Car models refreshing the Vietnamese market in 2015

Hyundai Creta and Renault Duster open a new SUV segment, while a series of new generation car models arrive in the country.

By the end of November, the Vietnamese car market sold 215,517 cars, up 57% compared to the same period in 2014. Only by the end of November, the number of cars sold this year has far exceeded the total of about 180,000 cars sold last year. If the last month of the year is the bustling Tet shopping season, experts predict that sales could reach 250,000 cars.

Besides the stable economy that makes people's income higher and cars more accessible, another factor that makes the four-wheel market grow rapidly is the diversity in the product portfolio. In 2015, many car models were released with new generations, changed designs or appeared for the first time, giving birth to new segments.

1. Lexus NX200t

The NX is a completely new project of the Japanese car company, positioned in the segment below the RX, competing with the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and Mercedes GLA. However, because it comes later and is intended for Americans, the NX has some shortcomings such as being larger than its competitors, lying halfway between the Q3 and Q5.

In Vietnam, Lexus brings the 2.0 version using turbocharger, direct fuel injection, capacity of 235 horsepower at 4,800-5,600 rpm, maximum torque of 350 Nm at 1,650-4,000 rpm. The engine switches from Otto cycle to Atkinson to take advantage of the power of the explosion. 6-speed automatic transmission. Full-time 4-wheel drive.

The price for the NX200t in Vietnam is 2.4 billion VND, slightly higher than its competitors Audi Q3 and Range Rover Evoque.

2. Kia Grand Sedona

In April 2015, Kia introduced the Grand Sedona in Vietnam, an imported version from Korea, to the country for the purpose of market research. In November, Truong Hai officially introduced to Vietnamese customers the domestically assembled version, opening a new segment, large MPV in the Vietnamese market.

The domestically assembled Grand Sedona has 2 types of gasoline and diesel engines, both using a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 3.3-liter V6 gasoline engine has a capacity of 266 horsepower and a maximum torque of 318 Nm. The 2.2-liter CRDi 4-cylinder inline diesel engine has a capacity of 190 horsepower and a maximum torque of 440 Nm.

Kia Grand Sedona has 4 versions with prices ranging from 1.18 to 1.29 billion VND.

3. Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Thanh Cong is loyal to the import form when the company introduced the Creta right after its launch in the Indian market. If before, the company had the i20 Active to compete with the Ford EcoSport, the Creta created a new segment in the Vietnamese market, above the Ford EcoSport and below the Tucson.

The car has two engine versions, 1.6-liter gasoline and 1.6-liter diesel. Specifically, the 1.6-liter Gamma II gasoline engine produces 123 horsepower and 151 Nm of maximum torque. The 1.6-liter U2 diesel engine, CRDi direct fuel injection, VGT variable-vane turbocharger, produces 128 horsepower and 260 Nm of maximum torque at 1,900-2,750 rpm. Both are equipped with a 6-speed gearbox.

Hyundai Thanh Cong sells Creta at 806 million for the petrol version and 846 million for the diesel version.

4. Renault Duster

Renault Duster was launched at the Imported Car Show in Hanoi in October. Duster is in the mid-sized segment with Creta. Duster even has the same wheelbase as Honda CR-V, but the overall length is much shorter. The French car company directly competes with the strong segments of Japanese and Korean.

Renault equips Duster with a 2-liter inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine, 143 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and maximum torque of 195 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Automatic transmission combined with 4-wheel drive system.

Renault sells Duster at 790 million VND, about 20 million cheaper than Hyundai Creta.

5. Mercedes-Maybach S600

is the unexpected success of Mercedes in the Vietnamese market in 2015. Lowering Maybach from the super luxury class to the same level as Mercedes is the way the German car company shrinks to bring about sales efficiency. Maybach S600 becomes a popular luxury sedan in the Asian market.

The engine on the luxury sedan is a 6-liter V12 with a capacity of 530 horsepower at 4,900-5,300 rpm, maximum torque of 830 Nm at 1,900-4,000 rpm, 7-speed 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive. Acceleration time from 0-100 km/h in 5 seconds.

According to VnExpress