Hernan Oliveri
03/18/2021 19:15
Clarín.com
Cars
Updated 03/18/2021 19:15
After a very tough 2020 for the automotive sector, with considerable declines both in sales and in vehicle production and export, the 0 km market is regaining life after a first two-month period in which
national cars were the
protagonists
.
In January, for example, the five best-selling models were vehicles produced in the country, while in February the grid was only modified by the entry of the
Volkswagen Gol
to the top 5.
According to the Association of Automotive Dealers of the Argentine Republic (ACARA), in the first two months, patents grew by 9.9% compared to the same year in 2020. In total,
79,866 units were
sold
0 km
against 72,651 last year .
Fiat Cronos.
The best-selling model so far this year.
So far the number one selling model in the local market is the
Fiat Cronos
, which clearly prevailed over the
Toyota Hilux
, leader during 2020.
Ricardo Salomé, president of ACARA, commented that “the conformation of the current offer, and also of the demand, requires
more and more Argentine cars
, which also opens a great opportunity to go to a greater integration and boost of national production ”.
The rebound is also accompanied, on the one hand, thanks to a slow normalization in the supply of vehicles that allows to cut with the excessive surcharges of recent times;
and on the other, for the promotions and discounts offered by the brands every month.
The national vehicle map is extensive and, except for the compact SUV category, it encompasses the most competitive categories in our market.
Peugeot 208. The new generation has been manufactured in Palomar since mid-2020.
Compact
Due to its variety, it is the segment with the highest sales index.
Several of the protagonists are manufactured in our country, in two-body (5-door) and saloon (sedan) versions.
Fiat
.
The Italian brand produces the
Cronos
at its Ferreyra plant in Cordoba
, the sedan that was updated at the end of last year and is currently the best-selling model in Argentina.
Despite the redesign, and having added a new version (1.3 S-Design) to its range, the
Cronos
has the same gasoline engines as always: a 1.3-liter 99 horsepower, associated with a 5-speed manual gearbox;
and the 1.8-liter 130-horsepower that in addition to the manual option can be coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The
Cronos
is characterized by a complete level of equipment in all its versions and by having one of the largest trunks in its category, with a capacity of 525 liters.
The
Cronos
range
is made up of six versions, and their prices range from $ 1,564,600 (1.3 GSE Pack Connectivity) to $ 2,002,900 (1.8 Precision AT6).
Peugeot
.
In the middle of last year, the new generation of
208
was launched
, produced at the El Palomar plant under the new global CMP platform and an investment of 320 million dollars.
With a design practically the same as its European pair, Peugeot's best-selling model in the country (it ranks third in the general ranking) has a range of seven versions and two engine options.
The entry-level variant carries an 82-horsepower 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine, which is associated with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
For their part, the other six are equipped with the well-known 1.6-liter 115-horsepower that can be combined with a 5-horsepower manual or a 6-liter automatic.
Prices start from $ 1,584,200 (Like 1.2) and go up to $ 2,426,300 (Feline Tiptronic 1.6).
Renault Stepway.
He stopped belonging to the Sandero range to bear his own surname.
Renault
.
The diamond brand is the only one that offers more than one model in this category:
Sandero
,
Stepway
and
Logan
, all manufactured at the Santa Isabel plant in Cordoba since mid-2019.
The updates in the three models not only renewed their designs and improved their equipment, but also modified the structure of the
Sandero
range
, of which
Stepway
ceased to be a part to become a model.
Mechanically, the three models have a 1.6-liter 115-horsepower engine that can be coupled, depending on the version, to a 5-speed manual gearbox or to another CVT-type automatic.
The
Sandero
range
is made up of four versions, whose prices range between $ 1,431,800 (Life) and $ 1,755,400 (Intens CVT).
For its part, the Stepway offers three variants: Zen ($ 1,681,500), Intens ($ 1,828,400) and Intens CVT ($ 1,948,500).
The
Logan
, the only sedan that Renault sells in the country, has a range of four versions and prices ranging from $ 1,426,000 (Life) to $ 1,731,300 (Intens CVT).
In all cases, the only versions that have stability control are those with an automatic gearbox.
Citroën C4 Lounge.
The midsize sedan made at El Palomar was launched in 2013.
Medium
It is a category that knew how to have more Argentine references, such as the Ford Focus and the Renault Fluence.
