Hyundai Motor Philippines (HMPH) officially makes a splash in the country with an exclusive event flaunting its latest models. This is a fitting relaunch of the brand under a new distributor, with renewed leadership roles and an exciting new system of operations. We’ll break down the scoop for all you readers out there.

At the helm of HMPH is its new President Lee Dong Wook. His task to breathe new life into the brand, especially in the eyes of Filipino consumers, is no small one. After all, that includes reforging the identity that the brand has developed over its decades of stay in the country. Analysis of the market’s current needs and wants is also surely at the top of his mind.

“Hyundai Motor Philippines has been working on rebuilding the brand to provide excellent customer experience through the launch of a broad range of new, innovative,  and exciting product line-up in the Philippine market,” shared Mr. Lee.

We got to see the aforementioned product line-up for ourselves in the flesh. Hyundai’s new design language is nothing short of bold, striking, and refreshingly modern.

Starting off with the premium B-segment SUV Creta that replaced the Venue, its compact size does not take anything away from its road presence. It showcases bold angles throughout the car’s design, especially when it comes to the unique taillight design. Around the vehicle, you’ll find a suite of features suited for the modern era: such as LED DRLs, sporty bumpers, and 17-inch alloy wheels.

According to the brand, its 1.5-liter Smartstream engine paired with the CVT transmission should provide an ample amount of pep while remaining relatively fuel efficient. Pricing for the Hyundai Creta is set to begin at PHP 998K, topping out at PHP 1.332M.

Moving on to the sophisticated members of society who like being ferried around in lavish comfort, the Hyundai Staria is the one for them. It carries an exterior design that resembles a spaceship on wheels, floating from departure to destination. With a taller vehicle height, spacious interior, and expansive windows, it really is a lounge on wheels.

It is sold in two variants: a 7-seater focused on comfort and exclusivity, while the 11-seater catches the eye of those looking for practicality. Regardless of which variant ends up in your garage, this vehicle will bring you wherever you need to go in comfort and style. The Staria starts off at PHP 1.560M for the Cargo model, all the way up to PHP 2.930M for the Premium 8AT CRDi AWD option.

The final two vehicles in this list are the all-new Tucson and Santa Fe. These are obviously the middle children in the pack of SUVs the brand plans to initially release on our shores. Similar are the design philosophies for both of these vehicles due to their intimidating grille designs and masculine character lines. The new Santa Fe uses a new modular Gen 3 platform with a Smartstream 2.2 Diesel engine mated to an 8-speed wet DCT, a first in Hyundai’s SUVs. The Tucson has a price range of PHP 1.5-1.8M while the Santa Fe will only be sold in one trim priced at PHP 2.420M.

Later on, representatives from Hyundai Motor Philippines announced plans to bring in the electric Ioniq 5 and the full-size Hyundai Palisade SUV. Warranties for these cars will be 5 years and 200,000 KMs, with commercial vehicles receiving a 3-year, 100,000 KM warranty instead. People who bought vehicles from the grey market can have their cars maintained and serviced at HMPH dealerships, but their warranties will not be honored.

When asked about the cars from their now-legendary N Performance Division, company representatives responded that they will still study the possible demand of these vehicles in the country. However, they’re not ruling out the possibility of bringing the Elantra N, Tucson N-Line, and other N iterations of existing models in the country.

Hyundai Motor Philippines is making a serious push to trim its product lineup and become a serious contender in the market. We definitely see the possibility of this brand being a threat for Philippine market leadership should all these things go well.

Check out the official site of Hyundai Motor Philippines for passenger cars here.