Hyundai Getz stability control

HYUNDAI Motor Co Australia is leading the industry by offering stability control as part of an optional safety pack for its Getz light car.

Priced at $1290 and dubbed ‘Getz Protectz’, the pack also includes traction control and side airbags, although the latter precludes the fitment of anti-whiplash front-seat head restraints, which are otherwise fitted standard.

The ‘Getz Protectz’ package means that stability control is now available in a new car for as little as $15,780.

Previously, the only other sub-$20,000 vehicle to offer it was the low-volume$19,000 Smart ForTwo two-seat hatchback.

"Once the many parents who buy the Getz for their kids realise how little it costs to add stability control, traction control and side airbags, we thinkthat they will jump at the chance to better protect their children," said HMCA sales and marketing manager, Theo Van Doore.

A spokesperson added that HMCA was "aiming to spread it (safety items like stability control) throughout the range" as they became more affordable.

Hyundai claims the package is part of its "affordable safety" campaign, which saw the inclusion of anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution in the $14,490 Getz 1.6 from October last year.

Since then Toyota has followed suit by offering ABS/EBD in its competing Yaris range. But the Japanese company, along with Ford Australia, has come under fire for not offering stability control when it can.

Last year, road safety expert, the European NCAP chairman and director of traffic safety for the Swedish Road Administration, Professor Claes Tingvall, said it was unacceptable that the Yaris and Ford Focus small car lacked stability control availability here when it was fitted as standard in many other countries.

GoAuto reported last week that Australian road safety groups had joined overseas authorities in calling for the mandatory adoption of electronic stability control on all new cars in an effort to reduce the road toll.

European studies have shown an accident reduction of up to 35 per cent on vehicles fitted with stability control.

Hyundai acknowledged this week that people do want the life-saving safety device but were not prepared to cop an increase in the recommended retail price, but it is hoping to educate buyers anyway by pushing dealers to include the package.

It expects take-up, at around five per cent, to be slow at first.

To this end it will also distribute a video to dealers highlighting the benefits of stability control.

In other Getz news, Hyundai is adding a sports-themed SXi model variant to the range.

It has red seat and cabin trim inserts, soft aluminium finishes, foglights, 15-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and a luggage net for a $2000 premium over the Getz 1.6.

Hyundai wants to lure more young buyers to the brand, especially males. Currently women aged 55+ make up the Getz’s largest buyer profile.

Undercutting the Ford Fiesta Zetec by around $2000, the Getz SXi retails from $16,490 for the manual and $18,380 for the auto.

The company expects it to make up at least 10 per cent of all Getz sales.