Hyundai is known for its fuel efficiency and the value you get for the money you spend on one of their automobiles. A definite car to consider when looking at value for money and fuel economy is the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The goal of this article is to provide a review on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

Specifications

General Info

Vehicle Type: Hybrid Sedan	Base Price: $25,795.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 17.2 gallons (65 liters)	MPG: 35 city / 40 hwy

Dimensions

Length: 189.8 in. (482 cm)	Width: 72.2 in. (183 cm)
Height: 57.7 in. (146 cm)	Wheel Base: 110.0 in. (279 cm)
Curb Weight: 3457 lbs (1568 kg)	Ground Clearance: NA
Luggage Capacity: 10.7 cu ft	Maximum Seating: 5 people

Performance

Engine: 16-valve DOHC w/ D-CVVT inline 4 cylinder	Displacement: 2359 cc
Horsepower: 166 HP	Max RPM: 6000 RPM
Torque: 154 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm	Electric Motor: 40(30kW) w/ 270 VLithium Polymer Battery
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic SHIFTRONIC®	0-60 mph: 6.4 seconds

Performance

The Sonata Hybrid is pricier than its gasoline powered brothers. Average price is a little bit more than $26,000 which is more than $6,000 pricier than the gasoline powered model. However with this the consumer gets a hybrid engine that is a mix between an electric motor and a powerful four cylinder engine. This translates to 35 miles per liter on the city and 40 miles per liter on the highway.

Exterior & Interior

Hyundai calls the design “Fluid Sculpture” and is reminiscent of swoops or gusts of wind. This is complemented by a futuristic grille and headlights. Combined the exterior design is a beautiful sight to behold, much like a very slender and elegant Pegasus.

The interior is both roomy and elegant and comes standard with a six speaker stereo with Bluetooth cell phone integration. This and more have reviewers raving with statements like, “looks better than it class or is a class of its own.”

Safety & Reliability

The federal government has performed tests on the Sonata hybrid and it scored 5 out of five stars. This should comes a s no surprise since it comes standard with airbags, traction control and anti lock brakes as well as a sturdy chassis and shell.

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata hybrid has a standard warranty of, five year/60,000-mile and a power train warranty of 10-year/100,000-mile. The power train warranty is probably one of the longest power train warranties of its class which is a good sign

In fact the Sonata Hybrid ranks 6 out of 19 in the affordable midsize class which means it is the top 6 of its class in reviews, test drives and comparison.

Pros

• Value for money for a midsized Hybrid
• Excellent fuel economy that cannot be beaten by pure gasoline engines
• Beautiful exterior coupled with a well appointed and roomy interior
• A 10 year power train warranty which is one of the longest power train warranties out in the market

Cons

• A sticker price of a little bit more than $26,000
• Could use a better type and material for the seats

The Competition

If the consumer is looking for a Hybrid then the Chevrolet Volt (MSRP $40,280; 95 city / 90 hwy) or the Toyota Prius (MSRP $22,120; 51 city / 48 hwy) are viable options and since they are lower in automobile class they will be cheaper and lighter which also translates to higher fuel economy.

Other viable contenders are also the Ford Fusion Hybrid (MSRP $28,600; 41 city / 36 hwy) and the Toyota Camry hybrid (MSRP $27,050; 31 city / 35 hwy) as well as the Nissan Altima Hybrid (MSRP $26,800; 33 city / 33 hwy). The Fusion may have better city mileage but take note that the Sonata is still considered by most reviewers as the best value for money in this category.

Overall Rating
80 out of 100

What others say:

“The Sonata Hybrid is not only Hyundai’s first U.S.-sold hybrid; it also includes all-new lithium-polymer battery technology, which has been co-developed with LG Chem.”Car Connection

“A full parallel hybrid system, Direct Hybrid Blue Drive allows the Sonata Hybrid to be driven in fully electric drive mode at speeds up to 62 miles per hour.”MSN Auto

“Excellent fuel economy; comfortable and handsome cabin; smooth ride; lengthy warranty.”Edmunds

Hyundai, an emerging leader in the automobile industry offers affordable but value packed Sports utility Vehicles (SUV). One of their offerings is the 2011 Hyundai Tucson which ranks 6 out of 23 in the Affordable Compact SUV category. This is based on more than 20 reviews, test drives and specification analysis.

