to continue with their rubbish variant options as has become their hallmark in recent times (Creta, Elantra, i20 A/T etc). |
You kind of feel there's a philosophical change within Hyundai management that's making its presence felt with very good products albeit with higher than expected prices. Hyundai has started making really good cars. Reliable, good looking, safe, desirable. They have taken the pains to go through iterations with each of their vehicles. This last generation of their products has given enough confidence to consumers and Hyundai to move a few steps above the bargain bin positioning they had. I don't remember the source, but I read somewhere that in a worldwide study of 2015 cars, Hyundai came ahead of Toyota in reliability. Even if they didn't, they aren't too far away. This is also supported by the fact that they now offer best in class standard warranty with each of their vehicles, in each of their markets.
I also feel that it would've been much better received if their pricing had moved up by a single step with each generation, rather than in sync with their product.
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Originally Posted by Axe77 Hyundai has three examples of pricing in front of it:
1. Overpriced Creta that's successful.
2. Overpriced Santa Fe that's not so successful
3. Well priced Elantra that seems to be well received. |
CR-V is dated, certainly overpriced (starts at 23L ex-Delhi), and really is no competition as it isn't selling. Innova? Eh. I don't know. I don't think there will be many that will cross shop between the Innova and the Tucson. Let's not even bother with the XUV here. Tucson is out of XUV's league. 25L on road for the top Tucson would be sweet. But even with launch pricing I think that's being too optimistic. 25L ex-Delhi, mayyyybe. In other markets, Tucson base is priced alongside the top spec Elantra. I'm really hoping for otherwise, but I don't think Tucson will start lower than 19L ex-Delhi.
If you really think about it then, in the 20L+ price bracket there really is no good competition for the Tucson, just like the Creta in the 10L+ price bracket. Creta still has alternatives with the Duster twins and S-cross. Tucson has but 1.
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Originally Posted by Axe77 With the Tucson, it again has less direct competition given the CRV is only petrol. It may have to contend with Innova though even though they are very different products. (Similar price, diesel A/T / M/T, non sedans being the commonality). XUV is also competition at some level I guess.
If I had to price Tucson geared for success, I'd aim for an on road price not exceeding 25 lakh on road for top variants. Thats a reasonable SUV premium over the similar scale Elantra from the same stable. |