Hyundai Considers i30 Hatch for U.S.; May Drop Entourage Minivan

With the i30 wagon already due in the U.S. as the Elantra Touring, Hyundai Motor America might bring the global C-car's hatchback variant as well.

John Krafcik, vice president-product development and strategic planning, tells Ward's the decision depends on how well the U.S. 5-door compact segment takes hold.

“We'll watch (General Motor Corp.'s) Saturn and see how they do with the Astra,” he says on the sidelines of the Chicago auto show.

“I hope (hatchbacks) succeed, because I just think they're terrific. And there's this whole interesting subset now with the Astra 5-door, Elantra Touring and Mazda3, which is really the standard setter — it's a great car.”

If HMA does bring the i30 5-door to the U.S., it will be sold as an Elantra variant, joining the 4-door sedan, and not as a separate nameplate.

The Elantra Touring will go on sale in the U.S. late this year or early next year, HMA says.

Krafcik suggests the sudden proliferation of hatchbacks is one reason for the drop in minivans sales, and even Hyundai's Entourage may have limited shelf life. The model's sales volume is small compared with its Kia Sedona sibling and segment-leading Honda Odyssey.

Hyundai from the beginning was uncertain about adding the Entourage to its lineup, canceling and then reinstating the vehicle in its product plans.

The Entourage “seemed right at the time,” Krafick says of the minivan, which went on sale in 2006, noting the final decision was spurred on by climbing gas prices.