hyundai

While just about any navigation system on the market will get you where you're going, not all of them are created equally. This is especially true in the world of OEM in-car navigation systems where screen size, interface design, feature sets, and (most importantly) price vary wildly from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some automakers offer cutting-edge GPS navigators with innovative features that you'll wonder how you ever got along without. Others will make you wish you'd skipped the pricey navigation package and just packed a smartphone.

We've taken a look back on the most recent OEM navigation systems to have graced the Car Tech garage and picked out a few manufacturers, in no particular order, that consistently knock it out of the park when it comes offering the best in-dash technology for getting from where you are to wherever you want to be. … Read more

Automakers frequently lend their newest models to journalists with the expectation the cars will be cared for with all the regard of a rental. So it was not too much of a stretch when the U.K. division of Hyundai let a tribe of baboons have its way with a new i30, the European version of the Elantra.

The test took place at Knowsley Safari Park, near Liverpool. The baboons let loose in the park have a reputation for plucking bits off visitors' cars, but they usually do not get inside.

At the end of the test, the park's … Read more

Ever since hybrids became popular, with the second generation of the Toyota Prius, the question arose of whether the fuel savings justified a hybrid car's higher price. The extra expense for a hybrid car has been called the hybrid premium.

The extra cost for a hybrid car comes from the additional equipment in the driveline. Along with the gas engine, hybrid cars have an electric propulsion motor, a high-voltage battery pack, and a power control module, this latter component determining how to feed electric power into the drive system.

Now, with many automakers offering some type of hybrid car, … Read more

NEW YORK--Today at the 2012 New York auto show, Hyundai debuted not one, but two new versions of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe for two different kinds of crossover buyers.

The first debut was the Santa Fe Sport, a small crossover that seats five. Under its hood, drivers have a choice between either a 190 horsepower direct-injected 2.4-liter engine that should net an estimated 33 highway mpg or the turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter engine that outputs 264 horsepower at the expense of a pair of highway mpg. If these engines sound familiar, it's because they're the … Read more

The Elantra Touring version of Hyundai's previous-generation compact was (and remains) one of our favorite small, cheap wagons.

So, we're not surprised to see a five-door variant of the current-generation Hyundai Elantra debut at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. What you may not have seen coming was the coupe version of Hyundai's fluidically sculptured sedan but that, too, was unwrapped at the show.

The Elantra Coupe doesn't differ dramatically from the Elantra Sedan we tested last year. In fact, about the only measurable differences are the removal of a pair of doors and the addition of … Read more

You won't have to wait until Sunday to enjoy the latest crop of Super Bowl commercials. And from the looks of it there will be a bumper crop of automaker ads.

Wedged between the notoriously racy GoDaddy ad and various commercials for beverages and yogurt, will be more vehicle ads than ever.

Last week, Audi took a stab at trendy creatures of the night. This week Jerry Seinfeld revives his old shtick--complete with Soup Nazi and other characters--for an ad for the new Acura NSX. Jay Leno and other familiar faces appear in the extended version of the ad.… Read more

Small cars mean big stress relief in the urban jungle.

Short overall length makes these cars experts at fitting into parking spaces and easily maneuverable through narrow streets. And these days, small cars don't have to suck. Our selection of five urban champions includes stylish rides and comfortable cruisers, boasting quality cabin materials and advanced electronics. As an extra bonus, fuel economy tends to be high because of new engine tech and light weight. Further savings comes from the initial low sticker price, with all of these cars coming in at well under $20,000. … Read more

We announce the Tech Car of the Year and the Car Tech 10. Find out which car is the techie best, which proved the most popular, what the best car stereo of the year was, and discover Car Tech's best production asset.

In its annual list, Wards Auto lauds what its editors perceive as the 10 best engines powering cars today.

The 2011 Ward's 10 best engines list pays homage to electrification, including both the mixed gas and electric system driving the Chevy Volt, and the pure electric motor in the Nissan Leaf. One diesel also made the list, Volkswagen's TDI. Among the gasoline engines, most feature forced induction. Direct injection also makes an appearance. But big displacement has its place, as seen in the 5-liter V-8s from Ford and Hyundai.… Read more