Hyundai Motor Malaysia to launch 3 new models on July 2

With Hyundai Motor setting up its own subsidiary in Malaysia, customers can expect to be looked after even better as it is now the brand-owner that is managing the business. Being the brand-owner means doing whatever it takes to not only grow the brand but also move it to higher levels, so no effort (and money) will be spared in achieving that.

This includes having a fresher product range since the marketing will be done more closely with the factory. Where before, with the distributor-led approach, there may have been other business considerations such as investments in local assembly and the potential returns, now it is the manufacturer making the decisions and they would want to offer their latest products.

This has been apparent with other manufacturer-owned subsidiaries which have, upon starting up, quickly refreshed the product range and then expanded it. One example would be the Mercedes-Benz range; for years, it was mainly the C, E and S-Class, but when DaimlerChrysler Malaysia (now Mercedes-Benz Malaysia) was established, the range available officially broadened and today, there are many more choices in different segments for customers.

The same is likely to also happen with Hyundai and to start off, its new subsidiary – Hyundai Motor Malaysia – will have its official launch on July 2 with three new models. Two of them – the Tucson and Staria – are familiar models which are already on sale in the market but have been updated for 2025. There will also be one brand new model – the all-new Santa Fe (which so happens to have the model code of ‘MX5’).

Hyundai Motor Malaysia (HMM) arranged to give us a preview today so we can tell you a bit about the new models before their official launch. The stocks have already arrived so authorised Hyundai dealers should be able to start deliveries soon after July 2.

New Santa Fe
This is the fifth generation of Hyundai’s first SUV and helped it become the fastest-growing brand in the US market in the early 2000s. It began as a compact SUV but has since grown in size and moved to larger segments. Compared to the first generation which was 4500 mm long, the new generation is 4830 mm long with a wheelbase that is almost 200 mm longer.

The styling has also changed and in fact, it is a departure from the Fluidic Sculpture and Sensuous Sportiness design languages over the past 25 years to the ‘Art of Steel’ language. This sees a more boxy form which merges urban and outdoor adventures.

HMM isn’t revealing much about the new Santa Fe at this time and even blocked off views of the interior. However, we can see that the exterior adopts elements such as the H-shaped LED headlights from the INITIUM FCEV concept vehicle. The rear end is also distinctive, with a solid look and the wiper is hidden from sight.

For the Malaysian market, there will be 3 versions – Prime, Prestige and Calligraphy. The Prime and Prestige are 7-seaters and come with only 2WD. They have a hybrid electric powertrain with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine and a system output of 235 ps/367 Nm.

The Calligraphy version is the flagship and has 6 seats. It has a turbocharged 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine (not hybrid) which produces 281 ps/422 Nm which goes to an 8-speed DCT to all 4 wheels.

Updated Tucson
The Tucson is now in its fourth generation and is the bestselling Hyundai model globally with almost 10 million units sold since the SUV made its debut in 2004. The current generation arrived in Malaysia towards the end of 2023 and the 2025 model will be offered in 3 5-seater versions – Style, Prime and Prestige.

The powertrains are varied, with the Style having only a combustion engine of 2 litres, while the Prime and Prestige have a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. Additionally, there is also a Prestige with a hybrid electric powertrain using a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. Only the Prestige with a combustion engine has 4WD while the other versions have 2WD.

New features on the Tucson include a refreshed front end and more ‘tech forward interior with a redesigned centre console and panoramic 12.3-inch curved display. Convenience features include a wireless charging pad and auto-dimming electrochromatic rearview mirror.

As with other models, the Tucson gets a comprehensive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) to keep the driver aware of the surroundings and take autonomous actions in emergencies if the driver does not react correctly. The Prestige also comes with a Surround View monitor to show all sides of the vehicles.

Updated Staria
The futuristic looking Staria MPV was launched in Malaysia in October 2021. Perhaps it was at the time of the pandemic and it didn’t get more attention, but the 7-seater didn’t sell in meaningful numbers and faded away. Now HMM is bringing it back for a second try and will assemble it locally as well.

The Staria, still in its first generation, will be available with 7 seats and 10 seats, targeting private owners as well as fleet operators. The Style and Prime versions will have 10 seats while the Prestige can be ordered with 10 seats or 7 seats. For the 2025 model, some of the updates include brass chrome trim with premium relaxation seats for the Prestige 7-seater.

All versions come with a 177 ps/430 Nm 2.2-litre turbodiesel, a familiar engine which has powered many Hyundai models, with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Prices of all the new models will be announced on July 12 and presumably, the warranty periods will be the same as what Hyundai customers currently enjoy. The dealer network would also be the same and will be expanded 25 outlets by 2030.

Hyundai Motor becomes directly involved in Malaysian market