Start your engines, it’s SUV season

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Start your engines, it’s SUV season

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RAV4

Time to put the top up and tuck your convertibles away, the SUV season is upon us. And as the weather cools and people head out to the country to enjoy the beauty of autumn, the SUV market is heating up with the arrival of the RAV4 from Toyota and the 2010 version of the CR-V from Honda, which already has a large following in the SUV import market.

The RAV4 is an improvement in performance and fuel economy. The new RAV4 is being sold with either two-wheel or four-wheel drive. Both upgrade the 2.4-liter engine of their predecessor to a 2.5 liter, four cylinder engine. The fuel economy of the two-wheel drive RAV4 is 12.3 kilometers per liter (28.9 miles per gallon), while the four-wheel drive model has a fuel economy of 11.3 kilometers per liter. Both models have an engine displacement of 2500 cc and with 182 horsepower.

The new model has a smart entry system that opens the door automatically when the driver with the car key puts his or her hand on the door. Both vehicle models have also improved their safety features. There are air bags on both the driver’s and passenger’s side, and both also have side air bags.

The RAV4 also has Toyota’s trademark Star Safety System, which enhances the braking system as well as gives the driver more control in emergency situations and on slippery roads. The system includes vehicle stability control, traction control, an anti-lock brake system, an electronic brake-force distribution function and a braking feature that adds brake pressure to aid emergency stops.

The vehicle is selling for between 32.1 million ($27,000) and 34.9 million won.

Another SUV getting a lot of attention this season from auto importers is the Honda CR-V. The CR-V was rated one of the three best selling imported vehicles in the last four years by the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association.

At its launching ceremony Honda Korea’s chief executive Chung Woo-young was confident that the new CR-V would continue to hold the top position in the imported SUV market.

In particular, the vehicle has a large following among female drivers, who account for more than 35 percent of all CR-V sales. That is a percentage for female vehicle owners in Korea, who don’t tend to buy SUVs.

The third generation CR-V is popular not only for its stylish looks but also for its improved performance capability.

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Tucson ix

The vehicle has a 2.4-liter, four cylinder engine with a maximum horsepower of 170. The CR-V’s fuel economy is 10 kilometers per liter.

The CR-V sells for 2 million won less than the second generation model at 32.9 million won. With high-end options including the navigation system, the price of the SUV jumps to 37.9 million won.

Meanwhile, there are other SUVs making a mark in the SUV market.

Nissan’s crossover Rogue has a substantial amount of horsepower and a good fuel economy rating. The vehicle’s maximum horsepower is 168 and its engine displacement is 2500 cc.

The Rogue also has two- and four-wheel driver models. The two-wheel drive model travels 11.8 kilometers on a single liter of fuel while the four-wheel drive version gets 10.7 kilometers per liter.

The Rouge’s fuel economy is enhanced by its XTronic CVT transmission system, which provides maximum gear levels while driving.

The vehicle sells for between 29 million won and 35.9 million won.

Hyundai Motor’s Tucson ix, released in August, is a follow up to its previous model, the Tucson, which was released in 2004 and sold over 1 million units.

The new Tucson ix calls itself a crossover utility vehicle (CUV), which mixes an SUV with a coupe.

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The Tucson ix comes equipped with a 2.0-diesel R-engine with a horsepower of 184. The fuel economy of the Tucson ix is 15.4 kilometers per liter.

Although this is higher than Honda’s CR-V or Nissan’s Rouge, this is less efficient than Toyota’s RAV4.

The price for the Tucson ix ranges between 19.7 million won and 28.8 million won, but with higher-end options such as a panorama sunroof the price exceeds 30 million won.

While the Japanese SUVs are lowering the prices of their newly-released vehicles, the Hyundai Tucson ix has priced its SUV higher compared to the previous model.



By Lee Ho-jeong [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]
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