Locally assembled Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid to cost around Rs12 million

ISLAMABAD: There had been a strong rumor for quite some time that Hyundai Pakistan might introduce Santa Fe. The rumor will soon become a reality as a locally assembled vehicle was seen but not in so much public.

A 4th generation model will be introduced in Pakistan.

The 4th generation, with chassis code “TM,” went into production in 2018 and got a major facelift in 2020.

Hyundai Santa Fe is the non-identical twin of the Kia Sorento, and both models have been sharing technical under the skin. When the 4th generation Santa Fe was introduced in 2018, it shared its underpinning ( Y-Platform) with the 3rd generation Sorento ( the same model we currently have in Pakistan).

The facelift model of Hyundai Santa Fe, which we will also arrive in Pakistan soon, got a major makeover on the front, and the design came from the Hyundai design studio in Germany. The new face gives it a more modern and luxurious look, and as per Hyundai, it followed the brand’s “Sensuous Sportiness” design philosophy.

The current auto policy, effective from 2021 to 2016, has provided incentives for hybrid and electric vehicles in the form of reduced duty/customs on the import of parts. Toyota wanted to win the race by introducing the first hybrid model in the country, but it failed as Haval had already revealed a locally assembled H6 hybrid.

Honda Atlas is working on a hybrid version of HR-V, but we currently have Santa Fe in the pipeline, and the official reveal is not far from now. As per available information, the model will be made public within the next two months.

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Now the next question would be the price, and it’s challenging to guess that when the $ is creeping up daily and near 300. Well, I guess that Santa Fe might be around Rs. 12 Million +/- but with the history of Nishat in front of us, they might go as much as 13 Million and maybe more, according to Pak Wheels.

They might launch with a so-called Introductory Price and bump the price within weeks.

Hyundai Nishat should undercut the price of the Haval H6 hybrid, which is currently around Rs. 12.14 Million. Hyundai has the added advantage of being a 3-row, and with the lower prices, they can grab customers. But I will advise and highly recommend Hyundai they should introduce a well-equipped model that includes the safety equipment besides built quality, fit & finish.

With the current crisis of the economy and highly high-interest rates, car sales are already down, and any unrealistic pricing will not help the sales graphs.

As the 4th generation facelift model also utilized the same N3 chassis as Hyundai Sonata, there can be some cost recovery, additionally keeping in mind its production will cease in overseas markets, and Hyundai Nishat might be able to get cheaper discontinued CKD kits and other related parts, beside assembly jigs and machinery probably dismantled in the outside world.