When Kustu entered the market at a price of 169,800-218,800, many people were shocked by Beijing Hyundai's move of "bloody money".
It should be known that as a joint venture model, The Kustu has reached the medium and large MPV standards in stature and wheelbase, but the price is only 20,000 yuan more expensive than the joint venture compact MPV Thuan L, and even lower than the price of the same level of independent MPV - Trumpchi M8. This is the first time in the pricing of joint venture brands.
In particular, it is associated that the price of Dongfeng Yueda Kia Kahua, which is domestically produced at the same time as Kustu, is as high as 288,900-339,900. Kustu, also from hyundai Kia's third-generation i-GMP platform, is 120,000 cheaper than Kahua. In this comparison, Kustu's "thick road" label is more distinct.
This good thing that has not been encountered in a hundred years even makes people wonder whether this "bitter love drama" in modern Beijing has been played a little too much? As a merchant, is Beijing Hyundai really so generous?
Of course not.
Essentially, Kustu is more like a "fattened up" compact MPV.
Past facts tell us that whether it is Baohe Langyi, Tuon and Lanjing, Corolla and Leiling, CR-V and Haoying, or Hyundai Kia's own Elantra and K3, Sonata and K5 Kaiku, the price gap between these and the sister models of the platform is very small. If Khustu and KiaGawa are sister models of the same platform, the difference of up to 120,000 in itself indicates a problem:
Custur and KiaGawa are not brothers on the same platform.
It is worth noting that beijing modern officials have not mentioned Kustu's origins. However, Fan Jingtao, then deputy general manager of Beijing Hyundai, once said that "since the tenth generation of Sonata, all products launched in China have been based on the i-GMP platform." As a result, the news that Kustu was born on the modern Kia's third-generation i-GMP platform has been spread by major media. In turn, the Kustur is interpreted as Kia Jawa's same platform model.
Of course, such an explanation also makes perfect sense. However, one thing that cannot be ignored is that the i-GMP platform is the general modular system of Hyundai Kia, which is also sub-platformed into three sub-platforms: small and medium(K) platform, medium and large (N) platform and pure electric (EV) platform.
Many people know that although Volkswagen's MQB modular platform can produce dozens of models as small as POLO and as large as Tuon, these models are actually from MQB-A0, MQB-A1, MQB-A2, MQB-B and other sub-platforms. Obviously, POLO, which was born on the MQB-A0 platform, and PASSAT, which was born on the MQB-B platform, are not the same thing.
In fact, Kustu and Jiahua, which are also produced for the third-generation i-GMP platform, are not the same thing.
American automotive media motor1 mentioned in the report that Kustu used the same platform development as Tucson (domestic Tucson L). According to foreign media reports, Tucson was born in the third generation of modern compact car platforms. According to the segmentation of the i-GMP platform, Tucson is actually a compact SUV for the modern i-GMP K3 platform.
It is not difficult to understand that the front face of the Custu is very similar to the Tucson L, and the layout of the interior is also very similar. Another media outlet was even more blunt that 2022 Hyundai Musto is a more mature Tucson. All indications show that the Kuss way is "fattened up" by Tucson L, and is a "special supply car" customized by Beijing Hyundai for the Chinese market.
However, while "fattening up", Kusstu reduced the multi-link rear suspension of Tucson L to a torque beam, and the 1.5T engine also reduced the parameters.
It is also reported that the new generation kia jawa, like Kia Sorento and K5, was born on Kia's N3 platform. In terms of rank, Kia Kahua is a standard mid-size MPV.
That is to say, Kustu and Jiahua, which seem to be "on the same platform", have no half-cent relationship. To put it bluntly, the real sister model of The Joyce should be the Hyundai Paristi.
Regardless of origin, the seemingly "sincere" Kustu is not cheap.
On the surface, the price range of 169,800-218,800 in Kustu is only 20,000 more expensive than that of Tuan L, and one foot has entered the price range of compact MPV. However, it should also be noted that the terminal of Tuan L has a large preferential margin, and Kustu has no discount. Therefore, the actual price of Kustu is significantly higher than that of Tuan L.
Looking around, only the price of the Trumpchi M8 and Roewe iMA8 models overlaps with the price of Kusitu in a large area. But in the face of these two rivals of the same level, the power configuration and chassis structure of Kustu are more "shabby".
Although the starting price is only 169,800 yuan, the two entry-level models of Kustu are only equipped with 1.5T engines, with a maximum power of only 125 kilowatts and a maximum torque of only 253 Nm. It should be pointed out that the curb weight of the Koostu entry-level model exceeds 1.6 tons, and the sub-entry-level model exceeds 1.7 tons. Such a small displacement engine is mounted on the Kustu diagram, and it is inevitable that there is a feeling of "small horse-drawn cart".
It is undeniable that the Trumpchi M8 and Roewe iMAX8, two autonomous medium and large MPV, are more expensive than the Kustu, but they are fully equipped with 2.0T engines. The starting price of Kustu's 2.0T model actually reached 192,800 yuan, which is 15,000 more expensive than the Trumpchi M8 and 0.4 million more expensive than the Roewe iMAX 8. Moreover, the trumpchi M8 has a maximum engine power of 185 kW and a maximum torque of 390 Nm. The 2.0T of the Kustu has a maximum power of 174 kW and a maximum torque of 353 Nm.
It should also be pointed out that the entire Kustu series is equipped with a torsion beam rear suspension, while models such as the Trumpchi M8, Roewe iMAX8 and Odyssey are equipped with multi-link rear suspension. In terms of suspension structure and forced frame, Kustu is also one point shorter.
That is to say, the price of Kustu, which seems to have crossed the level into the market, is actually much higher than that of the compact MPV. In front of the opponents of the same level, Kustu not only has no advantage in power and price, but also has a slightly shabby chassis structure.
Therefore, the starting price of Kustu is not high, but it is definitely not "thick". A compact MPV that "fattens up" is worth the price.
Even so, Kustu's entry into the market still has positive market significance. At a time when the MPV market is booming, Kustro provides a good reference for the development of more home MPV.
Write at the end:
In November this year, Kustu's sales were fixed at 1883 units. Earlier in October, Kustu sold only 1,089 units. Kustu, which seems to be extremely "cost-effective", has not received reciprocal market feedback.
On the other hand, the GAC Trumpchi M8, which is priced higher than The kustu, has sold more than 7,000 vehicles in the past two months, and nearly 64,926 vehicles have been sold in the first 11 months of this year, with an average monthly sales of nearly 6,000 vehicles.
At present, Kustu, which bears the aura of "cost performance", has not yet been recognized by consumers.
However, a Beijing Hyundai dealer sales staff told the media that the current kustu car on the market is very scarce, because of the shortage of chips, the factory needs to control production capacity. It is reported that the delivery rate of the dealer is less than 30%. Inference from this, there is still a lot of room for growth in the sales volume of Kustu.
However, when consumers know the true identity of Kustu, will they continue to favor it? Time will tell.