Specifications

General Info

Vehicle Type: Crossover SUV	Base Price: $19,045.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 15.3 gallons (57.9 liters)	MPG: 20 city / 27 hwy

Dimensions

Length: 173.2 in. (439 cm)	Width: 71.7 in. (182 cm)
Height: 65.2 in. (165 cm)	Wheel Base: 103.9 in. (263 cm)
Curb Weight: 3139 lbs (1423 kg)	Ground Clearance: 6.7 in. (17 cm)
Luggage Capacity: 25.7 cu ft	Maximum Seating: 5 people

Performance

Engine: 16-valve DOHC inline 4	Displacement: 2.0 liters
Horsepower: 165 HP	Max RPM: 6200 RPM
Torque: 146 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm	Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
0-60 mph: NA	Max Towing Capacity: 2000 lbs (907 kgs)

Available Trims & Engine

Option:Tucson GLS 2.4L	MSRP: $22,195; MPG: 22 city / 32 hwy
Option:Tucson Limited	MSRP: $24,895; MPG: 22 city / 32 hwy

Performance

The 2011 Tucson starts at a little bit less than $19,000 which is very hard to overlook given its standard features and its redesigned look. The 2011 Tucson comes in 3 trims: Limited, GLS, and GL. The first two comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with optional all-wheel drive and standard six speed automatic transmission whereas the GL has a slightly less powerful 2.0 liter four cylinder engine and a standard manual transmission.

Exterior & Interior

The 2011 Tucson has been redesigned much like the same for most 2011 Hyundai models. Hyundai describes their new look as “Fluidic Sculpture design” and it definitely turns heads with their swoop like exterior highlights, sleek slim and long headlights and tail lights coupled with futuristic grills and beautiful colors. Most reviewers call this new look “handsome or futuristic.”

Interior design is both stylish and comfortable but most reviewers do not like the materials used for the Tucson since it looks and feels cheap. Legroom is ample in both front and backseats however the cargo hold is a bit too small for an SUV, in fact most of its competitors like the Honda CRV and the Toyota Rav4 have bigger cargo holds.

Safety

The 2011 Tucson received a perfect score of 10 out of 10 in terms of safety, with 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. Unfortunately as of press time the federal government has not yet rated the new Tucson. Fortunately the Insurance Industry for Highway Safety has, and it considers the Tucson a Top Safety Pick. Reviewers like the standard safety features of the Hyundai Tucson however they do not like the lack of visibility on the rear.

Reliability & Warranty

The power train warranty for the Tucson is ten years or 10, 0000 miles, double what its competitors have. This is a definite statement by Hyundai that their automobiles are reliable and durable.

Overall

Most people are realistic about the 2011 Tucson. They state the fact that as opposed to its main rivals, it offers less room and less power but this is expected given the 2011 Tucson is less expensive than Honda and Toyota. What the Tucson did was remain less in terms of price and in size but it included a lot of standard features that only come optional with its rivals.

Pros

• Value for money for an SUV
• Excellent fuel economy that cannot be beaten by its competition
• Well appointed interior coupled with a redesigned exterior
• A 10 year power train warranty which is one of the longest power train warranties out in the market

Cons

• Smaller engine
• Cheap looking interior material
• Small cargo hold

The Competition

Definitely the Toyota Rav4 (MSRP $22,475; 22 city / 28 hwy) and the Honda CRV (MSRP $21,895; 21 city / 28 hwy) top the list of competitors for the class. They offer bigger luggage, better interior as well as a more robust engine. However they are also a couple of thousands more expensive than the 2011 Tucson and offer less standard features

Overall Rating
76 out of 100

What others say:

“Much better than its predecessor, the 2011 Hyundai Tucson needs a touch more power and steering feel to top carlike utes like the Nissan Rogue.”Car Connection

“Tucson maneuvers through traffic with ease, but body lean comes on quickly, even during moderate cornering. ”Consumer Guide

“The redesigned Tucson handles securely and responsively, but the ride is stiff and road noise is pronounced. ”MSN Auto-ConsumerReports

“Handsome, well-appointed cabin; simple controls; good fuel economy; sporty handling; good value.”Edmunds

In recent news, the Bugatti automobile SAS company reveals to the public the new 2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport ‘Sang Noir’. The Bugatti Veyron has been named as the fastest street legal car ever recorded around the world as broadcasted by Top Gear, BBC cable news network. Likewise, the Veyron edition was a recipient of the 2010 Car of the Decade award. This special edition 2 door coupe was an upgrade version of the previous Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Sang Blanc with car assembly plant located at Molshien, Alsace, France.

Body Design

The Sang Noir edition has a streamline design and is characterized by its superb design and boldness of black colors with several features that highlight this new Super Sport ‘Sang Noir’ are the interior quality craftsmanship, like the combination of black and tangerine leathers, a black ‘Sang Noir’ logo fixed at its center console, a black EB emblem attach at the center of the tangerine steering wheel, aluminum lining on its front grilles, well-designed black alloys rims, sleek front and side fenders, the black leather seats have an EB logo and outer rings and a polished aluminum alloys railing that draws at its sides.

