Hyundai

BMW diesel tops list of most efficient luxury cars

The No. 1 car on the list is the 2009 BMW 335d. Lots of reviewers like the new diesel not only because its gets great gas mileage with averages of 23 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway but it’s a performance diesel. Cars.com says of the 335d: “There are other luxury cars with higher fuel economy estimates, but the 335d represents the best combination of efficiency and driving enjoyment.” Here are the 2010 models and one 2009 model on Cars.com’s list of the top-10 luxury cars that average at least 25 mpg on the highway, plus a comment from the reviewers: AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance,

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Audi R8, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Volkswagen GTI among Market Watch cars of the year

Ron Amadon, an auto writer and morning news anchor on the MarketWatch Radio Network based in Washington, D.C., has just published his best-of-the-end-of-the-decade list. Details of how he selected his list aren’t provided, except the reviews are for the calendar year, not model year. Fun to drive is also a high priority. Best sports car: Audi R8. Simply the best Audi ever. Biggest surprise: Kia Soul, Nissan Cube. Auto styling goes cubist. Cars of the year: Hyundai Genesis Coupe and Volkswagen GTI. Best sedan: Hyundai Genesis. Smooth and solid at a good price. Best family value: Volvo XC60. Nowhere will you find a smoother, more refined ride. Best gas sipper: VW Jetta TDI. You will never know it is a

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Yaris, Touareg, Probe among Cars.com worst named cars

The author writes: “Below are 10 vehicles from the past 30 years with names so awful and awkward that we’re sometimes surprised consumers gave them a shot.” No. 8 on the list, for example, is the Toyota Yaris. The author details: “There was a girl in my dorm freshman year who organized her shoes alphabetically by mood. She majored in dead languages and responded to every single question with ‘no worries.’ She once set the dorm microwave on fire by overcooking a ham-and-cheese Hot Pocket. Yes, that story is ridiculous and nonsensical … sort of like naming a car Yaris.” AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars Here’s

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Popular Mechanics picks diverse group, Chevy Camaro to Kia Soul, Toyota Prius to Ford F150 for Automotive Excellence Awards

Performance: Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Design: Chevrolet Camaro Value: Kia Soul Fuel Efficiency: Toyota Prius Versatility: Subaru Outback Fun to Drive: Hyundai Genesis Coupe Off-Road Ability: Ford F-150 Raptor Technical Innovation: Lexus Remote Touch Luxury: BMW 335d Workhorse: Ford Transit Connect Each year, to determine the winners of the Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Awards, PM’s editors drive more than 100 of the newest cars, trucks and sport-utility vehicles, amassing more than 100,000 miles in the process. Through their experiences on extended test drives around the world, instrumented comparison tests and longer-term evaluations, the auto team nominates a list of vehicles in each category. Those selections are put to a vote and the top vote-getters in each category win an Automotive

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Hyundai unveils concept vehicle Nuvis at New York International Auto Show

Hyundai’s all-new, homegrown Hybrid Blue Drive architecture helps define the Nuvis concept. Hyundai‘s proprietary parallel hybrid drive system mates the already fuel-efficient 2.4-liter Theta II engine to a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 30kW (205 N-m) electric motor for maximum fuel economy. Hybrid Blue Drive has an all-electric mode and a parallel drive mode, meaning the wheels are turned by power coming directly from the gasoline engine, or the electric motor, or both together, as conditions demand. This parallel hybrid drive architecture will serve as the foundation for future Hyundai hybrid drive vehicles, starting with the next-generation Sonata in the United States. The Nuvis has an assertive face demonstrated by the strong, hourglass shape that frames the blue acrylic shield

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2008 Hyundai Veracruz: Weidel on Wheels

The 2008 Hyundai Veracruz falls short, but the South Korean manufacturer has set lofty goals and made significant progress in its attempt to compete with Toyota, Honda and even premium Lexus. That’s ambitious goal for a company that once produced cheap, unreliable economy cars that were the industry jokes. But those days are past; Hyundai now earns respect for nearly every vehicle it produces. Certainly it’s true with the Veracruz, a seven-passenger crossover SUV that receives high marks in practically every auto publication. There’s much to like about this well-equipped family vehicle. It combines solid looks, good performance, versatility, safety and a reasonably priced base model. Still, let’s not get carried away. Hyundai’s goal when the Veracruz debuted in 2007

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Hyundai Accent, 2008: Bill Belew’s Car Buzz

The Hyundai Accent is certainly affordable; the five-passenger SE compact hatchback I drove was priced at $15,370. The Accent is equipped with 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and 110 horsepower. Mileage estimates are 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway with the five-speed manual I drove. All models include standard front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Antilock brakes are standard on SE coupes. The Accent’s design is simple with a feeling of roominess from the driver’s seat but not for our young daughter or for my golf clubs. Visibility is good and the short hood allowed for a panoramic view. Though certainly not quick, the 2008 Hyundai Accent performed aptly. I thought of it as my

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The Weekly Driver On The Road: Small Roads, Big Sights On The Way To Monterey

