June 11, 2010

Driving the 2011 Hyundai Sonata - AutoPacific President's Award Winner

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Does the 2011 Sonata Deserve the AutoPacific President's Award - Yes

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Driving the Sonata We just finished a week driving a 2011 Sonata Limited priced at about $28,500 fully loaded. Is the car as perfect as its early owners indicate? Yes, and no. The car looks great, but styling is very subjective. It looks different from other cars on the road. It turns heads. It is distinctive. While styling is rated almost perfect by its early buyers we wonder how it will resonate with more conservative buyers who are not risk taking early adopters.

The interior is very nicely appointed. The Sonata we drove has the wine colored interior package. It feels very upscale. Tasteful. Hyundai has done a excellent job on ergonomics. The controls fall easily to hand and are easy to understand. The fonts are mostly big enough. At night the controls and instrumentation are tastefully lit by ice blue lighting. Very nice.

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4-Door Coupe Styling Doesn't Hurt Practicality One of the things we value most highly when living with a car is how easy it is to get into and out of. We were concerned that the swoopy styling of the Sonata would hurt ingress/egress. It doesn't. The car is easy to get into and out of. The cabin is very spacious and the rear seat is comfortable even with its fast sloping roof.

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June 10, 2010

2011 Hyundai Sonata Wins AutoPacific President's Award

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We knew the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is a good new car, but we did not know how good. Luckily, the 2011 Sonata was launched early in 2010 during the time period AutoPacific's 2010 New Vehicle Satisfaction Survey was in the field. We were able to add the new Sonata to the 2010 survey to see how this newcomer would compare with 2010 model year competition. Nine-hundred seventy-five owners of the new Sonata responded to AutoPacific's survey on our VehicleVoice survey site.

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The results were astonishing. The Sonata scored the highest ratings ever in the 14 year history of AutoPacific's vehicle satisfaction research. As a 2011 model year car, the Sonata was not eligible for AutoPacific's 2010 Vehicle Satisfaction Award, but we felt it was only right to recognize the Sonata in some way. Hence, AutoPacific is awarding the 2011 Hyundai Sonata with its first-ever President's Award.

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June 9, 2010

Press Release: AUTOPACIFIC GIVES THE ALL-NEW SONATA A THOROUGH TEST AND FIRST-EVER PRESIDENT'S AWARD

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Hyundai_2010_Sonata_PA.jpgTUSTIN, Calif. (June 10, 2010) - AutoPacific today announced its President's Award for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. This first-ever honor is the result of a special analysis of Hyundai's all-new 2011 Sonata that adds consumer credibility to all of the positive accolades recently bestowed upon Hyundai's most important vehicle to date.

"With all we have seen and read about the 2011 Sonata, AutoPacific felt that it was necessary to put this vehicle to a unique test," said George Peterson, President of AutoPacific, which has researched driver satisfaction since 1997. "Over the years, we have seen several important vehicles come to market that have attempted to redefine their brands. They are often launched with a considerable amount of hype, but then fail to deliver a customer experience that truly satisfies."

With the same methodology that AutoPacific has utilized since it began satisfaction research, 975 drivers of the all-new 2011 Sonata rated their cars in 48 separate categories ranging from the basics of comfort and convenience, to performance and environmental friendliness.

"Quite frankly, we were blown away by the results," said Peterson. "The sheer magnitude of the 2011 Sonata's score made recognition necessary. With a score 775 out of 1,000, the Sonata exceeded everyone's expectations. The Sonata's unique styling was rated almost perfect and was a key driver to its overall superior performance in this research. Clearly, 2011 Hyundai Sonata drivers are extremely satisfied with their purchase."

But the story does not end there. According to Peterson, these results are extraordinary from an historical perspective as well. "No vehicle has achieved a score of 775 before in our satisfaction research. The Sonata's top score surpasses anything we have ever seen, including vehicles costing twice as much."

