SUV - new choice of Vietnamese people

With the same budget of one billion, many customers are gradually switching from choosing traditional sedans to more versatile SUVs or crossovers.

From early 2014 until now, the Vietnamese automobile market has started to develop following the general trend of the world, which is the preference for high-chassis vehicles. Traditional low-chassis vehicles such as sedans and hatchbacks have gradually become less popular, giving market share to SUVs, crossovers, MPVs and pickup trucks.

Automobile market segmentation in Vietnam

The analysis table based on the sales of car models of VAMA (Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association) shows that the C-size SUV segment is gradually increasing its market share, while the D-size sedan segment of Camry and Sonata is gradually narrowing. The C-size crossover segment has a price of about one billion, meeting both personal and family needs. Representatives of this segment includeHonda CR-V,Mazda CX-5,Kia Sportage,Hyundai Tucson,Mitsubishi Outlander,Chevrolet Captiva.

1. Mazda CX-5

According to VAMA data, in the first 6 months of 2016, Mazda sold 3,859 CX-5 cars to the market, leading the C-crossover segment, far surpassing its closest competitor, the Honda CR-V.CX-5 and Mazda3 are two models that have helped the Mazda brand grow strongly in the Vietnamese market in the past 2-3 years.

The strength of the CX-5 to win customers lies in its design and equipment, although its performance does not bring as much emotion as the Honda CR-V. The car has three versions using 2 or 2.5 liter engines, priced at 1,039-1,098 million.

2. Honda CR-V

Like the CX-5, the Honda CR-V is a new name that creates a trend, although it has caused a lot of controversy in the design of the new version's rear. Some people like it, some don't, but the luggage compartment is much more spacious. Through the first half of 2016, the car sold 1,994 cars.

The CR-V has two versions: 2 liters and 2.4 liters. In terms of driving feel, the CR-V has things that its rival, the CX-5, cannot have: sportiness, responsive throttle response, and precise steering like a German car. The car costs 1,008 and 1,158 million for the two versions.

3. Hyundai Tucson

Tucson is increasingly similar to its big brother Santa Fe. The Korean SUV competes with a new, smooth, flowing design that suits both men and women. With many features, Hyundai tries to make Tucson a little different by setting up 3 driving modes: Normal, Eco and Sport, although the difference is not much.

Tucson has two versions: standard price 905 million and limited price 995 million. The price may be more favorable than the two Japanese competitors, but the engine is smaller. Both versions use 2 liters, 6-speed automatic transmission. Tucson's sales figures are not announced and distributor Hyundai Thanh Cong is not a member of VAMA.

4. Kia Sportage

With the same platform and technology as its brother Tucson, Sportage has not made a strong impression like its competitors in the Vietnamese market. In recent years, Sportage's sales have always been sluggish, sometimes even falling into the top of the slowest-selling cars on the market.

Kia Sportage launched a new version in October 2015 with a controversial design change because it is modern but somewhat funny. After the first 6 months of the year, the new version has not shown any breakthrough when sales were only at 99 cars, becoming the slowest selling crossover in the segment. The engine is a 2-liter Nu like Tucson. The price is 1,048 million.

5. Chevrolet Captiva

Chevrolet Captiva is on the way to regain its former glory. It used to be the best-selling SUV in Vietnam in 2007-2008, but then a series of reasons such as fuel consumption, minor errors, and lack of design and equipment innovation caused Captiva to gradually lose its appeal.

In the new generation, Captiva is equipped with significant innovations, things like blind spot sensors, good soundproofing when driving in the city make the new Captiva score points. However, the disadvantage is the delay when accelerating, so Captiva will not be the choice of those who like to accelerate and brake like a smooth driver. But initially, the new Captiva recorded positive changes when in the first half of 2016, sales were 402 cars.

Chevrolet Captiva is much more affordable than its competitors. 2.4 liter gasoline engine and price 879 million.

6. Mitsubishi Outlander

In the world, Outlander Sport is a smaller version of Outlander. The company itself ranks the Sport version in the same segment as Honda CR-V despite its relatively smaller size.In the new 2016 version introduced in Vietnam on August 6, the Japanese car company removed the Sport and brought in the Outlander version.

The new Outlander has a wheelbase of 2,670 mm, the same as the previous Outlander Sport, about 30 mm shorter than the CR-V and CX-5. In contrast, the length of the car is up to 4,695 mm, 115 mm longer than the CR-V.For the first time, the new Dynamic Shield design language is applied to the Outlander. Now the crossover's appearance looks quite similar to its elder brother, the Pajero Sport.

The car has 3 versions with two engines: 2.0 CVT and 2.4 CVT. The prices are 975 million, 1,123 million and 1,275 million respectively. The two lower versions are 5-seat types like its competitors, while the highest version is 5+2 seats. With this pricing and design, Outlander has the ambition to compete in the CR-V segment and higher like Santa Fe.

According to VNE