Hyundai Elantra GT: 2013's Best Automotive Value

Popular Mechanics posted this article on why the Hyundai Elantra GT is the best-value vehicle in 2013. The long and short cover the Elantra GT's practicality alongside its sporty features - originally designed to be just a European vehicle. The GT is also the first Hyundai to use the Driver Selectable Steering Mode (DSSM); letting the driver choose between Comfort, Normal and Sport. The DSSM system has the ability to alter torque buildup through the steering wheel depending on the mode it's in.

The best part: it starts at just over $19K.

Want in on the action? View our Hyundai Elantra GT inventory here.


Info via Popular Mechanics

Hyundai Makes the Rounds with its New Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

Hyundai has been making the rounds around Europe with its ix35 Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle. Check out this video of Quentin Willson (Top Gear co-host) and his "Hydrogen Journey" below.



Video and info via Hybrid Cars

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Car Seat Check

Kicking Tires of Cars.com posted a "car seat check" for the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. For the check, they used a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and a Graco high-back TurboBooster seat. Before testing, they adjusted the front seats to hold a six-foot driver and five-foot-eight passenger. Here's what they have to say:

The latch system is successful. There are two sets of lower anchors in the seats, which aren't set too deeply but the cushions are firm and block access. The booster seat sits snugly in the slightly-bolstered seats. Kids who are trying to buckle up themselves may have a slight issue since the buckles sink slightly into pockets in the leather.

In the rear-facing position, the convertible seat needed some extra room so the passenger seat had to be moved forward. The five-foot-eight passenger still had comfortable room. In the forward-facing position, the head restraint pushed the seat forward; so either the head restraint must be removed or the seat can be angled slightly back to accommodate the seat.

The infant seat needed more space as well; the front passenger seat had to be moved up once more. Kicking Tires says that two car seats fit comfortably in the second row. This IIHS Top Safety Pick turns out to be a child-friendly vehicle as well :)

If you'd like to take a look, please view our 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport selection here.


Info & image 1 via Kicking Tires
All other images taken in house (Burlington Hyundai, VT)

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick

Announced in October, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest honor as a 2012 Top Safety Pick. "Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in moderate overlap frontal, side, rollover and rear impact evaluations. Azera, Elantra, Sonata, Genesis, Equus, Tucson and Santa Fe are all 2012 Top Safety Picks," according to the Hyundai website.

The 2013 Santa Fe has numerous features that helped it earn the accolade. It's equipped with Hyundai's Active Driving and Safety Dynamics technologies, which are there to help drivers avoid accidents by giving them enhanced control in adverse situations. This includes an optional Active Cornering Control AWD system, Vehicle Stability Management System, Hillstart Assist Control and Downhill Brake Control, as well as Hyundai's Driver Selectable Steering Mode; giving the driver three modes to select from - Comfort, Normal and Sport.

"Safety continues to be a top priority at Hyundai, so we are thrilled to see our brand new Santa Fe on this important and prestigious list," said Hyundai's Vice President of Corporate and Product Planning Mike O'Brien. "Hyundai is committed to developing and providing the best in both passive and active safety technologies. This IIHS Top Safety Pick confirms that the Santa Fe is both versatile and a safety leader in its class."


All information via Hyundai

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Review & Photos!

Auto World News just posted a short review with photos of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT. As they say, "after the Hyundai Elantra was named the 2012 North American Car of the Year, the anticipation and expectations were high for the 2013 Elantra GT. From the looks of things so far, Hyundai didn't disappoint."

The more spacious Elantra GT has performance-boosting state-of-the-art features, as well as enhanced safety and handling features. The Elantra GT has a 1.8L, 4-cylinder engine with options of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

Estimated MPG is 28 city, 39 highway, and the it weighs it at 150 less than its top competitor - the Mazda 3. Being the lighter vehicle is crucial to vehicle handling as well as fuel efficiency.

The Elantra GT is fully equipped with a driver selectable steering option, which is a ground-breaking feature that lets the driver control and customize the feel of the steering from the instrument panel, according to Auto World News. It has three options; Normal, Comfort and Sport.

We wrote up a post a couple of weeks back, 10 Reasons to Buy the Sibling of the 2012 North American Car of the Year, so if you missed it just click the link to check it out :)

And be sure to head to our website to browse our selection of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT here.


All information and photos 1 & 2 via Auto World News
Image 3 via the Burlington Hyundai showroom

Common Objections and FAQs About Purchasing Winter Tires

Before we get started, be sure to comment below the characters name to the right and what show he is on to be entered to win $100 towards new winter tires! Contest ends Oct. 30 and the winner will be announced on Oct. 31! See our Winter Is Coming blog post if you missed whether or not you need winter tires - even if you have a 4WD or AWD vehicle.