"Consumer response to the all-new 2011 Sonata shows the strong appeal of Hyundai's recipe of bold design, great quality, a segment-best 35 miles per gallon, and outstanding residual values," said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "This first-ever AutoPacific President's Award, recognizing the highest score on this survey that AutoPacific has ever seen, is an apt tribute to our California design team, our global engineering team and the 2,700 team members at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama for their fresh thinking and dedication in breaking the mold of the staid and boring mid-size car."

AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing and product-consulting firm. Every year AutoPacific publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies on the automotive industry. The firm also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide. Company headquarters are in Tustin, California, with an affiliate office in the Detroit area.

Additional information can be found on AutoPacific's websites: www.autopacific.com and www.vehiclevoice.com.

CONTACTS:
Dan Hall dan.hall@autopacific.com 714.838.4234 or 800.576.AUTO
Deborah Grieb deborah.grieb@autopacfic.com 734.446.6940
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June 3, 2010

Our Sonata Test Car Gets Mistaken For a Mercedes-Benz

Hyundai_2011_Sonata_flyer.jpgHyundai delivered a pearl white 2011 Sonata Limited to our office today for evaluation purposes. By now, you've seen the car's standout styling and maybe even asked yourself if YOU could see yourself driving a Hyundai. One thing's for sure, they have come a long, long way and their hits just seem to keep coming.

In any case, I took the car at lunch to run an errand at the store. Ten minutes later, I returned to the strikingly styled Hyundai to find this under the windshield wiper. Yes, you are reading that right: it's a flyer for a local Mercedes-Benz service and repair shop. I looked around for any Mercedes-Benz vehicles nearby, and there was only one - a black GL450 SUV. Indeed, that was the only other car in sight that also had that flyer on its windshield.

In other words, the new Hyundai Sonata got mistaken for a Mercedes-Benz (probably the CLS)...by a representative of a Mercedes-Benz repair shop! If that isn't ringing endorsement of the Sonata's new duds, I don't know what is.

One big difference between the Sonata and the CLS (other than many tens of thousands of dollars)...the Sonata actually has a big and spacious interior that you can easily get in and out of!


May 26, 2010

2010 Hyundai Tucson Wins AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Compact Crossover

Hyu_10_Tucson.jpgThe freshly revised 2010 Hyundai Tucson is a dramatic departure from its predecessor, with expressive styling and the latest technology, while remaining true to Hyundai's value proposition. Owners find this to be a very satisfying combination.

The Tucson is top rated (or tied for top rated) in a large number of attributes including: overall satisfaction, exterior size, exterior styling, power/acceleration, fuel economy, safety features and overall quality.

What a long way Hyundai has come! Well done.

For a complete list of winners and description of the Awards, click here.


May 23, 2010

2010 Hyundai Genesis Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Aspirational Luxury Car

testa.jpgIn the hotly contested Aspirational Luxury Car segment, the Hyundai Genesis is a repeat winner with especially favorable ratings for value for the money, warranty coverage and overall seating capacity. Braking, power/acceleration, exterior and interior styling and fun-to-drive are also high-scoring attributes. Congratulations to Hyundai on scoring best in class for a second year in a row.

Hyundai has come a long way!

For a complete list of winners and description of the Awards, click here.


May 20, 2010

Autopacific Announces 2010 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

AutoPacVSAlogo10.jpgNational Survey Reveals Cadillac as Top Premium Brand, Buick as Top Popular Brand, Ford Motor Company Has Most Awards with Seven, Suzuki Kizashi as Top Car and Lincoln MKT as Top Truck

TUSTIN, Calif. (May 20, 2010) -- AutoPacific today announced its 14th Annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) to help consumers make informed vehicle purchase decisions.

"While the auto industry is showing signs of improvement, more than ever before, manufacturers need to be able to differentiate themselves. Proof of satisfied customers is as good as gold," says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. "We've found that more than 25% of new car buyers are positively influenced by owner-based awards like the VSA when deciding on a new car or truck."

AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award is an industry benchmark for measuring how satisfied an owner is with his/her new car or light truck. This study by the Southern California-based automotive research firm summarizes the results of over 42,000 new vehicle owners.

"Vehicles that score highest in the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are delivering value and satisfaction across a wide range of attributes," says Peterson. "The winners perform well in 48 separate categories that objectively measure the ownership experience."

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March 2, 2010

First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Delivers

Sexy and Strong. And a Hyundai.
Hyundai has is developing its sense of style, seen in Genesis and followed up with the 2011 Sonata. This Sonata offers style inside and out, interior space and functionality, and entertaining driving dynamics. Easy on the pocketbook and easy on the eyes should be a killer combination.
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Hyundai calls this design philosophy fluidic sculpture. Aside from sounding a bit like a physics experiment, the result is an expressive sedan in a sea of sameness. Though the grille could be called over-complicated, the sculpture in bodysides and hood is refreshing, one of the youngest of automakers. The chrome strip that runs below the window line, over the front quarter panels, and all the way down to heavily detailed headlights is a particularly attractive--and difficult to manufacture--element. This Sonata looks more expensive than it is. Even better, this exterior is matched with an equally good-looking, feature-laden interior.
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The Sonata will offer four-cylinder power only, a brave choice. The 2.4L example we drove will be followed up by a turbo 2.0L and a hybrid by the end of the year. Details will be revealed at the 2010 New York auto show, but Hyundai has promised "substantially" more than 250HP from the turbo 2.0L.

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November 4, 2009

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia

It's not everyday you have the chance to visit a brand spanking new automotive assembly plant, but the new Kia plant in western Georgia (USA, not Eastern Europe) makes Kia latest "transplant" to build new vehicles in the States. Kia began producing the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento in small volumes in fall 2009, right on schedule. Full production begins in mid-November.

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Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) is a 300,000 unit capacity assembly plant situated along Interstate 85 in western Georgia adjacent to the Alabama border. Its location is about 85-miles east up the 85 from the Hyundai assembly plant in Montgomery, Alabama. Surrounding and between the plants are suppliers providing components not only to the Kia and Hyundai plants in the area but some also produce components for Honda, Mercedes, and Nissan plants in Alabama and Mississippi.

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August 11, 2009

2009 Hyundai Tucson: Motorist Choice Award Winner

Hyu_06_Tucson_2 copy.jpg"Hyundai's Tucson wins a Motorist Choice Award as a top Compact Crossover SUV. Hyundai has done well lately, in vehicle awards and, even more important, in vehicle sales. The award-winning Tucson gains points for product content in a very competitive segment and for financial responsibility in a tough financial environment." - AutoPacific

"The Tucson has low insurance and repair costs and was ranked first in the AutoPacific survey." - IntelliChoice

Owner Satisfaction Highlights
• Ease of Ingress/Egress
• Reliable/Dependable
• Driver's Seat Forward Visibility
• Feeling Safe While Driving
• Safety Features

Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
• Low Insurance Costs
• Low Repair costs


Motorist Choice Awards Reveal Vehicles That Please Both Hearts And Minds

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(August 11, 2009) -- Right brain, left brain; the practical versus the emotional -- an age-old dilemma often at the center of decision making when buying a new car or truck. The 2009 Motorist Choice Awards recognize new cars and trucks that give their owners both economic and emotional satisfaction, helping new-car buyers find vehicles that best satisfy all of their personal-transportation needs. The fourth annual Motorist Choice Awards survey, announced today, scores 196 cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs. With the top overall scores in both owner satisfaction and value, the Lexus LS placed highest of any 2009 model year vehicle.

Large and luxury vehicles dominated this year's results. The top 34 ranked cars, and 106 of the top 107, are large cars, luxury cars, sport utility vehicles, crossover SUVs or minivans. Only one small car, the BMW 1-Series, scored in the top 100, landing in the 35th slot. Toyota Prius is the next-highest-scoring small car, coming in 107th.

