Hyundai Genesis

Korea is the new Japan (think Samsung and Sony.) The Hyundai Genesis sedan is the new Lexus LS460. For $43,800, tops, you have an immaculately appointed sedan with a huge back seat and all the technology you'd want: navigation, real time traffic, iPod adapter, backup camera, rear sunshade, HD Radio, satellite radio, hard disk drive, and now active cruise control.

It's compared more often to a Chrysler 300 than to a Lexus, sadly for Hyundai's sense of self-worth. Let's be clear: Nothing else from across the Pacific or Atlantic comes within $25,000 of the Genesis sedan when you factor in cockpit space. (The Ford Taurus has even more technology available but the Genesis is more Lexus-like in its appointments.)

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai needed a more-competitive small crossover-utility vehicle to get U.S. buyers to pay attention in a market segment dominated by Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4 — the three best-selling SUVs of any kind.

So the South Korean car company chose a design from its Frankfurt unit and made sure it would accommodate every gadget typical of bigger, fancier machines.
But it did not bother to make room for a V-6. Those are passé at Hyundai these days, and a four-cylinder should be quite enough, thank you.

A variety of preproduction 2010 Tucsons tested around here seemed more refined, more comfortable and more agile than those key competitors.

If you need a third-row seat, though, RAV4 is the only one. Or if you crave a hybrid, help yourself to an Escape. Tote lots of stuff? Tucson's cargo space is some 40% shy of main rivals'.

But if your only hesitation is the thought of snide remarks from outdated others who still think of Hyundai as a second-tier brand, grow up and make your own choice. The naysayers will be on board soon enough.

Perhaps it'll be when they notice the much-longer Hyundai warranty (60,000 miles overall, 100,000 miles powertrain). Or the all-wheel drive (AWD) that lets you lock it into true four-wheel-drive mode (50% of power to each end). And how about fuel-economy ratings 5% to 10% (1 to 3 mpg) better than those of key rivals?

As if trying to dispel the "cheap car" myth, Hyundai picked this hoity-toity locale to present Tucson to journalists. Bit of a reach, the Beverly Hills connection, but the remade Tucson is pretty slick.

Hyundai unveils new Sonata

2011 Hyundai Sonata.

’s new 2011 Sonata, available next month, makes a strong design statement, with sweeping lines and complementary cues across the exterior. It’s an example, the company said, of its new “fluidic sculpture” approach to design.

In a conversation with Andre Hudson, design manager at Hyundai in Irvine, Calif., and the individual responsible for the car’s exterior, he explained that his prime motivation was to create a car with an “aggressive stance.”

To do so, he sculpted a sharp line from the trunk to beyond the A-pillar, that angles downward as it approaches the hood. The line is mimicked higher up near the lower window frame, with a deeply cut parallel wedge.

Mr. Hudson said that he didn’t have to compromise on the look due to production cost considerations. “This is pretty much the way the initial design study looked,” he said.

One compromise: the door handles, which are placed along the statement line and did not seem sufficiently recessed. “We needed to extend them out so that fingernails wouldn’t get clipped and the paint wouldn’t get scratched,” Mr. Hudson said.

The new Sonata follows the look of contemporary sedans, with a sloping roofline meant to mimic the style of coupes. To avoid the inevitable sense of claustrophobia that would result for rear seat passengers with this sharply cut roof, Mr. Hudson extended the roofline, adding a third opera window beyond the C pillar.

2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6

Hyundai Genesis is beginning to pile on the miles and many of the car’s original critics have mellowed towards it, recognizing that it’s a luxurious and spacious long-distance cruiser that’s also a good value.

This past summer, the Genesis made the 6000-mile round-trip trek from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Monterey, California, for the annual vintage-car jamboree that takes place on the peninsula. On the way, our travelers, a family of four, decided to spend a couple of days camping in the Black Hills area of South Dakota. This short diversion necessitated adding a tent, sleeping bags, air mattresses, and various camping materiel to the assorted luggage needed for a week’s vacation. Oh, plus a couple of coolers with food and drinks. By the time that lot was jammed in the trunk, there was an overflow of various toys and trinkets that the two young passengers deemed necessary for survival on the road. The commodious back seat looked a little cramped once backpacks, blankets, a Hot Wheels collection, and half a library shared the space with a couple of kids.

Still, there was little whining about the lack of space. (There was plenty about the amount of time spent in the car, but is that really surprising?) The availability of an in-car DVD system would have been nice. Instead, a newly bought power inverter enabled laptop movie viewing, which seemed to keep the youth content for hours at a time.

But there was nearly a disaster after leaving Madison, Wisconsin, en route to California. The stereo completely quit. No amount of playing around with the settings could cause the speakers to produce sound, so we called some Hyundai PR representatives, who eventually talked us through the process of rebooting the system. Apparently, the audio system can get stuck in Bluetooth mode, which is precisely what had happened. The problem occurred again later, but was looked at by the dealer in that case.

Other than that, the car acquitted itself well. It was quiet, easily ran 350 miles between fuel stops (which was generally longer than our passengers could), and was very stable at speed. At times in the middle of nowhere we ran in triple-digit territory, and the Genesis tracked straight and true. Even on the odd occasions when we ran through twisty roads, it was pleasing to drive, although the body control isn’t up there with that of a BMW 5-series. While the ride quality is lumpy in Michigan, we discovered that once you’ve escaped the frost-heaved roads of the Midwest, it is acceptable: The one carsick-prone child never felt ill, even when he had his head buried in a book.