Presently, the production and sales of the Sang Noir limited edition is up to 15 units only with all black exterior features to cater to American customers. The estimate cost of the new 2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport ‘Sang Noir’ is approximately $3.4 million per unit, which cost more than a million dollars compared to the Veyron Super Sport.

Specifications

General Info

Vehicle Type: Super Sport Coupe

Est. Market Price: $3,400,000.00

Performance

Engine: Supercharged W16	Displacement: 7993 cc
Horsepower: 1200 HP	Max RPM: 6400 RPM
Torque: 1106 lb-ft @ 3000-5000 rpm	Transmission: 7-Speed Automatic
0-60 mph: 2.5 seconds	1/4 Mile: 9.7 seconds
Top Speed: 267 mph / 413.5 km/h	MPG Hwy: 15 mpg

Hyundai is an emerging leader in the automobile industry. They may have started later than their more established Asian manufacturers but nowadays it seems that they are head to head with Toyota and Honda in terms of technological advances and automobile application.

Let us take for example the 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, an affordable midsize SUV that ranks 17 out of 23 based on 50 published reports, test drives and specification assessment. The goal of this article is to provide a review on the Hyundai Veracruz.

Specifications

General Info

Vehicle Type: Midsize SUV	Base Price: $28,345.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 20.6 gallons (78 liters)	MPG: 17 city / 22 hwy

Dimensions

Length: 190.6 in. (484 cm)	Width: 76.6 in. (194.5 cm)
Height: 71.1 in. (180.5 cm)	Wheel Base: 110.4 in. (280 cm)
Curb Weight: 4266 lbs (1935 kg)	Ground Clearance: 8.1 in. (20.5 cm)
Luggage Capacity: 13.4 cu ft	Maximum Seating: 7 people

Performance

Engine: 24-valve DOHC V6	Displacement: 3.8 liters
Horsepower: 260 HP	Max RPM: 6000 RPM
Torque: 257 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm	Transmission: 6-Speed Electronic Automatic
0-60 mph: NA	Max Towing Capacity: 3500 lbs (1587 kgs)

Available Trims & Engine

Option:VeraCruz Limited

MSRP: $34,395; MPG: 17 city / 22 hwy

Price & Trim

The Hyundai Veracruz starts at around $28,000 and is available in two trims GLS and Limited. The GLS is less expensive than the Limited version. Both are available in all wheel Drive and Front Wheel Drive.

Exterior & Interior

The Veracruz ranks 7 out of 10 in terms of exterior design, with 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. The low score is more a testament to its competition rather than any exterior design flaws in the Veracruz, but some reviewers also dislike the fact that the 2011 Tucson looks like a bigger Lexus RX350. However, proponents disagree and state that the 2011 Veracruz remains true to the overall Hyundai “Fluidic Sculpture Design.”

The interior design receives a 7.6 rating, with 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. The 2011 Veracruz provides realistic seating for seven people. The third row may not be as comfortable as the first two rows but is good enough. The design and material are spectacular, with a lot of soft material that looks high grade. The low score is again probably a testament to the competition rather than any deficiency on Hyundai’s part.

Safety

The Veracruz receives a perfect 10 out of 10 in terms of safety. Standard safety features is where the Veracruz leaves its competition behind. Unfortunately the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the federal government has yet evaluated the 2011 Veracruz but most reviewers agree that there is no flaw in the Veracruz’s safety features

Reliability

The reliability score is not what the company wanted because is based on three years trending and data. Hyundai is actually very proud of the 2011 Veracruz’s reliability and covers the same with several very competitive warranties

People agree that the 2011 Veracruz is a family oriented midsize SUV and its specifications are geared more towards safety and comfort rather than driving experience.

Pros

• Value for money for a midsized SUV
• Excellent fuel economy
• An opulent interior coupled
• Huge cabin sized that seats 7 passengers
• Covered by several competitive warranties

Cons

• Lack of feel in the steering wheel which most reviewers call dull and numb
• Looks like the RX 350

The Competition

If price is not an issue then consumers can look at the more expensive GMC Acadia or the Chevrolet Traverse (MSRP $29,370; 17 city / 24 hwy) which offer better comfort and better overall performance. If you have a fixed budget then better look at the Toyota Highlander (MSRP $28,090; 20 city / 25 hwy) which is priced lower and offers better fuel economy and the Honda Pilot (MSRP $28,320; 17 city / 23 hwy) with its more child friendly second row. Both offer better driver experience but they cannot match the standard features that come with the 2011 Tucson.

