Hyundai Getz owners may be in for a bit of a surprise, if contrasting news is to be believed. Sources at Kia World report that a concept car called the i20 is set to replace the Hyundai Getz by July of next year. While the report doesn’t identify which particular global markets will initially phase out the Hyundai Getz, the comments section indicates that Europe may be tiring of the Hyundai Getz and competition is becoming so fierce that a new variant every few years is almost necessary to remain relevant and in competition.

Personally, I think the Asia-Pacific region is still ripe for total Hyundai Getz domination. Aside from increasing sales in Asian regions like the Philippines and India, there are signs that show Hyundai still feels that its Getz has a few solid years  before phaseout. For me, one sign is that Hyundai Getz producers in India have launched a powerful Hyundai Getz diesel variant. The Getz Prime, an increasingly popular car in India, will be available in a 1.5 diesel engine that is both quiet and powerful. (Damn it! I want that!)

Why invest precious research and marketing resources in launching an important variant (i.e., diesel version) if you’re phasing your car model out a few months from now? Certainly, models with gas/diesel variants can make or break the difference, especially in budget-conscious Asian countries. (For instance, Ford Philippines is now phasing out its gasoline 1.6 Focus in favor of its 1.8 model, which I’ve heard is now in the works for a diesel version as well.)

IMHO, the Hyundai Getz is still a strong car that hasn’t reached critical momentum in the Philippines. It’s only been three years, and the Getz is a solid performer in the small car class, holding its own against the Honda Jazz, the Suzuki Alto, and  its main rival and sister company’s offering, the Kia Picanto. The Hyundai Getz Club is starting to build up its numbers. Hyundai would be out of its mind to phase out the Hyundai Getz in the Asia-Pacific region at this time.