It remains an attractive segment, although the advancement of compact SUVs took away sales volume.
According to the official price lists, the national offers are kept at the limit of the internal tax, although in many cases these values are higher when the dealers are visited.
Chevrolet
. The
Cruze
was the best-selling model in its segment in 2020, being for the moment the only national representative of the bow brand (soon the American automaker will add one more model, not yet confirmed, to its Alvear production line, Santa Fe province).
The
Cruze
was renewed in early 2021, and there are no longer any design differences between its variants.
All feature the efficient 153-horsepower 1.4-liter turbo engine that can be mated to a 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
Chevrolet Cruze.
The only medium with Wi-Fi on board.
It is produced in General Alvear, Santa Fe
Another novelty is that the range recovered the LTZ version for both the sedan and five-door variants.
As for the equipment, it is worth noting that it is the only vehicle in its category that offers native Wi-Fi from the factory (available in all versions).
On the other hand, all have six airbags and stability control.
Prices for the 5-door variants start at $ 2,249,900 (LT) and reach $ 2,586,900 (Premier), while the sedans, from $ 2,214,900 to $ 2,586,900 (Premier).
Citroën
.
The double chevron brand offers the now classic
C4 Lounge
sedan
, manufactured in El Palomar.
Together with the
Peugeot 408 they
are the only two vehicles in the segment that have diesel variants.
The model has three versions, three different engines and two boxes (manual and 6 automatic).
There are two petrol variants, a 115-horsepower 1.6 and a 165-horsepower 1.6 turbo (THP), while the turbodiesel carries the efficient 115-horsepower 1.6 (HDi).
Prices: $ 2,068,400 (Live) and $ 2,426,500 (Feel Pack HDi and Shine AT6 THP).
Peugeot 408. One of the oldest models in its segment.
Peugeot
.
The other French brand of the Stellantis group continues to manufacture in its El Palomar plant the first generation of the
308
and
408
, two models that, although they are benchmarks, have been outdated with respect to the competition and their European peers.
For example, the third generation of the 308 will be launched in the coming months on the Old Continent.
The
308
and the
408
are one of the few models on the local market that offer diesel engines (1.6 Hdi 115 hp).
The hatchback, in addition, adds two gasoline engines (1.6 115 hp and 1.6 turbo 165 hp);
all associated with a 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
The
308
range
has four versions, with prices ranging between $ 2,148,600 and $ 2,426,300.
For its part, the
408
has two variants: Allure HDi ($ 2,283,800) and Feline HDi ($ 2,426,300).
Ford Ranger.
It is manufactured in Pacheco.
The production of the new generation is already confirmed Photo: Rafael Mario Quinteros
Medium pickups
The star segment of the national automotive industry has three models among the 10 best-selling vehicles on the market.
Ford.
The American brand manufactures the
Ranger
at the Pacheco plant since 1996. And it will continue to do so, because at the end of 2020 an investment of 580 million dollars was confirmed to produce the new generation from 2023.
Currently, the range is made up of 16 versions (of which 13 are double cab), which can be equipped with three engine options: a 166 hp 2.5-liter Duratec petrol, associated with a 5-speed manual gearbox;
and two Puma 2.2-liter 160 hp and 3.2-liter 200 hp turbodiesel, coupled to 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
Prices start from $ 2,390,000 (2.5 XL 4x2 Single Cab) and go up to $ 4,925,000 (Limited 3.2 4x4 Double Cab).
Nissan Frontier.
One of the many models manufactured at the Santa Isabel plant in Cordoba.
Nissan
. After an investment of 600 million dollars in the plant in Santa Isabel, Córdoba, the Japanese brand began manufacturing the
Frontier
in mid-2018.
Nissan currently offers
bonuses of up to $ 300,000
in the range of this truck that has 11 double cab versions, two diesel engines, a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed automatic, and simple and all-wheel drive systems.
The smallest engine is a 2.3-liter turbodiesel that delivers 160 horsepower, while the most powerful is a 2.3-liter bi-turbo diesel that develops 190 horsepower.
Taking into account the discounts offered during March, the range has values that range between $ 2,792,700 (S 4x2 manual) and $ 4,693,500 (LE 4x4 automatic).
Renault Alaskan.
The first medium pickup of the French brand.
Share the mechanics of the Nissan Frontier.
Renault
.
With the
Alaskan
, launched in late 2020, the diamond brand entered the mid-size pickup segment for the first time in its history.