Overall Rating
76 out of 100

What others say:

“It’s undeniably handsome, if a bit anonymous, but the Veracruz has an interior that’s built almost to Lexus standards for feel and look. ”Car Connection

“Veracruz’s suspension tuning favors ride quality over sharp handling response. Body lean is apparent even during moderate cornering, and the steering lacks road feel.”Consumer Guide

“This seven-passenger SUV has a smooth 3.8-liter V6 engine. The ride is comfortable, but suspension noise is evident. Handling is secure but not particularly agile. The interior is very quiet and well-finished. Controls are simple.”MSN Auto-ConsumerReports

“Great value; upscale interior; nice balance of ride and handling; good crash test scores; long warranty.”Edmunds

In reality, we realize that luxury does not always go together with being green without it being a hybrid, but Lincoln, a prominent luxury car manufacturer, has introduced one of their upscale midsize cars 2011 Lincoln MKZ in a hybrid version. It is the first hybrid car in its production that interestingly has the same cost as the gas version. It brags to be the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America. Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is an extra ordinary combination of luxury and economy, an exceptional product of the trending green society that is widely popular during these times.

Specifications

General Info

Vehicle Type: Hybrid Sedan	Base Price: $34,645.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 17.5 gallons (66 liters)	MPG: 41 city / 36 hwy

Dimensions

Length: 189.8 in. (482 cm)	Width: 72.2 in. (183 cm)
Height: 56.8 in. (144 cm)	Wheel Base: 107.4 in. (272.7 cm)
Luggage Capacity: 11.8 cu ft	Maximum Seating: 5 people

Performance

Engine: 2.5L Atkinson Cycle I-4 hybrid	Compression Ratio: 12.3: 1
Horsepower: 156 HP	Max RPM: 6000 RPM
Torque: 136 lb-ft @ 2250 rpm	Transmission: e-CVT (electronic continuously variable)
0-60 mph: 8.2 seconds	1/4 Mile: NA

Performance

While sport sedan enthusiasts may not be totally impressed with the MKZ Hybrid’s performance, it is only because it was not particularly designed to be a sport sedan though it has a sporty look on the outside. MKZ Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine coupled by an electric motor. Altogether, it has the ability to generate 191 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque. It further justifies its fuel economic characteristic with its capability to go up to 47 miles per hour on electric power alone. The power per se is not pretty much remarkable but it is perfectly adequate for a regular daily driver.

Exterior & Interior

For its outward appearance, it does not vary much with the gas-only version. It shares the same sleek and sporty look with the identifiable large elegant grille and ample taillights. The MKZ Hybrid does not have a hint that it is indeed a hybrid car. The hybrid badges are modestly positioned only on the front doors and on the back lid of the trunk, which makes it astonishing when noticed. MKZ Hybrid is a pretty midsized car worthy of a second glance if not a long stare. The interior is also nice with trimmed leather seats and a little touch of genuine wood around the cabin that they say comes from environmentally controlled forests.

Some may say it is quite vanilla for a luxury car but with a state-of-the-art technology, it is pretty much impressive. It also has a unique and fun feature on the LCD screen display showing up adding petals into a white flower when you are driving well.

Safety

As to safety, MKZ Hybrid has a four out five stars from the federal government but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not rated them yet although the gas-only version of MKZ is a 2011 Top Safety Pick. Overall, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid absolutely has a good reputation in safety and reliability.

The Competition

Compared to other hybrid cars on the same class, Lexus HS 250h (MSRP $36,330; 35 city / 34 hwy) is its closest rival although MKZ Hybrid has better specs and is actually a little bit more attractive. In this case, many would agree that Lincoln is definitely a better choice but the thing about the Lexus is that its brand has that tacit superiority as compared to Lincoln. The other competitor is Ford Fusion Hybrid (MSRP $28,600; 41 city / 36 hwy) that costs less than the price of an MKZ Hybrid but with almost the same feel and quality.

There are also several other cars from different manufacturers selling hybrid midsize cars although they are not really into the luxury scene hence they have way lower costs. But if you are eyeing into a Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, the rest of the hybrid cars from other car manufacturers may not really catch your interest.

The bottom line is the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is quite exceptional as a green luxury car. It is one of the best in its class and is definitely a good choice however; the cost is not very well aligned with its green character.

Overall Rating
82 out of 100

What others say:

“With jazzy style, the luxury goods it needs and a new outlook on what luxury actually means to non-cigar-smoking, non-McMansion-dwelling urbanites, the MKZ Hybrid is a clear marketing win as Lincoln specs out a somewhat opaque future.”Car Connection

“The 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is the top choice for shoppers in search of an entry-level luxury hybrid sedan…”Edmunds