As consumers face rising vehicle prices and interest rates in 2016, products with extensive after-sales backup are more in demand than ever before. Hyundai’s new warranty shouldthereforebe very appealing.

When Hyundai introduced a 5-years/150000 km manufacturer’s warranty at the end of 2007, it added another crucial element to a product package that was starting to become seriously attractive to consumers. No wonder, then, that so many other car makers had to react.

Brands such as Nissan (6-years/150 000 km) and, more recently, Honda (5-years/200 000 km) have entered the fray with aggressively extended warranty offerings, but now Hyundai has upped the ante once again, to 7-years/200 000 km.

"We are proud to be a leader once again in the South Africa automotive industry with a manufacturer's warranty that really bears testimony of the trust that we place in our products. Our cars' quality and reliability have established excellent resale values over the years, and many thousands of Hyundai customers and drivers can vouch for the peace of mind that our products bring to the consumer," says Stanley Anderson, marketing director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.

The Korean brands in particular are, of course, under more pressure than most of their rivals, especially those that manufacture vehicles locally, not just due to the Rand's weak exchange rate, but because their products are increasingly competing in higher market segments. This was certainly a consideration in the decision to up the warranty.

The new, extended warranty will cover a wide array of engine and transmission components of any Hyundai passenger car and light commercial vehicle sold by Hyundai Automotive SA as of 1 February 2016.

Hyundai says that, in the engine, items such as the timing chain, cylinder block, head gasket, cylinder head and crank case, to name a few, are covered by the extended warranty. The turbocharger, water pump, flywheel and engine mountings also fall under the warranty, while the pressure plate and the torque converter are also covered in the manual and automatic gearboxes.

Several other components in the transmission – front wheel drive as well as all-wheel drive – are also covered by the warranty, including the transfer case, universal joint, prop shaft, axle shafts, constant velocity joints and front and rear differentials. Front and rear hub bearings are also on the list of parts that enjoy the warranty cover.

All Hyundai passengers vehicles, from the entry-model, the i10, to the range-topping Santa Fe SUV and the 9-seater H-1 Bus, are covered by the new 7-years/200 000km warranty. The light commercial vehicles enjoying the new warranty cover are the H-1 Panel Van and H-1 Multicab, as well as the popular H100, also known as the "Bakkie".