Manufactured in Santa Isabel, this truck shares all the mechanical components with the
Nissan Frontier
, from which it differs by small aesthetic details.
The range consists of eight versions, whose prices range from $ 2,971,600 (Comfort 4x2 MT) to $ 5,202,200 (Iconic 4x4 AT).
Toyota
.
The
Hilux
needs no introduction.
It is a true phenomenon, because in addition to being the undisputed leader in its segment for more than a decade, it has been the best-selling vehicle of the last three years.
Toyota Hilux.
The best-selling vehicle of the last 3 years.
In November 2020, the model manufactured in Zárate, Buenos Aires, received aesthetic and mechanical updates, among which a more powerful engine, improved suspensions and greater safety equipment stand out.
The engine scheme is made up of a 2.4-liter 150 hp and a 2.8-liter that now has 204 hp.
The transmissions, meanwhile, can be manual or 6-speed automatic.
Regarding its range, the latest innovation is that the cab chassis version was incorporated and now there are 19 variants available, with prices starting from $ 2,398,500 (DX 2.4 MT Cabin Chassis) and reaching up to $ 5,149,700 (GR- S).
On the other hand, within the 4x4 category, the Japanese brand has another great reference: the
SW4
, also manufactured in Zárate, and with the same mechanics as the Hilux.
The range consists of three versions, all with all-wheel drive and two with a seven-seat configuration.
Prices: from $ 5,212,000 to $ 5,532,000
Amarok V6.
The most powerful Argentine pickup.
Volkswagen
.
The
Amarok
is the second best-selling pickup on the market and one of the models that are within the top 5 of vehicles with the most patents.
Manufactured in General Pacheco, the model became a milestone for being the first midsize pickup in the history of the brand.
The range has three turbodiesel engines: 2.0 with 140 hp, which is combined with a six-speed manual gearbox;
2.0 of 180 hp and 3.0 V6 of 258 hp, associated with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
It is worth noting that the Volkswagen
Amarok V6
is the most powerful national truck on the market.
The range presents 13 versions, with values that start from $ 2,784,782 (Trendline 4x2 140 CV) and go up to $ 5,626,592 (Black Stye V6 AT).
Citroën Berlingo Multispace.
It has been manufactured in Argentina since the 90s.
Multipurpose utilities
While pickups are too, this space is dedicated to vans and passenger versions.
Citroën
.
The brand continues to manufacture the Van, Mixed Van and Multispace (family) versions of the
Berlingo
in Palomar
, whose production in the country began in the 90s.
This model was subjected to several restyling during its long life, although always on the first generation.
In Europe, on the other hand, it is already going through its third generation.
The range consists of two Van versions (from $ 1,497,800) and two Mixed Van (from $ 1,694,500), equipped with the 115-horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline engine and the 92-horsepower 1.6-liter HDi turbodiesel.
In turn, the two variants of the Multispace XTR ($ 2,276,500) carry the 92-hp turbodiesel.
Peugeot Partner.
Van and passenger transport versions (Patagónica)
Peugeot
.
It offers the
Partner
, which shares the platform and engines with the
Citroën Berlingo
.
The version map is also similar: variants for passengers (Patagónica) and work (Van).
The Patagónica range has three versions (from $ 2,119,400) while the Van has four (from $ 1,497,800).
Renault
.
The new generation of
Kangoo
was launched in 2018 and is manufactured in Santa Isabel.
Both the option for work (Express) and the family improved their interior level, grew in dimensions and incorporated electronic stability control.
Made on a new platform, the
Kangoo
also modified its mechanics, incorporating a 1.6-liter 114 hp gasoline engine and a 1.5-liter 89 hp turbodiesel that are coupled with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The prices of the Express versions range between $ 1,737,800 and $ 2,025,300, while those of passengers, between $ 2,062,500 and $ 2,298,300.
Mercedes-Benz Argentina exports the new generation of Sprinter to many markets, including the United States
Mercedes-Benz
.
Since 1996, the German brand has manufactured the Sprinter in its industrial complex in Gonzalez Catán, a model that in 2019 entered its third generation.
The range consisting of the Van, Mixed Van, Combi, and Chassis versions are equipped with the 2.1-liter bi-turbo diesel engine that delivers 114 and 163 horsepower, and is linked to a 6-speed manual gearbox.