Awards are given for top-scoring vehicles scoring in each of twenty-three segments, as well as for the top-scoring brand. Nine manufacturers earned segment wins, led by Toyota with nine awards (including three for Lexus), followed by General Motors with six (Chevrolet 4, Cadillac 2), Honda with three, and Chrysler with two (Dodge 1, Jeep 1). Audi, Ford, Hyundai, Nissan and Volkswagen took top honors in one segment each.

(And check out our video on YouTube.)

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June 29, 2009

2009 Hyundai Genesis Wins AutoPacific 2009 Ideal Vehicle Award

2009_Hyundai_Genesis_IVA.jpgThe Hyundai Genesis wins AutoPacific's 2009 Ideal Vehicle Award in the Aspirational Luxury Car segment. In its first year on the market, the Hyundai Genesis swept AutoPacific's owner awards. "The most recent win by Genesis is of AutoPacific's Ideal Vehicle Award shows that Hyundai expertly targeted its owners when designing this luxury sedan," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific, Inc. "That Genesis won both Vehicle Satisfaction and Ideal Vehicle Awards is testament to the Hyundai product-development process and fine-tuning the marketing message to attract the right buyers to the car." Categories in which the Genesis excel include:
* Passenger room
* Cargo space
* Power and acceleration
* Ease of getting in and out


2009 Hyundai Elantra Wins AutoPacific 2009 Ideal Vehicle Award

Hyu_09_Elantra_IVA.jpg"The Hyundai Elantra wins AutoPacific's 2009 Ideal Vehicle Award. Being the Ideal Compact Car is tough to achieve. There are so many important qualities that it is difficult to score well in all of our rating categories, but the owners of the Hyundai Elantra rated their car above all others in the class," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific, Inc. "In a product segment where buyers are often not very passionate about their cars, Elantra owners feel strongly positive about their cars." Attributes for which the Elantra most strongly scored include:
* Exterior size and styling
* Handling
* Safety features
* Ingress/egress


June 17, 2009

Survey Indicates Ford Benefits From Troubles Of Others And Not Taking Bailout

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TUSTIN, Calif. (June 17, 2009) -- American consumers' opinions about Ford Motor Company have been positively influenced by the company's decision not to accept government bailout funds, and by the bankruptcy filings of rivals General Motors and Chrysler. Automotive research and analysis firm AutoPacfic conducted an online survey of more than 900 U.S. consumers regarding their purchase intent and opinions of individual car companies. Highlights include:

* Asian and European manufacturers scored highest when the survey asked "How concerned are you about buying/leasing a vehicle from" a particular maker, with an average of 61% "Not concerned at all." Ford scored 48%, far ahead of GM's 15% and Chrysler's 14%.

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June 9, 2009

2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring: Another Really Competent Hyundai

Hyundai_2009_ElantraTouring_rear34.JPGWanna know why the Elantra Touring looks absolutely nothing like the sedan that it shares its name with?

This wagon addition to the Elantra lineup was really sort of a last minute add to Hyundai's US product portfolio. You might recall that the previous Elantra was available as a SAAB-esque hatchback, and the one before that was available as a station wagon. However, because Hyundai's Korean management knew that Americans seemed to overwhelmingly prefer sedans over hatchbacks or wagons, they made the decision pretty early on to offer the current Elantra as a sedan only.

