As car camping has become a fad during COVID-19, carmakers are engaging in fierce competition to capitalize on the demand for compact SUVs.
Car camping has made trunk space an important factor for consumers. SsangYong Motor’s Tivoli offers 427 liters of luggage space, while the Kia Seltos has 498 liters. Renault Samsung’s XM3 boasts 513 liters.
Renault Samsung said the model offers maximum luggage space while keeping the hatchback’s trunk design sleek.
The XM3 is the first local compact SUV to introduce a coupe-type design. It enables maximum space while guaranteeing superior visibility.
The XM3 has the lowest body height among compact SUVs at 1,570 millimeters and the highest minimum ground height at 186 millimeters, while the wheelbase is 2,720 millimeters.
Premium features have also become a must, based on customer demand.
Kia’s 2021 Seltos has newly applied advanced safety and convenience features such as rear passenger notification.
SsangYong Motor, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Tivoli’s launch, introduced the Tivoli Limited Edition with nine advanced driving assistance technologies and six airbags, including curtain airbags.
Renault Samsung’s XM3 is armed with driving safety features such as electronic parking brakes, paddle shifts, one-touch safety power windows for all seats and LED Pure Vision headlamps.
Fuel efficiency is among the most basic factors customers consider.
The combined fuel efficiency of Renault Samsung Motors’ XM3 is 13.7 kilometers per liter. It emits 125 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, making it the gasoline engine with the lowest emissions among compact SUVs.
The Hyundai Venue’s fuel efficiency based on 17-inch tires is 13.3 kilometers per liter.
The XM3 comes with either a gasoline hybrid engine or a 1.3-liter gasoline direct-injection turbo engine.
“Customers who purchase small SUVs meticulously compare the design, space, and basic features,” a Renault Samsung official said. “Based on these customer demands, the competition for premium-class SUVs is heating up to best reflect their needs.”
Renault Samsung is focusing on SUV models to boost sales affected by COVID-19. It has sold over 30,000 XM3 vehicles this year, after the model’s launch in March. It ranks second in compact SUV sales this year after Kia’s Seltos.
The company will begin exporting the XM3 to Europe next year.
