2012 Toyota Camry Earns Five-Star NHTSA Rating

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its first batch of 2012 model year ratings this month. Under the stricter guidelines, only three 2012 models — the Chevrolet Camaro, Cadillac CTS and Toyota Camry — have earned five-star composite scores from the safety agency. In fact, as we previously reported, the Camaro is the only vehicle to earn a perfect rating across the board since the new guidelines took effect for the 2011 model year.

NHTSA’s composite scores are composed of five-star ratings for frontal, rollover and a combined side pole and barrier tests. The side pole test, which is new, simulates a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.

The redesigned 2012 Camry earned a five-star overall rating, getting four stars in the frontal test, five stars in the side-crash test and four stars in the rollover test.

Movers and Losers: July 2011

Despite some pessimistic reporting earlier last month, July turned out to be a good recovery month for the auto industry. More than 1 million new vehicles were sold, and sales were up 4.7% from a year ago. Despite the rosy sales figures, the average time it took a model to sell increased slightly in July to 58.8 days from June's 58 days.

This month’s Movers and Losers list shows that many of the fastest-selling vehicles once again come from Hyundai. The 2012 Hyundai Elantra remained one of the fastest-selling volume vehicles in July, taking just six days to sell. You could say everything at Hyundai is a fast-seller: The 2012 Sonata and Tucson also took six days to sell. The new 2012 Hyundai Accent sedan (10 days) and hatchback (seven days) also sold like hotcakes. Overall, the Tucson, Accent, Sonata and Elantra represent roughly 80% of Hyundai’s sales for the month.

This month’s Losers list includes the addition of two hybrids — the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid (159 days) and 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid (150 days). The Toyota Yaris sedan (165 days) also merged on to the slow lane, though that model is due to be replaced.

Recall Alert: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai is recalling 7,829 Tucson crossover SUVs from the 2010 model year because the reflectors in the rear bumper do not meet federal safety standards, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, the rear reflectors may not reflect enough light. This could make the rear of the vehicle difficult to see, increasing the risk of a crash. The vehicles in the recall were built between Feb. 27 and April 17, 2010; you can find the build date of your car by looking at a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb.

The recall is expected to begin next month. Dealers will replace the rear reflector assemblies at no charge. For more info, owners can call Hyundai at 800-633-5151 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Hyundai's Holiday Deals Nothing to Write Home About

Hyundai has been one of the major success stories of 2010. Major product introductions such as the 2010 Tucson, 2011 Sonata and the recently unveiled 2011 Elantra have helped the automaker grow by 23% so far this year. But for consumers, Hyundai’s success means the automaker doesn’t have too many discounts to speak of.

Hyundai’s financing deals this holiday season are particularly dismal compared with its Japanese and American competitors. Typically, you’d see a few models with 0% financing, but the lowest from Hyundai is 0.9% for a 2010 Veracruz. Overall, most vehicles get financing deals ranging from 2.9% to 4.9% for 60 or 72 months.

Hyundai Announces November Incentives

Hyundai has been on a roll this year, with sales up 21.3% year-to-date. Because of its success, the company has said it would cut back on promotions, such as cash-back incentives. And for November, that seems to be the case.

Models like the 2011 Hyundai Accent, which has been on the market for five years, gets only a $500 cash-back incentive, compared with $2,500 cash back on the Chevrolet Aveo. The final model year of the current-generation Hyundai Elantra has $1,500 cash back, about the same amount that Honda is offering for its Civic. The popular-selling Hyundai Sonata has no cash back and a 2.9% financing deal for 60 months. Overall, the Korean automakers, which usually offer as generous of incentives as the profligate domestic automakers, are now pretty much in line with tightfisted Honda.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t deals to be had from Hyundai; it’s just that most offers are leasing promotions. The 2011 Sonata gets a $199-per-month leasing promotion for November, and so does the Elantra Touring.

Most of these incentives are good until Nov. 30. For detailed information, continue reading below.

