2011 Hyundai Sonata Packing Power, Mileage

The four-cylinder engine powering Hyundai’s upcoming 2011 Sonata sedan will get an expected 35 mpg highway, the automaker announced. This bests any other midsize sedan on sale today; its closest competitor is the Ford Fusion, which in its S trim level can get 34 mpg highway with an automatic transmission. However, the Sonata will also pack 200 horsepower and 186 pounds-feet of torque, which will make it the most powerful four-cylinder in the class, as well.

The engine is the company’s first use of direct injection, and it will be teamed to a continuously variable automatic transmission. It was designed in Michigan and will be built in Alabama. The 2011 Sonata goes on sale in the first half of 2010.

Victim of Terrible Parking Job Gets New Hyundai

If you haven’t seen the YouTube video of a BMW X5 playing monster truck rally with a parked Hyundai Elantra, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

As crushing as that incident was for Elantra owner Todd Jamison (pun definitely intended), he ended up getting a new car out of the deal. Hyundai Canada officials saw the footage and thought it would be good PR to hand Jamison the keys to a brand-new 2010 Elantra. The company and its digital media agency, Mighty, delivered it to him at work — on the day he was supposed to shop for a new car.

This goes to show that getting creamed by an idiot in an X5 in your local gym’s parking lot has its upside.

Hyundai Canada Gives “Worst Parking Job Ever” Victim New Car (AutoNorth via Jalopnik)

Consumer Reports' Top 10 Automakers

Today, Consumer Reports released the results of its annual car reliability survey, which includes more than 1.4 million vehicles. This is one of the most important publications of the year for consumers interested in a car’s reliability. There were few surprises in terms of which makes are most and least reliable, with Scion maintaining the top spot. Porsche, Saab, Suzuki and Pontiac saw the biggest gains while Lincoln and Mini took the biggest hits. Check out Consumer Reports full report if you’re a subscriber. We list the top 10 most and least reliable automakers below.

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Hyundai Accent

The 2009 Hyundai Accent manages to slip in its most basic trim for less than $10,000; toss in good fuel economy, and you’re looking at quite a bargain. How does it hold up against other economically minded cars from the likes of Honda and Toyota? Cars.com reviewer David Thomas says it does pretty well. To find out why the Accent might be a good fit for your basic transportation needs, read his full review.

2009 Hyundai Accent Review

2009|Hyundai|Accent

2011 Hyundai Equus: First Drive

Introduced at the New York auto show last spring, the 2011 Hyundai Equus goes on sale next summer. It's Hyundai’s shoot-for-the-moon attempt to match luxury cruisers like the Lexus LS and Mercedes S-Class for thousands of dollars less. We nabbed some seat time in a Korean-market car last week near our Chicago offices. The early take is that the Equus needs some polishing, but there is potential.

2011 Hyundai Equus Video

Kelsey Mays gets an up close look, and drive, of Hyundai’s new flagship car the Equus. While an upscale Hyundai isn’t remarkable in many places around the globe, it’s still unknown whether American car shoppers would even consider something from Hyundai with a $50,000 or more price tag. The company released the relatively upscale Genesis sedan last year to wide acclaim — including Cars.com’s New Car of the Year Award — but its sales have been tepid.

Mays gives his best to determine if the Equus will repeat its kin’s fate in this video. 

Hyundai Announces Pricing for 2010 Accent Lineup

The 2010 Hyundai Accent Blue Edition’s price will start under $10,000. The rest of the lineup moves up from there, but the Accent Blue offers an impressive value with an MSRP of $9,970, not including a $720 destination charge. It replaces the 2009 base model, which was also $9,970.

By using a combination of fuel-saving techniques, including low-rolling-resistance tires, lower friction engine components, a smart alternator management system and aerodynamic improvements, the Blue achieves 27/36 mpg city/highway for a combined EPA rating of 31 mpg.

The top-of-line SE three-door with a four-speed automatic transmission is priced as high as $16,995. All models receive a standard USB port for connecting an iPod to the stereo. For a full pricing breakdown, check after the jump. The prices do not include the destination fee.

2010 Hyundai Elantra Blue Priced at $14,145

Hyundai has announced pricing for the Elantra Blue; the fuel-efficient sedan will start below all of its competition at $14,145 (not including a $720 destination fee).

It’s priced below the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Ford Focus, which all cost more than $15,000. Of course, the Elantra Blue doesn’t include features like air conditioning or a stereo. A convenience package with air conditioning and other basic amenities costs $1,700. When comparably equipped, the Elantra still costs in less than the Civic but slightly more than the Corolla. However, the all-new Kia Forte — the Elantra’s corporate cousin — starts at $13,695 and is based on a future Elantra platform. It also comes sans air conditioning.

The EPA has rated the Elantra Blue with a manual transmission at 26/35 mpg city/highway — a 2 mpg bump from 2009 — thanks to some clever engineering that includes a “smart” alternator management system, lower friction engine parts, engine calibration changes, revised gear ratios and a shift indicator. Only the Cobalt XFE with a manual transmission gets better mileage; the Corolla and Focus tie the Elantra Blue at 35 mpg on the highway.

To get a four-speed automatic transmission, buyers have to move up to the GLS trim level, which starts at $16,895 and gets 26/33 mpg.

The Blue trim will also be available for the lower-priced Accent, but there’s no word yet on pricing for that vehicle.

2010|Hyundai|Elantra

2011 Hyundai Sonata: First Look

Hyundai unveiled the completely redesigned Sonata midsize sedan in Korea earlier this week. It’s a very different look than the current car. We’ve noticed a recent trend in car design that favors oversized grilles with multiple slats on them.

The car won’t go on sale in the U.S. until next year as a 2011 model. It will be built in Alabama, and the U.S. version will come standard with a direct-injected, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. A likely V-6-equipped top trim level hasn’t been announced.

Hyundai didn’t reveal specs for the 2.4-liter, but the company says it will come with standard stability control and an electronic parking brake.

A few more images are below.

Hyundai, Kia Incentives Still Substantial After Cash for Clunkers

Hyundai and Kia both set records in terms of sales last month thanks to the federal government’s Cash for Clunkers program. In addition to the program, the two companies also had healthy incentives of their own on most models. That trend continues throughout September with most models getting at least $1,000 in cash-back offers. Hyundai is no longer offering its $1.49 gallon of gas promotion.

Some noticeable offers are $2,500 in cash back off the 2009 Kia Optima and $3,000 in cash back on the 2009 Hyundai Sonata. Kia is also offering $500 in loyalty and conquest cash for specific models.

All-new models like the Kia Forte and Kia Soul have 0% financing for 36 months but not cash back.

A full list of incentives is below.