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May 21, 2009

2009 Hyundai Sonata Wins AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Premium Mid-Size Car

2009_HyundaiSonata.jpgEvolving through four generations and sporting a fresh facelift for the 2009 model year, the Hyundai Sonata won against extremely strong competition. Facing off against the segment-defining Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the Hyundai Sonata won owners over and pulled off a significant class win in the Premium Mid-Size Car segment. Attributes where the Sonata is the clear class leader include:

• Value from its reasonable operating costs, its solid warranty - 100,000 mile powertrain, and its affordable price and monthly payments
• Exterior size
• Interior storage/compartments
• Driver's seat forward and rearward visibility


May 20, 2009

2009 Hyundai Genesis Wins AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Aspirational Luxury Car

2009_Hyundai_Genesis_1.jpgGenesis won the 2009 North American Car of the Year Award, but the AutoPacific 2009 Vehicle Satisfaction Award is the first opportunity owners have had to weigh in on their satisfaction. After all, it is the people who choose the car for their driveway that count, right? With top ratings from where it counts, Genesis took home the win in the Aspirational Luxury Car segment. Owners thought about it, reported back and pushed their car beyond the competition.
• Genesis overachieves with affordable operating costs, good value for the money, and extraordinary warranty. All were rated as best in segment
• Quietness inside the Genesis along with controls that are easy to understand and use also beat out the competition


May 19, 2009

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe: No New Ideas, Just Flawless Execution

Hyundai_2010_GenesisCoupe_drift.JPGI approached the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with great interest. Yeah, sure, it's got all the things to make a car enthusiast swoon: great styling, rear wheel drive, and lots of power. But what made the car of particular interest to me was the fact that I had a small hand in the development of the car. I wanted to see how the finished product had turned out.

Yup, not that long ago I used to work for Hyundai as a product planning manager, and I watched the car's development as it progressed from simple sketches to computer generated 3D images to full-size clay models. I even got to drive early prototypes of the car over two years ago on Hyundai's test track in Namyang, Korea.

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AutoPacific Rising Star Winner - Hyundai

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Hyundai is the winner of the first Rising Star Award from AutoPacific. The Rising Star Award is given to the brand climbing the most positions in AutoPacific's Vehcile Satisfaction Award research. Hyundai climbed eleven positions year-to-year. This is testament to Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai dealers selling vehicles that satisfy their customers and good customer handling at the dealerships.

Hyundai had two category winning vehicles - the Hyundai Genesis won the Aspirational Luxury Car Category and the Sonata won the Premium Mid-Size Car Category.

Other Rising Stars were Infiniti climbing ten positions and Mercury climbing nine.


November 19, 2008

2008 LA Auto Show: Hyundai Blue Drive

Hyundai's focus at the 2009 LA Auto Show was all about green...er blue technology. Environmentally friendly technology has been a primary focus of the LA Auto Show over the last couple of seasons, and this year is no different. As Hyundai continues to gain mainstream acceptance amongst the US public, the company is striving to prove that it is no longer just a maker of inexpensive-yet-reliable vehicles, but at the forefront of the automotive game.

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July 10, 2008

Toyota Sienna and Hyundai Entourage Win AutoPacific 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award for Minivans

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The Toyota Sienna has been declared a 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award winner by owners in the Minivan category. Owners complemented Sienna’s exterior size, ride and handling. Also scoring top points for the Sienna were its V6 power (266hp), which made for swift acceleration, and an excellent ingress/egress.

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Owners in the Minivan segment have given the Hyundai top marks and the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award. Owners gave Entourage kudos for its safety features, which already had garnered the vehicle a five-star safety rating. Exterior styling and wheels and tires were noted as excellent, and Entourage also received high ratings for passenger room, seat firmness and interior lighting.


May 30, 2008

Hyundai Veracruz and GMC Acadia Win AutoPacific 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Award in the Large Crossover SUV Segment

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The Hyundai Veracruz was top-ranked in the Large Crossover SUV Segment in the 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. Scoring high for Safety Features and a Feeling of Safety While Driving, the Veracruz also did a good job of mixing style with substance. But for Veracruz owners, the Hyundai’s 100,000-mile warranty cemented the victory.
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The GMC Acadia was in the top rank in the Large Crossover SUV Segment of the 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, winning owners over with its Exterior Styling, Overall Seating Capacity and Safety. It also scored better in Overall Owner Satisfaction than its stablemate, the Saturn Outlook.

