New Vehicles from Mainland Asia, A Growth Sector
Currently, mainland Asia is a big pool of innovation and design, particularly, in car manufacturing. Design teams beaver away at creating fun new designs, shapes and technologies. The result of all this activity is the production of sharp-looking new vehicles appearing from South Korea, Malaysia and China, and in Australia we are benefiting from these excellent new car products that are competitively priced, well designed and built to a high standard. Some Australian new-car buyers are recognising the value in buying a vehicle from South Korea, China and Malaysia, so it’s a great time to be a car buyer, not to mention a car enthusiast spoilt for choice.
Models from China
China is the biggest country in Asia, and we’re starting to get familiar with Chery, Great Wall Motors, Foton and Haval model names. Great Wall and Foton make a nice range of low cost utes and pick-up trucks that can be either 2WD or 4WD.
With a grunty 2.8-litre turbo-diesel that has been designed by Cummins, the Foton Tunland models impress with smooth power and efficiency. Inside, the Tunland is comfortable and well equipped. Foton Tunland Utes come with a 3 year/100,000 km warranty making the new buy even sweeter.
Foton Tunland
With an imposing stance, the new Great Wall Steed ute is a strong performer. Diesel, petrol, 2WD and 4WD options make this a versatile and useful addition to your working fleet. Equipped with all the modern safety features, the Great Wall Steed ute is set to impress.
Great Wall Steed
Low cost Chery cars are easy to live with, and are principally popular to those who are on a slight budget. Chery J1 offers a small car in a neat package. Chery J3 cars are a little larger and offer comfortable space in the form of a small hatchback. The Chery J11 SUV offers superior value for money and a full three year/100,000 kilometre warranty.
Chery J1
Chery J3
Chery J11
Little known in Australia, but hugely popular in other parts of the world, are vehicles from Haval. Haval is the newest SUV player in the Australian SUV market, coming to these shores after dominating the Chinese SUV market for the best part of 10 years. Haval is an offshoot of Great Wall, much in the same way that Lexus is an offshoot of Toyota, FPV is an offshoot of Ford and Arbarth is an offshoot of Mini. However, Haval specialises in SUVs only, and you won’t find any other type of vehicle wearing the Haval badge. They may come in different sizes, but they’re all SUVs. What’s more, Haval makes classy SUVs – vehicles that combine serious off-roading ability with precision engineering and style.
Haval H1
Haval H9
Haval H2
Haval H6
Haval H8
While parent company Great Wall tends towards producing reliable no-frills vehicles, Haval throws in a lot more bells and whistles, plus extra luxury – while still keeping the price towards the lower end. In creating these vehicles, the Haval design team has benefited from the knowledge and flair of the former head of the BMW design team, Pierre LeClerq. Haval vehicles are firstly practical and secondly beautiful.
Models from Malaysia
Proton is Malaysia’s national new-car producer. Having produced cars since the early eighties, Proton, in the last decade, has really kicked on to produce some excellent new models that are well-built and modern competing directly with the best low-cost models the world over.
Proton’s Suprima is a stylish small hatch with six airbags, reverse sensors, Bluetooth, iPod connectivity, steering wheel audio and telephone controls, and a sprightly 1.6-litre turbo engine. The car has five-star ANCAP safety and a five year warranty.
Proton Suprima
Proton’s new Preve is a saloon version of the Suprima and has a responsive naturally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine with 80 kW of power and 150 Nm of torque. A large boot, good legroom and comfortable seats make the Preve a great buy for those on a budget. Again five-star safety and a five-year warranty sets up an attractive package that asks well under $20k.
Proton Preve
Proton’s Exora is a well thought-out seven-seater wagon that has the family in mind with a DVD player available, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth, cupholders, plenty of room and air vents for each row of seats. A four-star ANCAP safety test result with a five-year warranty sets this new model apart.
Proton Exora
Models from South Korea
Currently boasting the fifth largest automotive industry in the world, South Korea has some superb new models that have grown in popularity throughout the world almost as fast as PSY’s viral “Gangnam Style” video. The three main car manufacturing names we’ve all heard about are Kia, Ssangyong and Hyundai. Both Kia and Hyundai have some of the sharpest modern design teams in the business, and Ssangyong continues to offer some very good utility and SUV type vehicles.
Kia produces some nicely designed cars for the small-to-large car buyer. People movers are available, while the Sorento and Sportage are really popular SUV models. High-end models are very well equipped, safe and capable vehicles with loads of style. Watch out for the new Kia Stinger with its fastback styling and sleek lines. Longer and wider than a BMW 4 Gran Coupe and boasting a longer wheelbase than the Lexus GS, the Stinger means business and ensures you will have a commanding presence on the road. A twin-turbo V6 motor puts out around 270 kW and is matched to a slick eight-speed auto gearbox. The RWD chassis delivers exhilarating road holding and will be a delight to drive. There will be a 2.0-litre turbo performance model available as well.
Kia Stinger
Hyundai, like Kia, offer very stylish vehicles that cater for all shapes and sizes, purposes and performance. Hyundai are pushing the boundaries in the fields of styling and safety, and with solid engines and drivetrains these are a sound new-car buy. Hyundai’s latest Genesis is a luxury car that competes very well with the best of European luxury cars. Tucson and Santa Fe models are exceptionally popular SUVs, while Hyundai know how to make a stylish and practical large work van or people mover – known as the iLoad and iMax respectively. Watch out for the latest i30, promising clean lines and even more performance.
Hyundai i30
Sadly, Ssangyong has declined in sales across Australia, though the fashionable brand of SUVs and utes are sure to make a come-back in late 2017 with SsangYong marketing the new Y400 large SUV, based on the LIV-2 concept revealed at the recent Paris motor show, and the Tivoli compact crossover. The Tivoli is a compact SUV with nice lines and excellent features. With around 95 kW of power, the 1.6-litre petrol engine is powerful and efficient, while torque peaks at 160 Nm. Korean crash testing has given the new Tivoli a five-star rating.
Ssangyong Tivoli
The new Y400 is a big Ssangyong Rexton SUV replacement that offers strong diesel turbo power and efficiency with loads of seating comfort and space. And, if you need a stylish new ute for work and recreation, the Actyon Sport ute is a tough unit with good looks and plenty of power.
Ssangyong Rexton Y400
Here in Australia we’re going to see more cars from Mainland Asia driving on our roads. Embracing the changing automotive landscape includes accepting the attractive Hyundai, Kia and Ssangyong drives. They’re great cars that are really well designed and competitively priced
Level 2, 9 Help Street
Dennis Bell says:
Abarth is an hotrod offshoot of FIAT, not MINI.
I would not own any Chinese built vehicle even if given away!
June 26th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Ian Jones says:
Haval H6 and Haval H8 look interesting. I have a 2014 Jeep Laredo 4 WD petrol 3.6 with 59,000 klms 6 new yokahamas 3 days ago.6 mths reg, rust and ultra protection.
Send info and prices on The H6 and H8 Haval please
June 26th, 2017 at 4:52 pm
Arthur Page says:
Am interested in the Kia Stinger – please send me any information on this car.
June 27th, 2017 at 10:24 am
Dave Conole says:
Ian, please contact our Private Fleet team to discuss. Thank you.
June 27th, 2017 at 2:26 pm
Dave Conole says:
Hi Arthur. you can contact Kia Australia for information here: http://www.kia.com/au/cars/kia-stinger.html
June 27th, 2017 at 2:28 pm