Hyundai

2019 Hyundai Veloster: odd compact hatchback gets it right

The 2019 Hyundai Veloster marks the sports-oriented compact’s second-generation debut, and it remains a one-of-a-kind hatchback. A sharper-edged new exterior design is immediately appealing. But the symmetrical configuration is still a signature feature, with one longer driver’s side door and two shorter front and rear passenger doors. The three-door scheme is not available on any other vehicle. Key Takeaways Still the only three-door hatchback on the market: One long driver’s door, two shorter passenger doors, and a hatch remain the Veloster’s signature configuration. No other vehicle copies the asymmetric layout. 201-hp 1.6-liter turbo in the Turbo Ultimate: Paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and paddle shifters, the top trim carries Normal, Sport, and Smart drive modes with real differences in

Read more

2018 Kia Stinger debuts as strong rival for Audi, BMW

Years after Hyundai and Kia emerged from automotive doldrums to offer stylish, top-rated, economic and performance-oriented vehicles, non-believers still quibble. A standard refrain is that South Korean manufacturers don’t offer prestige. The argument isn’t valid, particularly with the introduction of the 2018 Kia Stinger. It joins a strong lineup from both manufacturers (Hyundai owns about one-third of Kia) challenging long-time standard bearers. The new, speedy and handsome sedan provides another strong example of how the once upstart underdog is a severe competitor to rivals like the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi A5, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. In its initial year, the Stinger is available in five-tRIM evels. The top-line GT has rattled the parameters of what might be expected from

Read more
,

Industry fuel cell expert clears the air on hydrogen

Nineteen months ago, Chris White did something no one else in Northern California had done. She leased a new car that operates only on hydrogen. Honda, Toyota and Hyundai are manufacturers offering hydrogen-only vehicles. Mercedes-Benz and GM also have plans for hydrogen-only vehicles, the emissions of which are water. The 2017 and 2018 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell are available for lease only in only 12 dealerships in California. Five locales are in the San Francisco Bay Area, one is in Roseville. The long-time Communications Director of the California Fuel Cell Partnership in West Sacramento, White also lives in West Sacramento. But she often travels to San Ramon on business and Truckee to visit relatives. Hydrogen stations are located in both

Read more

2018 Hyundai G90 sedan offers luxury, value price

Particularly in upscale vehicles, loyalty is a thing. If you’re an Audi, BMW, Lexus or Mercedes-Benz owner, chances are you’re a repeat customer or you will be. The Hyundai G90 doesn’t have the pedigree of its competitors, but it’s making a strong effort to change buyers’ habits. Two years ago, Genesis joined (Lexus) Toyota, Infiniti (Nissan) and Acura (Honda) as a stand-alone brand emerging from its founding family. Genesis was formerly part of the Hyundai lineup and it was positioned on the price plateau one notch below the top-line Equus. The latter is gone; the former is finding its with an expanding presence and well-deserved praise. As the brand’s flagship, the Hyundai G90 is a five-passenger sedan available with a new

Read more

2018 Hyundai Sonata challenges Toyota, Honda sedans

Thirty years ago, a few years after the Hyundai Sonata debuted in South Korea, the midsize sedan arrived in the United States. Honda and Toyota were already well established; the newcomer had little chance of success. The 2018 Sonata, with interior and exterior makeovers, is still trailing Japanese manufacturers’ favorites, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. But the Sonata is far removed from its early tenure reputation as a cheap sedan alternative best avoided. Except for the SUV segment, the midsize, five-seater is deep into the mix of the industry’s fiercest competition. The Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima and Kia Optima also have much to offer, so how does a buyer make a choice? Honda and Toyota have stellar