One of my favorite car review testing routes is the estimated 200-mile drive from Sacramento to the Monterey Peninsula. I’ve mentioned the high-speed trek along the congested city stretches, open agricultural farmlands and rolling fields along Interstate 5 . And I’ve written about how in Gilroy, the road changes for a short stretch onto highway 101 and then onto two mall connecting 152 and 156 routes as the peninsula and Pacific Ocean appear on the horizon. Last week, I drove a 2008 Hyundai Veracruz along the route, and unlike some sport utility vehicles, the Hyundai had little difficulty accelerating or descending tight corners. I maneuvered along the technical sections almost carlike. And on two briefs occasions, I also drove the

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Consumer Reports Selects Most Overlooked Cars For 2008

But the Consumer Report list that impressed me recently is Consumer Reports list of Most Overlooked Cars. It’s a short list for 2008 — four vehicles. Tthe foursome includes a car and a manufacturer I’ve been touting for several years, Hyundai. Consumer Reports has a lot of nice things to says about Hyundai’s top-of-the-line sedan, the Azera. And it’s hard to disagree. Here’s the list of Consumer Reports’ most overlooked cars for 2008 and a brief comment on each vehicle: According the publication’s online site: “These models prove that a car doesn’t have to be a top seller or a top scorer to be a sensible choice and a good value. “All have performed well in our testing, and all

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Hyundai Earns Three Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Awards

For the first time, three Hyundai models have earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award. The Hyundai Veracruz and Santa Fe received awards in the midsize SUV segment and the Hyundai Entourage in the minivan segment. All winning vehicles are recognized for their ability to protect people in front, side and rear crashes. This marks the third straight the Entourage has received the highest honor — the IIHS Top Safety Pick award in the minivan category. All three vehicles also earned five-star crash test ratings, the highest government rating under NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program, for both frontal and side impact. Top Safety Pick awards recognize vehicles that do the best job of protecting people

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Hyundai Sonata, 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The television commercial touting the 2006 Hyundai Sonata matches it confidently against the Honda Accord. That’s a brash move, considering the immense popularity of the country’s best-selling midsize car. But after the driving the redesigned Hyundai for a week, the Sonata represents itself well. The Accord and other well-established vehicles in the class — Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Malibu — have long histories and well-proven resale values. Yet, the Sonata is worthy of a careful look, particularly considering its price point, manufacturer’s warranty, standard features and its attractive new interior and exterior designs. My weekly drive was the top-of-the line LX V6 model. The Sonata is also available in a 4-cylinder model with both automatic and manual transmission options. But

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Hyundai Azera, 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

As the replacement for the XG350, Hyundai introduced the Azera earlier this year as the Korean manufacturer’s most luxurious and most expensive offering to date. Luxurious and expensive have never been synonymous with Hyundai. And with the Azera only luxurious applies. It’s a vehicle that may finally allow Hyundai to infringe on sales of the popular Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. Even with the name change alone, the high-end Hyundai has a chance. The now-gone XG350 had its upside, but its name seemed more conducive to a robot or a vacuum cleaner, rather than a car. Although it’s hardly a household word, at least Hyundai Azera has a catchy sound. The car’s name, in fact, is based on

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Hyundai Accent, 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

With its new design for 2006, the Hyundai Accent is a formidable player in the compact class. It’s bigger, it has more power and it has additional safety features than its predecessor. Add Hyundai‘s industry-leading warranty and the new Accent is hard to beat as an entry level vehicle that when equipped with every available option costs less than $15,000. My weekly driver was the GLS 4-door model with a  four-speed automatic transmission. The Accent is also available with a five-speed manual transmission, and that’s good news for RVers since Hyundai has approved its flat-towing capabilities Both automatic and manual transmission Accents are equipped with 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engines that have been improved by six horsepower in 2006 to 110 horsepower.

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Hyundai XG350, 2004: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Introduced in September 2000, the Hyundai XG350 is the first vehicle offered by the Korean manufacturer that approaches the $25,000 price range. In each of its four editions, new features have been added as the vehicle attempts to find a niche among its the high-selling competitors — the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. My test vehicle for the week showcased the four-door XG350 at its best. While its primary competition is more popular for good reason, the top-of-the-line Hyundai has a good list of attractive features. Unfortunately, it also has a list of needed improvements. With a new exterior design, including restyled bumpers, headlights, taillights, and grille, the four-door sedan has a finished, if basic, style. Car manufacturers seemingly like

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Hyundai Accent, 2003: The Weekly Driver Car Review

A four-wheel drive sports utility vehicle, with plenty of cargo space and easy access would have been the logical choice. Instead, the three of us, all at least 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, made the drive in a 2003 3-door Hyundai Accent GL. Long-time running friends, we arrived at Pollock Pines, Calif., elevation 4,000 feet, after an hour’s trek on a cool summer morning along Interstate 50 from Sacramento. When we arrived from the flatlands, it was just after sunrise and the dirt parking lot for the recreational retreat was full of SUV’s. Nevertheless, the entry level offering from the South Korean manufacturer renowned for its 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty, had surprised us. As the driver, my front-seat was secure for the

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