Monday, June 24, 2019

The 2019 Hyundai Tucson Upgrades to a TOP SAFETY PICK+ Rating from IIHS


FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., June 24, 2019 – In one of the industry’s most stringent crash tests, the 2019 Hyundai Tucson has been upgraded from a 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK to a 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award applies to Tucsons equipped with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist and LED headlights built after March 2018.
Hyundai has 11 vehicles that have received the TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ Awards when equipped with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights. The other 2019 Hyundai models that have achieved these honors from the IIHS are Accent, Elantra (built after September 2018), Elantra GT, Ioniq Hybrid, Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid (built after July 2018), Kona, Santa Fe, Santa Fe XL, Sonata and Veloster (built after August 2018).
According to IIHS, models that earn TOP SAFETY PICK+ are the best vehicle choices for safety within their size categories. The 2019 criteria required:
    •   Good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests
    •   Advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention
    •   Good headlight rating
“We take safety very seriously at Hyundai. We are proud to hear that Tucson received an upgraded accolade from IIHS,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Hyundai continues to prioritize making advanced safety features available and standard.”
The new standard Hyundai SmartSense safety technologies (listed below) on the Tucson add additional protection for drivers and passengers. For example, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist utilizes radar to help detect another vehicle and warn the driver of a potential collision. If the driver does not react to avoid the impact, the system may apply emergency braking. Other standard safety features include High Beam Assist, Rain-sensing wipers, Surround View Monitor, and Smart Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go.
Hyundai SmartSense Safety Technologies: Now standard on all trim levels

    • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
    • Lane Keep Assist
    • Driver Attention Warning

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Hyundai Finishes as the Second-Highest Non-Premium Brand in J.D. Powers' 2019 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS)

    • Two Years in a Row Hyundai Ranks as the Second-Highest Non-Premium Brand
    • Retains Third Overall Position Among All Brands
    • Hyundai Owners Report Three Fewer Problems per 100 Vehicles than in 2018
    • Santa Fe Is the Top-Ranked Midsize SUV in Initial Quality

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., June 19, 2019
– New-vehicle quality across the entire Hyundai lineup resulted in the company being ranked as the second-highest non-premium brand in J.D. Power’s 2019 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) for the second consecutive year. Hyundai owners reported three fewer problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) than in 2018 as Hyundai also maintained its third overall ranking with a significant 12 PP100 fewer than the fourth place brand.
In the model segments, the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe received the midsize SUV award and was one of only three vehicles to win one of the 21 segments in its launch year. Hyundai’s entire lineup performed well with Tucson, Elantra, Accent and Veloster all finishing second in their respective segments, while Kona and Sonata each were third.
As a brand, Hyundai ranked first in two of the eight categories with the fewest reported ACEN (Audio, Communication, Entertainment, and Navigation) and seat problems. J.D. Power also classifies problems as either design or defect/malfunction and Hyundai finished with the lowest number of design related problems among non-premium brands.
“Hyundai owners and new car shoppers can have peace of mind in knowing that our new vehicle quality continues to be among the best in the industry,” said Barry Ratzlaff, vice president, Customer Satisfaction, Hyundai Motor America. “Our performance in the highly respected IQS study and our overall commitment to quality are a testament to the entire company’s dedication, including design, engineering, manufacturing, service, field teams and our dealer partners, to deliver the highest quality vehicles to our customers. We are proud to maintain our quality leadership and will not relent in our pursuit to constantly improve the quality of our vehicles.”
Hyundai’s strong showing in J.D. Power’s IQS follows its fifth place non-premium ranking in J.D. Power’s 2019 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), demonstrating its quality leadership over time. Santa Fe was also ranked highest in its class in the J.D. Power 2019 VDS.
J.D. Power measures initial quality by the number of problems owners experience per 100 vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership, with a lower score reflecting higher quality. Hyundai had 71 PP100, outpacing the industry average of 93 PP100.

In its 33rd year, the 2019 U.S. IQS is based on responses from 76,256 purchasers and lessees of new 2019 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study is based on a 233-question battery organized into eight vehicle categories designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate the identification of problems and drive product improvement. The study was fielded from February through May 2019 with rankable data compiled on 32 brands, 191 models and 142 assembly lines. For more information on the 2019 U.S. IQS, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2019-initial-quality-study-iqs.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Hyundai Kona Wins Best-In-Class Subcompact SUV from New England Motor Press Association


    •   Marks Second Year in a Row that Kona has won a Winter Vehicle Award from the New England Motor Press Association
    •   Kona is also the 2019 North American Utility of the Year®

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., June 12, 2019
– The Hyundai Kona was awarded Best-in-Class Subcompact SUV by the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA). This marks the second year in a row that Kona has been recognized by NEMPA in its Winter Vehicle Awards.
 
 
“Kona continues to rack up awards as a testament to its product excellence,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of Product, Corporate and Digital Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Kona sets the benchmark for its segment, with a 1.6L Turbo combining outstanding efficiency and robust power along with cutting-edge connectivity and class-leading available safety features.”
NEMPA members evaluated numerous vehicles during the winter months to determine which prove their ability and agility in some of the toughest driving conditions and in one of the most densely populated and geographically-distinct regions in America. Vehicles selected for the Winter Vehicle Awards offer a combination of winter-specific features and options plus the dynamic qualities that make for safe, enjoyable, and competent all-weather driving. The Kona was specifically called out for its confident handling and winter-friendly amenities by NEMPA members.