Read more

2018 Kia Niro joins Hyundai Ioniq to challenge Prius

Once upon a time, car categories were simple — sedans, convertibles, station wagons, vans and pick-up trucks. Vehicles had concise, practical names often referencing ferocious or fast animals. But ambiguity now reigns. Consider the 2018 Kia Niro and its close relative, the Hyundai Ioniq. The former, introduced two years ago, is designated as a subcompact crossover hybrid SUV, but it more resembles a hatchback. It doesn’t offer all-wheel drive or extra ground clearance, customary SUV characteristics. Key Takeaways Niro PHEV new for 2018 with 26-mile electric range: The plug-in hybrid variant adds to the existing hybrid lineup, recharging in under three hours with portable equipment stored in a backpack-style case. Federal and California tax credits trim sticker meaningfully: $4,543 federal

Read more

Episode 31, Hyundai Ioniq, Pacific Coast Dream Machines

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:09 — 41.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe 2018 Hyundai Ioniq is the first “green car” that can infiltrate the dominance of the Toyota Prius. The Ioniq is available in three modes — a traditional hybrid, full-electric and plug-in hybrid. The entry-level Ioniq plug-in hybrid Blue Line model is rated at 57 miles per gallon in city driving, 59 miles per gallon for highway treks. Its rating is several miles per gallon higher than the best mileage in the Prius lineup. In electric mode, the Ioniq has a 27-mile range. The efficient little machine can travel nearly 700 miles using gas only. Bruce Aldrich and I discuss the Ioniq in Episode

Read more

2018 Hyundai Ioniq: Serious challenger for Toyota Prius

Since the debut of the Toyota Prius in 2000 as the first mass-marketed hybrid in the United States, several manufacturers have tried to infiltrate the odd-looking green car leader’s dominance. All have failed. Now, there’s a legitimate contender, the Hyundai Ioniq. The unusual name is the combination of the words ion and unique, and the vehicle’s title works. The Ioniq’s specs outdo the Prius numbers in multiple categories. Key Takeaways First car offered in three electrified flavors: Ioniq Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, and full Electric — something not even Toyota’s Prius lineup matches in a single nameplate. 58 combined mpg tops the Prius: The Ioniq Blue is rated 57 city / 59 highway mpg, a few miles per gallon better than

Read more

Genesis cruises past Audi, tops Consumer Reports’ best car list

Genesis, the newcomer luxury brand from Hyundai, has accelerated past Audi and is now top-rated by Consumer Reports in its annual ranking of automotive brands. Audi was ranked No. 2, followed by BMW, Lexus and Porsche in the top 5. The remainder of the top 10 in order: Subaru, Kia, Tesla, Honda and Toyota. The magazine’s annual report card ranks brands based on road and safety tests, owner satisfaction and reliability. Lexus stood out in the rankings more for its reliability and standard advanced safety features than its road test scores, which often have trailed rivals. The magazine reported every Audi model tested, which totaled eight in the latest survey period, and every Genesis tested, just two models, are all

Read more

2018 Hyundai Elantra GT: Watch out Honda, Volkswagen

Compact hatchbacks often deserve more credit. They’re positioned in an unglamorous car segment, but they’re difficult to beat considering their combination of durability, economy, performance, space and style. New for 2018, the Hyundai Elantra GT expands the South Korean manufacturer’s lineup to further compete with hatchback stalwarts like the Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza and Volkswagen Golf. The standard Elantra sedan includes a four-cylinder 147-horsepower engine. There’s also a four-cycling turbo-charged option with 128 horsepower. The GT, my test vehicle, adds further variety with 2.0-liter, 161 horsepower configuration matched to the same four-cylinder engine. The sport model has 201 horsepower. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard and a six-speed manual transmission is also available. The Hyundai Elantra

Read more

2018 Genesis G80: second-year upscale sedan shines

Now in the second spinoff year from Hyundai as its own luxury brand, the Genesis has quickly built its reputation as a worthy challenger in the upscale market. Style, craftsmanship and image mean a lot in the high-end segment. Value isn’t often a priority. Welcome the Genesis. The G80 and flagship G90 are currently available only at Hyundai dealerships. But four other models and a dealership network are planned by 2021. The Southern Korean manufacturer isn’t giving away its vehicles, but value gets equal billing with other luxury car expectations. Updates for 2018 models further exemplify the brand’s new clout. Full LED headlamps, front and rear styling, a revised instrument panel and updated technology are all new. The Weekly Driver

