Hyundai, Mazda Eyeing Small Crossover Market

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

The growing small crossover segment, featuring the likes of the Nissan Juke, Buick Encore, Honda Vezel and Kia Soul, may soon find two new players in the game as both Hyundai and Mazda have their eyes on the prize.

Automotive News Europe and Automotive News report the two automakers are planning to release subcompact CUVs of their own down the road, with Mazda tying theirs to the newly redesigned Mazda2 due out later this year. The crossover would slot underneath the current CX-5 in Mazda’s home market, and would be priced between 1.5 million and 2 million yen ($15,000 – $20,000 USD).

Mazda also aims to bring the mid-size CX-9 to Japan as soon as 2015 following its next redesign; both new models would expand the automaker’s crossover lineup to three vehicles in their home market.

Meanwhile, Hyundai’s subcompact crossover is in the study phase according to Hyundai Motor America CEO Dave Zuchowski:

We’re always looking at segments that we’re not in right now that maybe we should be based on where the market’s going. We’re very intrigued by this B-segment CUV.

Zuchowski also announced that his employer may also bring a smaller luxury sports sedan within a couple of years, which would form a trinity with the Equus and Genesis sedans.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on Feb 18, 2014

    "We’re always looking at segments that we’re not in right now that maybe we should be based on where the market’s going." What a great sentence from Mister Important Carman CEO. All entries into this segment which are not called Buick and not able to be Trifecta Tuned as game-changers are irrelevant.

  • Sportyaccordy Sportyaccordy on Feb 18, 2014

    I hope they bring some over. And they give the US a turbo diesel or hybrid option. I'm really surprised by the lack of hybrid SUVs.

    • See 5 previous
    • Varezhka Varezhka on Feb 19, 2014

      @bball40dtw I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Honda's new Vezel Hybrid seems to be selling pretty well so far back home, so it shouldn't be too long before Toyota comes out with a Yaris based mini-SUV with a Prius C drivetrain. If they do release both a hybrid and a non-hybrid version of the same car, the price difference may become a factor though in US (the delta between the standard Vezel and the Vezel Hybrid is about 3000 USD in Japan).

  • The JEEP CHEROKEE is a prime example: whoever builds an inexpensive AWD or 4x4 vehicle will be the winner. NYC has had several snowstorms in the past month and parts of the south that have never seen snow before are starting to get it (apparently THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW has merit). I keep hearing the same thing from people in public and online: "I've got to get an AWD." I wish Chrysler would bring back the Pacifica using the LX AWD platform and the Pentastar V6. These people are sitting out there waiting to give you their money. Are you gonna take it? Are you man enough to take it? Hyundai is wasting their efforts building upmarket cars that RICH PEOPLE DO NOT WANT when they could be improving their smaller cars into segment killers. Sonata AWD and Optima AWD. AZERA AWD.

    • See 18 previous
    • Kyree Kyree on Feb 18, 2014

      @bigtruckseriesreview @ Youtube I agree with you. I feel like, as great as Hyundai/Kia has become, the brand really starts to misunderstand the prospective segment as the car becomes larger. The Azera and Cadenza are nice, but they aren't quite budget luxury cars. The new Genesis still doesn't seem to have shaken the "knockoff-luxury" design, even though the materials are lovely. And the Equus isn't fooling anyone (although the upcoming K9/K900 might be).

  • Lorenzo Lorenzo on Feb 18, 2014

    Back in olden times, first year models were boxy. They saved the swoop for later refreshes. If Mazda and Hyundai want to dip into the sub compact crossover market, they should be looking at building something like a slightly smaller AWD 1990 Escort wagon. At least it'll stick out from the crowd. They can always reduce usable space and driver visibility later.

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