By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

South Korean automaker Hyundai has accomplished much over the past couple of years including the creation of the new mid-sized Sonata sedan that has become a benchmark for its segment.

Another rabbit-out-of-the-hat trick is the creation of a small crossover that has taken center stage in the extremely competitive segment. The all-new 2010 Tucson can unapologetically stand toe-to-toe with such industry stalwarts as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape and Nissan Rogue.

By Al Vinikour
MotorwayAmerica.com 

The largest vehicle segment in North America are midsize cars and to play in this neighborhood you have to not only be tough but offer more than the next guy. Thus is the case with the all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata, the six-generation of the midsize sedan. It’s not only mixed in with a gang of vehicles that’s the best of the best…it’s becoming the leader of the pack.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

One of Hyundai’s top priorities over the past few years has been to improve the quality of its vehicles. It has been a big issue since the early days when the South Korean company started marketing cars in the United States.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We get on average about two winter events a season in eastern North Carolina. As luck would have it, there’s been some type of vehicle in the driveway that delivers torque to all four wheels during most of these foul-weather occurrences.

We could just as easily be in possession of a sports car.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Hyundai has come a long way since 1986 when it introduced the Excel to American buyers. It was the South Korean automaker’s first effort in the U.S. and it was a low-quality disaster despite its low price.

Over the last decade Hyundai has all but shed its low-quality image pointed up by a phenomenal turnaround that will send it’s U.S. sales to nearly a half million units this year.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Someone once said simplicity is the key to happiness.

It probably wasn’t the same guy who coined the phrase, “keep it simple, stupid” or the person who wisely intoned “less is more.”

But the individuals responsible for those expressions would all probably praise the Hyundai Accent for its simple and easy-to-use switchgear.

By Jim Meachen

SAVANNAH, Georgia. — Hyundai is allocating more than 20 percent of its 2006 advertising budget to the oddly named Azera. A Hyundai spokesman said they needed a catchy name, one that is not easily forgotten. So we guess Azera it is. Catchy!

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The latest Hyundai television advertising campaign might have caught your attention by now. One ad compares the mid-sized Hyundai Sonata to a BMW 325. The audacity of the South Korean automaker to compare the 20-grand Sonata family hauler with the 35-grand German sports sedan takes chutzpah. The ad suggests the Sonata has more room and horsepower, a better warranty and equal amenities at almost half the price.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The first evidence that Korean upstart Hyundai had turned the corner of automotive respectability and reached parity with the world-class Japanese automakers was the introduction of the latest-generation Sonata in the spring of 2005.

“Fear the Koreans” should be the mantra at Toyota and Honda.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

It was the magic bus that took us to the Magic Kingdom for a day, the only day that wasn’t spent on a beach. Loaded to the fenders with five people, luggage, boogie boards and beach vacation paraphernalia, the all-new Hyundai Entourage minivan made the trek down the costal interstate, without complaint while keeping its three rows of passengers cool and comfortable.