May 29, 2008

AutoPacific Announces 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

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Cadillac Top Brand, Mercedes-Benz S-Class Top Car, Toyota Sequoia Top Truck and Top Vehicle

Tustin, California, May 29, 2008 - A study released today by noted automotive consulting firm AutoPacific, Inc. summarizes the results of its 2008 model year vehicle satisfaction research. AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA) is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring how satisfied an owner is with their new passenger car or light truck.

In a year that promises to be the toughest in a decade, owner-based awards like AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award will help customers make their purchase decisions.

The brand with the highest satisfaction rating is Cadillac. The vehicle - car or truck - registering highest overall satisfaction in 2008 is the new-for-2008 Toyota Sequoia Large Sport Utility Vehicle. The passenger car with the highest overall satisfaction score is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

There are twenty-eight Vehicle Satisfaction Award categories. At the manufacturer level, multiple top ranked award winners include: General Motors (eleven categories), Toyota (nine categories), Ford (six categories), Volkswagen (four categories), Honda (three categories) and Hyundai (two categories).

"Cadillac wins the Vehicle Satisfaction Award as the top brand in a close race. Strong satisfaction performance by Cadillac cars and trucks has Cadillac winning over other leading luxury marques including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW says AutoPacific president George Peterson. "Top ranked finishes by Cadillac's Escalade, CTS and DTS helped cement their industry topping position."

Peterson continues, "Vehicles that are all new received top rankings in several categories: Cadillac CTS, Honda Accord, Mitsubishi Lancer, Scion xD, Toyota Sequoia, Audi Q7, Buick Enclave, Hyundai Veracruz, GMC Acadia, Saturn Vue and Nissan Rogue. These new-for-2008 vehicles were strongly rated by their owners showing that the industry continues to improve as new vehicles are added to the hotly contested American car and light truck markets."

From a vehicle type perspective, Traditional Sport Utility Vehicles received the highest ratings as a class closely followed by Crossover Sport Utility Vehicles. Peterson says, "Clearly, SUVs continue to be one of the most popular and satisfying vehicle types available in the USA today. Even with skyrocketing gas prices, SUVs are attractive and Crossover SUVs fill the bill for most SUV buyers with better fuel economy." Cars scored slightly below industry average followed by minivans and pickup trucks.

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April 30, 2008

2009 Hyundai Sonata: Refreshed from the Inside Out

Among our recent drives was an afternoon in the Chelsea-Ann Arbor, Michigan, area in a newly revised Hyundai Sonata. Reaching dealers as I write this, the 2009 Sonata doesn't change dramatically on the outside, but offers a more comfortable interior, revised suspension, and both more power and better fuel efficiency. All the right buttons are checked, but were they successful? Our first spin around the neighborhood leads us to say yes, though there are niggles to be found, too.

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The new Sonata gets a deeper grille and taller rectangular headlights, more chrome trim all around, and a very slightly revised lower rear fascia. The changes bring a VW Passat to mind, but these subtle changes make for a more grown up and refined Sonata. The taller, more vertical grille and headlights help the hood creases look less clumsy and make for a more imposing face. Changes to the rear are so subtle as to be irrelevant; there are new taillights, but the shape is the same.

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March 27, 2008

New York Auto Show 2008 - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

A New Coupe, A Year Away
Hyundai spent their New York auto show time introducing their new rear-drive sporty coupe, the Genesis Coupe. Related to the Genesis sedan on sale this summer, the coupe arrives in spring 2009.

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Genesis sits on Hyundai's first in-house rear-drive car platform. The stylish coupe tames down its looks from the concept introduced in Los Angeles in November 2007, but mostly in losing hood scoops and refining lights, front grille, and spoiler shapes. What Hyundai held back for introduction was that the powertrain lineup includes a turbocharged and intercooled 212HP 2.0L I4 as the base engine. The 3.8L V6 arrives as expected, but most figured the second powertrain would be the sedan's V8.

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