2013 Hyundai Sante Fe Sport Named One of Ward's 10 Best Interiors

The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport follows the path of the 2012 Hyundai Accent and 2012 Hyundai Azera by being named to Ward's 10 Best Interiors List

WardsAuto has been comparing and studying 46 different vehicles with new or significantly redesigned interiors since February, selecting the 10 winners from that pile. There is no price cap for the vehicles; editors pay attention to fit-and-finish, making sure that seams are straight and match the armrests and instrument panels. They also climb around the entire interior, judging the comfort, space and style of the entire vehicle, rather than just the front. The judges also look at "driver information"; they connect their smartphones to the infotainment systems to experiment and see how well they perform.

"The all-new Santa Fe Sport offers buyers a comfortable, functional and modern-looking interior," said Christopher Chapman, chief designer, Hyundai Design North America. "Designed with families in mind, the interior features quality materials, intuitive controls and a spacious layout for the diverse needs of today's active families."

Love it too? Check out our online selection of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport here!


All information, quote and image via Hyundai

Hyundai to Offer New Customers Enhanced SiriusXM Radio

Hyundai offers an enhanced SiriusXM Radio all-access subscription for three months

Beginning this month, buying a new Hyundai also means getting three months of enhanced SiriusXM Radio; including their All Access package that includes SiriusXM NFL Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, exclusive programming and more. Hyundai owners with the All Access package also enjoy SiriusXM Internet Radio throughout the same three-month period. The Internet Radio can be accessed from outside the vehicle as well; on an iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Android smartphones, as well as from other connected devices at www.siriusxm.com.

"Hyundai's offer of an enhanced SiriusXM subscription is a great benefit to new Hyundai owners, offering a variety of premium content as well as convenient access to SiriusXM Internet Radio," said Hyundai Vice President of Corporate and Product Planning Mike O'Brien in the Hyundai press release.


All information via Hyundai, image 1 via AOL Autos, image 2 via SiriusXM

Hyundai Creates Flying Car Concept

Hyundai shows off their flying car concept at the annual IDEA festival

At this year's IDEA festival Hyundai showed off many crazy concept cars, but the one that stands out the most to me is their flying one. It's remote controlled and has four electronically-driven propellers. The single-passenger concept can either hover over traffic or else use its pair of wheels.

Check out the rest of the cool concepts here! And if you're really just into the current stuff (we understand), take a look at our new Hyundai inventory here.

All information and image via Fox News

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Wins Best New Crossover Award

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe was awarded "Best New Crossover" at the 2013 Atlanta International Auto Show

Chosen for its "handsome new design, luxurious interior, impressive technologies, accessible pricing and the flexibility for 5- and 7-passenger configurations," the 2013 Santa Fe gives you a 290 horsepower 3.3 liter V6 engine, Hyundai's 10-year-100,000-mile warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance, all for just $28,350.

The Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA) awards taking into account all new vehicles in different categories, and they're voted on by judges who are expert automotive journalists in the United States.

A big congratulations to the new Santa Fe! If you're interested in seeing the vehicle behind the award, please view our 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe inventory here.

Hyundai Launches Assurance Connected Care Powered by Blue Link

Hyundai Assurance Connected Care makes Hyundai the only manufacturer to offer in-vehicle emergency and vehicle support services free for three years

According to a Hyundai press release, as of March 27, 2013 Hyundai has launched Assurance Connected Care. This is considered to be the next level of Hyundai Assurance, and will provide Hyundai owners with proactive safety and car care services that are made possible by the Hyundai Blue Link platform. Beginning on May 16, 2013, all Blue Link-equipped new Hyundai purchases will come with three free years of Assurance Connected Care service.

Highlights:

• Automatic Collision Notification and SOS Emergency Assistance
• Enhanced Roadside Assistance
• Car Care features: Monthly Vehicle Health Report, Maintenance Alert, Vehicle Diagnostics Code Alert, Recall Advisor and in-vehicle service scheduling
• Three years of service standard with vehicle and transferable to subsequent owners
• It's the next evolution of Hyundai Assurance

May 16 is just around the corner, check out our new Hyundai inventory in advance here :)

For more information, please see the Hyundai press release here.

All information, details, bullet-point highlights and logo via Hyundai, image via Hyundai Like Sunday

What are Timing Belts? When and Why Should You Replace Them and What Happens if they Break

Important things to know about Hyundai timing belts

A timing belt is a part of an internal combustion engine; it controls the timing of a vehicle’s engine’s valves. Timing belts are an integral piece of a vehicle that must be replaced at the recommended distance/time period, and when not replaced can cause serious and expensive damage to your vehicle’s engine.

So why replace your timing belt? 

• There are zero warning signs that your timing belt is going to break, so replacing it in a timely fashion is the only way to prevent it
• If it does break, your engine will stop and will not restart
• The easiest way to fix a car if the timing belt is broken is to replace the engine entirely

Timing belt replacements:

• For most Hyundai vehicles replacement should happen at 60,000 mile intervals*
• Check your owner’s manual for manufacturer recommendation to be sure
• Replacement cost starts at $399

Cost to fix your car if the timing belt breaks:

• $3,000 or more
• Sometimes it’s not worth the value of your car to fix, so cost can be a new vehicle

As you can see, a timing belt replacement is an extremely important maintenance procedure that helps your vehicle live a long and functioning life, and saves you from spending a ton of money. The cost of replacing your timing belt may seem steep, but without proper maintenance you could be looking at thousands of dollars in repairs or even the cost of buying another vehicle.

Be sure to check out our website for more information regarding your vehicle's service needs and to see our full Hyundai timing belt page.

*Mileage and prices can vary by vehicle year and model, please contact us for information specific to your vehicle


Image via CT Auto Spare Part

Family Review of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

"Everything in the 2013 Santa Fe Sport crossover was just so... wonderful," writes Carrie Kim of Cars.com, who wrote the "Mom Proof" review of the 2013 Santa Fe Sport. She says that families who value style, convenience and comfort will find plenty to love; just like her family did.

The Sport replaces the Santa Fe, which was until this model year was a two-row crossover. Now the Santa Fe has three rows, and the Santa Fe Sport is the redesigned, yet similar version of the 2012 Santa Fe.

Carrie writes that the Santa Fe Sport drives smoothly and easily; the driver has the option to choose between Comfort, Normal and Sport models. It starts at $25,295, which includes its $845 destination charge.

A big makeover happened for this year's Santa Fe Sport - and not just the name. "It looks sleeker and much edgier," writes Carrie. "And it maintains the Hyundai family resemblance, taking many style cues from the smaller Tucson crossover."

Cargo space? No problem. She had room for her stroller, three grocery bags and a large box of 100 diapers with room to spare - she also fit a 20-pound bag of cat litter in one of the trunk's compartments.

"The Santa Fe Sport's interior is both upscale and family friendly, which is no easy combinations. It's got all the tech inside a gadget-loving mom or dad could ask for, attractive finishes for the design aficionado and even heated rear seats for the kids. Hyundai clearly had families in mind with this interior."

As for safety, the Santa Fe Sport received Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, as well as five starts out of five from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The new Santa Fe Sport is an excellent crossover, whether you're a family person or not. Be sure to check out our 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport inventory here!

All information via Cars.com, photos via Hyundai