Read more

Potential engine failure prompts Hyundai, Kia recall

Hyundai and Kia, the related and increasingly popular South Korean carmakers, have stalled for the second time in two years with the recall of 1.4 million cars and SUVs in the United States and Canada because of potential engine failure. The issue, according to documents released by the U.S. National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, is caused by debris left in the manufacturing process that can restrict oil flow to connecting rod bearings. The restriction can increase temperatures can result increased wear and fail and engine stalling. Owners of vehicles with the issue will hear a knocking sound from the engine and may see a dashboard warning light. The recall including 2013 and 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUV and

Read more

BMW, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz: good riddance O’Reilly

Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Hyundai and Allstate Insurance Co., major long-time advertisers from the automotive industry, have removed their advertising campaigns from the controversial Fox political show “The O’Reilly Factor.” The abrupt reaction, which also includes several additional advertisers from various industries, has occurred over several days after the New York Times reported Fox and show host Bill O’Reilly paid five women to settle claims he sexually harassed them. According to a Reuters report, French pharmaceutical company Sanofi SA, direct marketer Constant Contact, men’s clothing company Untuckit, as well as T. Rowe Price are also no longer advertising on the show. “In light of the disturbing allegations, we instructed our media buyer this morning to reallocate our ad dollars to other shows

Read more

2017 Hyundai Veloster: sporty look, lackluster ride

The Hyundai Veloster was introduced seven years ago as the South Korean manufacturer’s first coupe. A year later, a turbo-changed edition debuted. The 2017 edition is the continuation of the first generation of the odd-looking compact with sporty ambitions. A modernized version of the Hyundai Tiburon (discontinued in 2008), the Veloster has an asymmetrical door configuration. There’s a large door on the driver’s side and two smaller doors on the passenger’s side. The rear passenger door opens with a high-positioned, flush handle that’s easy to miss but convenient to use. Key Takeaways Final year of the first-generation Veloster: Hyundai’s asymmetric three-door hatch has been on sale since 2011, a modernized successor to the Tiburon that was discontinued in 2008. 201-hp

Read more

2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric greenest of green cars

The unheralded Hyundai Ioniq, the new midsize sedan with the unusual name, has the smallest environmental footprint among 2017 vehicles, according to American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The 20th annual environmental ratings, available on greenercars.org, is a comprehensive list of the year’s Greenest, Meanest, Greener Choices, and best-in-class vehicles. “Anyone buying a new car now has plenty of options for making an environmentally smart decision,” said Eric Junga, Transportation Research Analyst at ACEEE. “Whether you are looking to purchase the greenest car available, or the greenest vehicle for your needs such as a minivan, or simply stay away from the bottom of the list, greenercars.org can help you.” The following vehicles comprise the Greenest List for 2017. Each car is given a

Read more

2017 Genesis G90: A new luxury sedan star is born

Like other manufacturers initiated years ago, Hyundai now has a new luxury spinoff brand. It’s the 2017 Genesis G90. Gone are the Hyundai Genesis and the Hyundai Equus in favor of the Genesis lineup, currently the G90 and G80. The 2017 Genesis joins Toyota (Lexus), Nissan (Infiniti) and Honda (Acura) with its upscale Hyundai relative, a sedan ready for a tough gig. It’s entering a car segment where brand loyalty is difficult to shatter, particularly when the competition includes Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Available with a twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 with 365 horsepower or a 5.0 liter V8 with 420 horsepower, the Genesis is a fully loaded upscale luxury sedan. Both options are available with rear-wheel

Read more
Previous Next