Which luxury MPV will tickle your senses when looking for a people mover?
This is a brand new model from Hyundai and it is NOT a replacement for the Grand Starex MPV and instead it is a luxury people mover (MPV) to compete head on with the super popular Toyota Alphard and also Vellfire.
Since its Malaysian launch a few days ago, there has been a lot of social media chatter about its high selling price of RM358,888, its possible deprecation in coming years, its snob appeal and also its curbside appeal as a luxury vehicle.
Well, the Staria MPV is not overpriced as its selling price in Thailand is 1,999,000 baht (which is about RM250,000 before taxes and delivery) and in Australia it is AUD66,500 (which is about RM205,000 before taxes and delivery).
Its Shinkansen (Japanese Bullet Train) looks and profile has a lot of appeal and so did the Toyota Estima. Well, the Estima has been discontinued by Toyota Japan and the Alphard and Vellfire remains their top seller locally and also in Malaysia.
So, the slippery futuristic ‘Dune’ looks do not settle well with Asian MPV buyers? Asians MPV buyers prefer box sharp edge design with plenty of ‘bling’ chrome at the nose?
Well, sales figures for the Alphard and Vellfire do not lie and UMW Toyota has seen brisk sales of their latest Alphard since its launch back in 2018 despite its selling price of RM468.000.
Meanwhile, used car importers (AP Holders) turn around these MPV’s faster than any other vehicle in the yard month after month with selling prices of between RM250k to RM320k without warranty and without any after sales included.
So, what should be done to push sales for this Hyundai Staria? How can you get a potential Alphard buyer to change their mind and get a Staria instead?
Well, to start, the badge. Remove the Hyundai badge and put on a Genesis badge (Hyundai luxury division) and the snob appeal returns.
Yes, Hyundai owns Genesis and just like how Toyota owns Lexus, Nissan owns Infiniti and Honda owns Acura, Hyundai needed a luxury brand to persuade North American and European car buyers that they could deliver a ‘superior in all areas’ vehicle and they did it.
Add lots of chrome to the nose and the appeal gets elevated.
Have some corrupt Ministers using it and the ‘naïve rakyat’ who follow them will snap up the ‘Genesis Staria’ faster than they can be shipped to Malaysia.
