Hyundai, Kia To Provide Fresh Competition For Chevy Equinox And GMC Terrain Diesel Models
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For shoppers eying affordable diesel-powered crossover SUVs, Chevrolet and GMC nearly own the segment. Both the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and 2018 GMC Terrain come with an optional 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine. But, the Korean brands will soon provide indirect rivals.
Both Hyundai and Kia will debut a crossover boasting diesel power early next year. The 2019 Hyundai Sante Fe will launch with a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine and the same mill should make its way to the Kia Sorento, which has been spied in prototype form. The engine makes 200 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque.
Although both will provide additional options for crossover SUV shoppers keen on oil burners, both the Santa Fe and Sorento are larger than the Equinox and Terrain—closer to the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer. But, the Blazer will not offer a third row of seats, either.
Aside from Hyundai and Kia, Mazda is also planning for a CX-5 diesel, which would compete more directly with the Equinox and Terrain. However, the Japanese automaker has been quiet on when the diesel variant will launch.
Following the sale of Opel and Vauxhall, GM now purchases one of its diesel mills, the 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine, from PSA Groupe. Eventually, the automaker’s Turin, Italy, powertrain center will likely birth a new four-cylinder diesel engine to replace the old intellectual property. It’s unclear if GM has plans to offer a diesel engine in the 2019 Blazer, or even the larger Traverse.
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hope to see a new generation of powerful diesel engines from a 1.4 to a 2.0 passing through a 1.6 and why not a V6 and V8.
Competition never sleeps!
Competition makes the US companies smarter and better!
So if that’s the case then Sonata/Optima would be capable of putting a diesel into it?
The Powertrain and suspensions on Korean cars have a long way to go..