Back home, the Genesis returned to the dealership for a routine service and oil change at 23K miles ($113), as well as a follow-up visit in October to have its winter rubber installed and to have the aforementioned radio issue examined ($11).

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE AS TESTED: $42,050 (base price: $38,050)

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 282 cu in, 4627cc
Power (SAE net): 375 bhp @ 6500 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 333 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manumatic shifting

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 115.6 in Length: 195.9 in Width: 74.4 in Height: 58.3 in Curb weight: 4119 lb

PERFORMANCE: NEW
Zero to 60 mph: 5.3 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 12.7 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 22.5 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 5.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.8 sec @ 104 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 154 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 164 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.84 g
EPA fuel economy, city/highway driving: 17/25 mpg
C/D-observed fuel economy: 21 mpg
Unscheduled oil additions: 0.5 qt
*Stability-control-inhibited.

Just in Time, a Higher-Mileage Tucson

You bet — and not a moment too soon, as the current Tucson made its debut in 2005 and frankly, is looking its age. Hints of what the redesigned Tucson would look like were first seen in September on the ix35 (the vehicle’s new name in Europe) at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

What they said: “The all-new Tucson is the first Hyundai C.U.V. to be designed and engineered in Europe at Hyundai’s Frankfurt-based design and technical centers,” the company said, using the abbreviation for a crossover utility vehicle.

What they didn’t say: The Tucson has classed up the joint — the small utility segment — with a jolt of European flare.

What makes it tick? The Tucson has come back fighting after losing the last round of the m.p.g. wars against its peers. It now delivers 23 city/31 highway. As with the 2011 Sonota, also introduced this week, there is no longer a V-6, having been replaced by a 176-horsepower 2.4-liter Theta II four-cylinder. That change, coupled with new unibody construction, a lightweight Hyundai-developed 6-speed automatic transmission and electric power steering, has lightened the Tucson’s load by 61 pounds.

How much, how soon? The base Tucson will be less than $20,000 and on sale later this month.

How’s it look? Gone is the bland boxy look, replaced by Hyundai’s catchphrase of the show, “fluidic sculpture.” That sounds like an unfortunate medical condition, but we’re hoping in this case there is no cure.

Hyundai unveils redesigned Tucson at LA Auto Show

Hyundai Motor Co. unveiled its sleek, redesigned Tucson at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Thursday as it seeks a bigger share of the crossover market.

"The time is right in the crossover segment," said John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "Small crossovers are attracting sophisticated drivers who put a premium on design and flexibility."

Designed and engineered in Europe, the 2010 Tucson has a more curvy shape than its boxy predecessors. The new car is 61 pounds lighter yet 3 inches longer, providing a roomier cabin and 24 percent better fuel economy than the previous model.

The latest Tucson gets 31 miles per gallon on the highway while the 2009 version gets 25 mpg, according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates.

It also boasts Downhill Brake Control, Hillstart Assist Control to minimize rolling backward on steep ascents, a panoramic sunroof and an "Eco Indicator" to help drivers improve fuel efficiency. High-end options include a navigation system, rearview camera, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, steering wheel controls and XM satellite radio.

The new car will come equipped with six-speed automatic or manual transmissions, and only four-cylinder engines will be offered.

Hyundai said it be available in showrooms later this month at a cost of "under $20,000."

The company posted a 46 percent sales growth last month and has gained market share all year even though total U.S. auto sales have dropped 24 percent.

Priced: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

2010 Hyundai Tucson Picture

Hyundai goes straight at the Honda CR-V with pricing for the redesigned 2010 Hyundai Tucson.
Hyundai has carefully priced its redesigned 2010 Tucson to slot in well below its chief competitor, the 2010 Honda CR-V. The redesigned 2010 Hyundai Tucson starts at $19,790, including a $795 destination charge, for the base GLS model with a 176-horsepower 2.4-liter inline-4 engine and a six-speed manual transmission.

The base 2010 Honda CR-V LX, which was freshened for the new model year, starts at $22,255, including a $710 destination charge. The base CR-V is equipped with a 180-hp 2.4-liter inline-4 engine and a five-speed automatic transmission.

Another key competitor to the Tucson, the 2010 Toyota RAV4, starts at $22,300, including an $800 destination charge. The base RAV4 has the 179-hp 2.5-liter inline-4 linked to a four-speed automatic transmission.

The 2009 Hyundai Tucson starts at $18,820, including a $750 destination charge. It is equipped with a 140-hp 2.0-liter inline-4 linked to a five-speed manual transmission.

Several option packages are offered on the 2010 Tucson. They include a $2,850 Premium package that bundles a panoramic sunroof, a navigation system, a rearview camera, and a premium audio system. A $1,700 Popular equipment package includes such items as a telescopic steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and cruise control.

Standard equipment on the 2010 Tucson GLS includes six airbags with rollover sensor, antilock brakes, downhill brake control and electronic stability control.

The top-of-the-line 2010 Tucson Limited with Premium package and all-wheel drive starts at $29,490, including destination. The redesigned Tucson's warranty coverage includes five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper protection, 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and seven-year/unlimited-mileage anti-perforation coverage.