Hyundai Accessory Store’s Deal of the Week

Hyundai OEM All Weather Mats

SAVE $10.00 – use coupon code”DOTW22″

Floor mats are something you probably don’t think about very often. But if you consider the cost of replacement carpet for your car, floor mats suddenly become a fantastic value. Floor mats are required equipment when it comes to protecting your investment, especially if you live in an area that sees lots of winter weather. These rubber mats are made out of natural heavy-duty rubber and have molded channels designed to trap water, road salt, mud and sand. Made of pliable natural rubber, these mats won’t curl or harden in sub-zero weather. Molded for a exact fit.

Can not be combined with any other offer. Limit one coupon per order. Offer expires October 29, 2013 11:59pm (EDT).

The Sonata Hybrid has been on the move this year with improved fuel economy and design tweaks, but is it enough in the crowded segment to make a difference?

Hyundai hopes so, and has invested in a more powerful and lighter lithium polymer battery that boosts output by nearly 40 percent while taking up less trunk space.

The Korean company says polymer was chosen because its lifespan exceeds the industry 10 year/100,000 norm and, as such, offers an exclusive lifetime battery warranty.

Like other gasoline-powered sedans that have added a hybrid, the Sonata has been a success in its sixth generation in the U.S. after its debut overseas in 1985. It takes aim at the more efficient Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry hybrids.

Along with its 270-volt battery, the Sonata is equipped with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder Atkinson cycle hybrid engine that together produce up to 199 horsepower to propel its six-speed automatic transmission.

The interior is roomy, nearly upscale and is available in a well-equipped trim level with lots of standard features you would likely pay extra for, including push-button start, Bluetooth technology, dual zone climate control and satellite radio.

Sonata hybrids are available as a Base model for around $25,000 and Limited for $30,000. The test car I drove for a week was the latter model, additionally equipped with a $1,000 panoramic sunroof that opens to the heavens for all five passenger seats.

For the extra dollars, the Limited adds leather seats, larger wheels, navigation, 7-inch touch screen, rearview camera and an upgraded Infinity audio package with nine speakers.

Seating is comfortable but could use some extra bolster support for front seats and seatbacks where padding is a little thin. The dashboard layout is modern with just the right amount of graphic gauges and easy access buttons to keep tabs on what’s going on inside the cabin and under the hood.

The Sonata hybrid is in its third year of production and engineers have been working on improving fuel efficiency measures each year. EPA tests show a combined 37 miles per gallon, with 36 and 40 miles per gallon in city and highway, respectively.

I found the Sonata does its best on the open road, cruising at legal speed along freeways. My pampered test kept the sedan at 65 miles per hour. Engine noise was minimal and, once up to speed, the car’s EV dash light monitor, detecting full electric drive, lit up more frequently, making me feel even greener than the illumination.

To be fair, there were a few passing maneuvers but no aggressive pedal movement along gently rolling landscape. Following 100 miles, a fill up showed highway fuel economy at 34 mpg.

Around town, with frequent stop and go driving, the Sonata automatically switched drive mode from electric to gasoline while moving from stop lights and through traffic.

The resulting lag in power at acceleration left me waiting in center lanes instead of turning left into oncoming traffic from a distance. The power switching back and forth from electric to gas resulted in a not so good city rating of 26 miles per gallon, although other drivers might achieve better results.

Overall, the Sonata offers a good value for the money and leads the industry with a lengthy warranty to protect consumers long after the sale.

March sales are the second best month in history
Elantra sets all-time record, up 33 percent

COSTA MESA, Calif., April 2, 2013 — Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 68,306 units, down just two percent versus the best volume month Hyundai ever recorded last year, and up more than 30 percent over February levels. The first quarter of 2013 was the best in Hyundai’s history.

“March felt just great,” said Dave Zuchowski, executive vice president of national sales. “We definitely benefitted from better inventories of Elantra thanks to the addition of the third shift at our Alabama plant, improved weather conditions in our important Northern markets and more robust retail activity reflecting a steady recovery in consumer confidence. Elantra led the pack with an all-time monthly sales record of 26,153 units, up 33 percent year-over-year. Sonata Hybrid also set a new all-time sales record with 2,006 sales, up 13 percent versus last year.”

Fleet mix was 17 percent for the month and stands at 16 percent for the year, among the lowest in the industry.

“This March was an incredibly strong month for us, the second best sales month in our history, just two percent below our all-time record from last March,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “While our plants continue to stretch to hit our demand levels, we still have one of the tightest inventory levels in the industry. This month, you could see the impact of improved Elantra availability, but our dealers remain constrained on Sonata, which continues as one of the fastest turning mid-size cars in the industry.”

According to data from Cars.com, the traditional five highest volume mid-size sedans (Accord, Camry, Altima, Fusion, and Malibu) have 72 percent more dealer stock than Sonata.

Sales in March of Certified Pre-Owned vehicles totaled 6,715, up eight percent for the first quarter. More than 80 percent of Hyundai’s dealers are now participating in the CPO program, which has been a key component in driving Hyundai residual values to record high levels. Hyundai Elantra, Azera, and Santa Fe Sport are all ALG Residual Value award winners for the 2013 model year.

SALES-WEIGHTED FUEL ECONOMY

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 820 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. On May 16, 2013, Hyundai Assurance will be expanded to include Assurance Connected Care for all Blue Link equipped vehicles. Assurance Connected Care provides Hyundai owners with proactive safety and car care services made possible by the Hyundai Blue Link telematics platform standard for three years. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle service scheduling.