I think there are a bunch of people who really don't want a bunch of tech, prefer a base model car from a manufacturer that isn't in that part of the world.
CSB
Don’t know if Ukraine is different but in the US and China, tech sells.
The market that wants stripper cars Is tiny here and is usually budget dependent.
It’s about the size of market that wants a 6MT Alltrack.
The rest of your comments are anectodal and peppered with bias, VW here in the US has a resale problem with the Jetta and Passat, literally 50%-60% off of MSRP in 2-3 years. I saw a 2016 Passat 1.8T w/ 42k miles for $11,500 the other day.
As far as sales Hyundai and Kia are kicking VWs ass in the USA. VW is still spitting out early 2000 sales numbers, it’s sad. Especially since 2011 VW states a target of 750k sales by 2020... lolololol. In the USA VW has been vying for last place with Mazda.
I drove a 2019 SantaFe Limited 2.0T over the summer and wholly hell it was so much nicer than the Atlas.
As I stated Hyundai and Kia are getting better exponentially with each generation, we haven’t seen this type of quality and growth since Lexus from 1990-2005.
It’s impressive, if you can’t see what Toyota engineers do (there is a story about them buying and tearing down two generations of Hyundai cars) it’s sad.
But hey, enjoy your VW. No one is threatening that.
I went and looked at a 2019 Sonata since they were offering so much off MSRP. It felt and smelled like I was at an Enterprise getting a cheap POS to rent while I was out of town. The salesman mention numerous time about the trunk release button(which is body color and hidden in the rear emblem) That was apparently the best TECH he could come up with... lol
I like the new one.... I just can't get over that parking light that runs all the way up the hood/fender area. Terrible
I also looked at the Tucson which has pretty good value for what options you can get. Panoramic roof, keyless, power tail gate, heated seat etc. But why dafuq did they get rid of the 1.6T and put an NA 2.4 in there that gets worse MPG?
2019 Sonata is old gen from 2014 IIRC, in Hyundai/Kia speak that’s a lifetime ago. Meanwhile the 2019 Passat is the same as the 2011 with a new nose and tail. ?
Not sure on the ditching of the 1.6T but they’re about to release a 300-300HP 2.5T.
It’s supposed to be coming in an N-Spec version.
The Tucson probably ditched the turbo because the price delta between the Santa Fe 2.4 and the Tucson 2.4 is tiny. Most buyers will pick a bigger car with more tech over a smaller car with a faster engine.
IIRC it’s only $4-$5k gap.