2011 Hyundai Tucson Adds Base Trim

The 2011 Hyundai Tucson gets a new GL base trim level, with a smaller engine that reduces the starting price by $250 to $18,745 (last year’s GLS model started at $18,995), not including destination charges. Along with that, the existing GLS and Limited trims get significant content upgrades for 2011. 

The GL trim’s engine is a 165-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder that makes 146 pounds-feet of torque and is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The GL with the manual transmission is rated 20/27 mpg city/highway; the 2010 Tucson GLS with a six-speed manual and larger 2.4-liter engine is rated 22/30 mpg. The $1,000 optional six-speed automatic transmission improves the GL’s gas mileage to 23/31 mpg, which is now the best fuel economy rating for the Tucson. (More on that later.) 

Besides the downgraded performance and mileage, the GL has all the same accruements as the 2010 Tuscon GLS: air conditioning; power windows, locks and mirrors; electronic stability control; and 17-inch steel wheels. The GL is only available with front-wheel drive. 

2011 Kia Sportage Named IIHS Top Safety Pick

The 2011 Kia Sportage won the honor of Top Safety Pick in the small SUV category by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Since the Sportage is a twin of the 2010 Hyundai Tucson (also a Top Safety Pick), the Kia SUV wasn’t physically tested; instead, the same ratings from the Tuscon were applied to the Sportage, according to IIHS sources. 

To earn the award, a vehicle must receive the top rating of Good in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests. The vehicle also must have electronic stability control, which is standard on the Sportage. 

Earning the award became tougher this year when IIHS added the rollover crash test, which measures roof strength and is twice as stringent as the federal requirement. To pass this test, a vehicle’s roof must be able to withstand the force of four times the vehicle’s weight. The federal standard requires a roof to hold 1.5 times the vehicle’s weight. 

The Sportage and Tucson can withstand 4.43 times their weight. The Honda Element, Jeep Patriot, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen Tiguan are also 2010 Top Safety Picks in this segment. 

For more information about other IIHS Top Safety Picks, click here.

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

For the fourth week in a row, the week’s most-read reviews continue to be the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2011 Honda CR-Z. The 2011 Kia Sorento rejoins our top 10 list, bumping off the 2010 Honda CR-V for now. Check out all the popular reviews below. 

1.   2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee  
2.   2011 Honda CR-Z 
3.   2011 Ford Fiesta 
4.   2010 Subaru Forester 
5.   2010 Honda Civic 
6.   2010 Subaru Outback 
7.   2011 Hyundai Sonata 
8.   2010 Chevrolet Equinox 
9.   2011 Kia Sorento 
10. 2010 Hyundai Tucson

2011|Jeep|Grand Cherokee

2011|Ford|Fiesta

2010|Subaru|Forester

2010|Honda|Civic

2010|Subaru|Outback

2011|Hyundai|Sonata

2010|Chevrolet|Equinox

2011|Kia|Sorento

2010|Hyundai|Tucson

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

For the third week in a row, the week’s most read reviews continue to be the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2011 Honda CR-Z. Joining the list is the recently reviewed 2010 Honda Civic, bumping the 2011 Kia Sorento off of the list for now.

1. 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2. 2011 Honda CR-Z
3. 2011 Ford Fiesta
4. 2011 Hyundai Sonata
5. 2010 Honda Civic
6. 2010 Subaru Forester
7. 2010 Subaru Outback
8. 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
9. 2010 Honda CR-V
10. 2010 Hyundai Tucson

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

This week’s most read reviews continue to be Chrysler’s highly anticipated 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2011 Honda CR-Z. Also making the list is the 2010 Honda CR-V and 2010 Chevy Equinox; we say goodbye to the 2011 Buick Regal and 2011 Ford Mustang for now.

1. 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
2. 2011 Honda CR-Z 
3. 2011 Ford Fiesta 
4. 2011 Hyundai Sonata 
5. 2010 Subaru Forester 
6. 2010 Subaru Outback 
7. 2010 Honda CR-V 
8. 2010 Chevrolet Equinox 
9. 2011 Kia Sorento 
10. 2010 Hyundai Tucson