Everyone has questions about or objections to getting winter tires. As with most information, you hear a lot of different things, so we’ve decided to give you some answers to some common questions or objection that we’ve heard a lot before. If you have any more, please comment below and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Need help deciding which tire is right for you? Check out our tire selector guide here.

Common Winter Tire Objections & Answers

What if my car has traction control? Traction control isn’t designed to actually give you better traction; it’s meant to limit your acceleration based on the traction of your tires. The only way to get more traction and “traction control” is to get tires that meet those standards.

What if my car has ABS? ABS works more or less like traction control, except that it limits your braking depending on the traction of your tires. Your ABS system will work best with optimum tire grip.

Aren’t snow tires expensive? Snow tires are actually one of the more economical purchases you can make. This is true in part because while you’re using your snow tires, you’re not killing the wear and tread on your summer or all-season tires in winter conditions, and also because as you can imagine, getting into a fender bender or driving off of the course of the road is much pricier than a set of tires.

FAQs About Winter Tires

How much do snow tires cost? Well, through Dec. 31, 2012 we’re happy to offer you $70 off if you are buying all four tires. Generally, the range in price depends hugely on what size you’re getting and what type. Snow tires start at roughly $90 each and can be up to $200 depending on the size of your vehicle and what you’re looking for.

How long do they last? It depends on how well they’re taken care of and how much you drive, but they should last for at least three winter seasons – many more if you are up to date with your vehicles maintenance. Things like getting your tires rotated, making sure there’s proper pressure and removing them early enough when it gets warmer will all help extend the lifetime of your tires.

Can I just put two on instead of four? It’s best to keep all of your tires equal. Tread design dictates how the wheels handle, so you want all of your tires to be at the same level. Otherwise, you lose acceleration, braking and overall control on snowy roads.

How do I order them? Just give us a call! We’d be happy to help you order them through our parts department, or you can always ask about winter tires when you’re in for service.

How much does it cost to get them put on? Our winter changeover special that is ongoing through Dec. 31, 2012 is $69.95 for 16” tires, $89.95 for 17’ and $109.95 for 18’. This special includes tire dismount, mounting of winter tires, computer balance and a wheel torque to factory specifications.

When should I get them put on? In Vermont we typically get snow in October or early November, so it’s a really good idea to get it done before then so you’re prepared, and not stuck on the side of the road when we have an out-of-nowhere blizzard (but that never happens, right?). It’s also a good idea to get them done early because service departments (like us) offer amazing specials during this time of year (like ours). As time goes on these specials usually wane and prices usually go up (not ours though, we’ll be keeping our special through Dec. 31, 2012).

Do you sell studded tires? We don’t have them on site, but we’d be more than happy to order them for you and have them shipped to our store.

View all of our information about choosing the right winter tire at the Burlington Hyundai Online Tire Info Center here.

Image 1 via  Off the Rivet blog
Image 2 via Gregory Hyundai
Image 3 via seawaytires
Image 3 via Hyundai Difference
Image 5 via Toyotires

Winter is Coming: Do I Need Winter Tires?

I have AWD or 4WD, do I really need winter tires?

View your complete guide to winter tires here, and other tire questions answered below. Remember: comment on the bottom of this post, telling us what character from which show is pictured to the right. Commenting will enter your name in to win $100 towards a new set of winter tires from Burlington Hyundai.

A very common misconception is that if you have an AWD or 4WD vehicle you don’t need winter tires. However, driving in winter conditions isn’t about the power of your vehicle – it’s about traction. Stopping, starting and cornering are controlled primary by the tires; a 4WD will accelerate more quickly in the snow, but when it comes to stopping and cornering it’s the same as any other vehicle. For the torque system in a larger vehicle to be effective in winter conditions, it needs to have snow tires to back it up.

“A 2WD vehicle will perform safely and securely in snow with the proper snow tires mounted on all four wheels. Comparison tests performed by automotive-enthusiast magazines in the snow have shown that a 2WD vehicle with snow tires on all four wheels will outperform a 4WD vehicle with regular tires,” according to Forbes Auto.

I know that seems hard to believe, but here is a video that does a great job of showing the exact differences.


The same goes for AWD vehicles; they’re extremely effective off the mark with accelerating since you have the power of all four tires going for you to start, but they’re less effective when it comes to stopping and maneuvering. While driving an AWD vehicle is definitely better than a RWD in the snow, putting snow tires on that AWD vehicle is absolutely the best bet.

Also, 4WD vehicles often come with wider tires, which don’t dig through snow as efficiently due to the wider surface area; this can cause the vehicle to slip around when steering and braking. And as you know, 4WD vehicles are typically larger and do not have the naturally ability to brake as quickly as smaller cars.


Image via  Off the Rivet blog