Introducing a new segment to a car market as yet small but as competitive as ours is a brave endeavour. See, in big markets with more vast buying populations, needs are generally more varied, so you can push in something new, comfortable in the assumption that there should be enough people who go, "At last! Where've you been all this while?"
But as if being small wasn't enough, the Malaysian car market is also traditional, cautious and very cost-conscious on the whole. We're not too eager to try new things, and are quite sceptical of new tech – unless of course, it's affordable, easily accessible, or free. All of which are traits that are hindrances to, say, the introduction of a new kind of car.
If reports are to be believed, the B-segment crossover market is positively thriving in Europe, with a new breed comprising the likes of the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Opel/Vauxhall Mokka vying for sales. With urbanisation and congestion on the rise globally, it's not difficult to see why such vehicles make sense.
After all, they take up little road space, are roomier inside, offer more flexible storage capabilities and give you a better view of the road ahead. They even look funky – couldn't have come at a better time, with all this hipster hashtaggery about.
The Peugeot 2008 was the first of this current breed to enter Malaysia, and remains presently the only one in its class on sale. But its RM120k price tag means it's a bit of a stretch for most of the sort of people such a car would appeal to, i.e. youth. Hard to go for when the same money gets you into C-segment territory.
But when it arrives here from Rayong, Thailand later this year, the Ford EcoSport is expected to give the 2008 a run for less money – the top 1.5 Titanium-trim car, which will be introduced first, is estimated to cost a bit above RM100k, while a lower-trim car with the same engine, planned for a later juncture, might stoop the starting price under six figures. 1.0 litre EcoBoost? A little longer to wait, I'm afraid.
For now, before the Honda HR-V/Vezel hits the market with its CKD price tag, let's look at the Ford EcoSport 1.5 Titanium, which we hopped over the northern fence to test-drive recently.
Let's see how much Further a Fiesta-based SUV can Go
No comments:
Post a Comment