A Hyundai official says the Korean firm initially “didn’t intend” to offer the Kona in markets such as South Africa.

At the launch of the new Venue, CARmag.co.za asked Jebeen Lee, Hyundai’s head of product for overseas markets, what the thinking was behind marketing the Venue, Creta and Kona locally, and whether there was any chance of these models stepping on each others' toes.

Lee suggested South Africa was “blessed” to have all three crossovers on the market, with most other countries featuring just two.

“We didn’t intend to put Kona in each and every country all over the world but the design and the product itself was very attractive so we added this one to our SUV line-up in South Africa,” Lee told us.

“It’s something like the [Volkswagen] T-Cross and T-Roc; they’re intended for different markets but both of them are very good so they are selling them everywhere,” he added.

“This segment is not stable yet; it’s getting bigger and bigger, so we are adjusting like other automakers,” Lee said.

The five-strong Venue range is priced from R274 900 to R369 900, while the six-strong Creta line-up starts at R359 900 and runs through to R438 900. The two Kona variants offered locally, meanwhile, are priced at R384 900 and R404 900.

Original article from Car