Kona continues to be recognized for all-around excellence by the industry. In 2019, Kona has been named North American Utility of the Year®, a Car and Driver 10Best Truck and SUV, Crossover of the Year by Texas Motor Press Association and Best Subcompact SUV for the Money by U.S. News & World Report.

Friday, June 07, 2019

Four Hyundai Vehicles Earn Performance Awards From Automotive Science Group


    • Kona, Ioniq Plug-In, Ioniq Hybrid, and Santa Fe Named Top Performance Picks

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., June 7, 2019 – The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in, Ioniq Hybrid, Santa Fe, and Kona all earned Performance Awards in their respective categories from Automotive Science Group (ASG). These awards come after an annual study done by Automotive Science Group that reviews a vehicle’s social, environmental, and economic performance.
According to Automotive Science Group, the following Hyundai models received awards in their respective classes.
The Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in took the full-size car segment by storm and received ASG’s Best All-Around Performance and Best Environmental Performance awards in class. The Ioniq Plug-in has the smallest carbon footprint in its class and of all 1,640 car, crossover, and SUV variants assessed in the study. The Ioniq Plug-in also landed a spot in the rankings of 434 large cars across classes, earning the Best 5 All-Around Performance honor. Best 5 models are distinguished among an elite group of five vehicles to achieve the highest combined social, environmental, and economic performance ratings.
The Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid also earned a spot in ASG’s Best 5 All-Around Performance awards. In addition, the Ioniq Hybrid continued to prevail in value and earned the Best Economic Performance award in class. The Ioniq Hybrid holds claim to the lowest cost of ownership when considering purchase and operating costs across the first 6.5 years.
The Hyundai Santa Fe was named a Best 5 All-Around Performance Award winner in its class, and rose to the top in an SUV segment that included 406 model variants.
The Hyundai Kona received Best Economic Performance of any model year 2019 mini crossover for the second consecutive year. ASG found the Kona to cost 27 percent less than its competitors in the first 6.5 years of its life-cycle as compared to the average vehicle in the mini-crossover segment for 2019.
“The recognition by Automotive Science Group, one of the most trusted data-driven names in the automotive industry, is a testament to Hyundai’s focus on quality and excellence in social, environmental, and economic performance,” said Scott Margason, director, product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “These four performance awards demonstrate Hyundai’s commitment to making vehicles that meet the unique needs of customers and deliver exceptional efficiency, quality, value, and technology.”

ASG’s all-around performance analysis is a comprehensive data-driven assessment, analyzing economic, environmental, and social performance indicators across a vehicle’s life-cycle, and in relative comparison to all vehicles assessed in ASG’s 2019 study. ASG uses its proprietary Automotive Performance Index™, which is a combination of conventional specifications, along with environmental, economic, and social performance indicators.

Monday, June 03, 2019

The 2019 Hyundai Veloster Receives a TOP SAFETY PICK Award from the IIHS


    •    Hyundai Has Earned a Total of 11 TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ Awards, the Most in the Industry

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., May 31, 2019
– In one of the industry’s most demanding vehicle crash tests, the redesigned 2019 Hyundai Veloster received a TOP SAFETY PICK award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK award applies to Velosters equipped with premium LED headlights built after August 2018.
With all 11 vehicles, Hyundai leads the industry with the most number of TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ Awards. The other 2019 Hyundai models which have achieved these honors from the IIHS are: Accent, Elantra, Elantra GT, Ioniq Hybrid, Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid, Kona, Santa Fe, Santa Fe XL, Sonata and Tucson.
The Veloster earned high ratings for both its standard and optional front crash prevention systems, both of which avoided collisions in IIHS track tests at 12 mph and 25 mph.
According to IIHS, models that earn TOP SAFETY PICK honors are the best vehicle choices for safety within their size categories. This award presented to the 2019 Veloster totals 11 Hyundai models that are rated TOP SAFETY PICK+ or TOP SAFETY PICK, the highest in the industry.
To qualify as a 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK, the vehicle must have good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. An acceptable or good rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test, an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention and an acceptable or good headlight rating are also necessary for a TOP SAFETY PICK.
“Safety is a top priority for Hyundai and its engineering team, and we are proud to hear that Veloster now joins the list of Hyundai models that have achieved this recognition from the IIHS,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “The Veloster is a prime example of a sleek and exhilarating vehicle to sit behind the wheel of, while still offering the advanced safety features available across our Hyundai lineup.”
The Veloster also earned an acceptable rating for the LED headlights that come standard on the Turbo, Turbo Ultimate and Turbo R-Spec trims of vehicles built after August 2018. 
Numerous advanced standard safety features are available on the Veloster, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), which uses the car’s front-facing camera to help detect an imminent collision and avoid impact or minimize damage by braking autonomously in some circumstances. Three additional systems also utilize the front-view camera to boost safety and convenience: Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), High Beam Assist (HBA) for the available LED headlights, and Driver Attention Warning (DAW).

All Velosters feature six airbags—including dual front, front seat-mounted side-impact, and front and rear side curtain airbags. The Veloster braking package includes four-wheel disc brakes and an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) including Brake Assist, which provides maximum braking force when a panic stop is detected, and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), to automatically adjust the braking force to front and rear axles based on vehicle loading conditions.