CFP Automotive information and reviews
Car Reviews
Hyundai Accents the Positive
By Jim Bray
Sunday, June 3, 2007
You could have knocked me down with a feather! Hyundai's entry level car, the Accent, may be just an inexpensive little econobox, but despite its low end lineage I loved it!
The new Accent is the latest major redesign from Hyundai to up the ante considerably over its previous version. The old Accent was a nice little car, but nothing particularly special, as was expected generally from Hyundai back then. But the most recent Hyundais I've driven, from the reborn Santa Fe andd Sonata to the all-new Azera and Entourage, are vehicles that can compete head to head with the competition from anywhere in the world.
Another Hit for Hyundai with its new Santa Fe?
By Jim Bray
Sunday, February 11, 2007
SUVs may be evil incarnate to some, but that isn't stopping the automotive industry from continuing to create interesting and, in many if not most cases, increasingly efficient new versions of the species.
Enter the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. This isn't just an upgrade of the previous model, it's a whole new beast, bigger and more upmarket than before and with a third row of seats that was previously unavailable in a Hyundai SUV. It's quite the looker, too.
Hyundai Sonata a Home Run
By Jim Bray
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Hyundai has really thrown down the gauntlet with its new Sonata sedan.
The Korean automaker, which was once the butt of jokes, has been working hard to overcome that past and has been doing an excellent job of it. Such vehicles as the Tucson SUV, the second generation Tiburon and even its updated Elantra and Accent, have gone a long way toward ensuring the company is taken seriously.
But this new Sonata is the clearest evidence yet that Hyundai has not only arrived, but that it intends to give serious competition to the more established marques.
Santa Fe Ups Its Own Ante
By Jim Bray
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
For the 2004 model year, Hyundai offered a major upgrade to its popular Santa Fe SUV: a top of the line model that sports a bigger engine and five speed automatic transmission also found in the company's XG350 luxury sedan.
And the result was a very nice SUV, not that the Santa Fe was a slug to start with.
The Santa Fe GLS 3.5 V6 AWD comes with a 3.5 litre six cylinder engine (as opposed to the standard 2.7 litre). Horsepower and torque go from 170 horses @ 6,000 rpm in the base V6 to 200 @ 5,500 rpm, and torque rises from 181 @ 4,000 rpm to 219 @ 3,500 rpm. The difference is obvious the first time you tromp on the gas pedal. Oh, yeah, Hyundai Canada still offers the four cylinder engine, a 2.3 litre model rated at 138 hp @ 5,500 rpm and 147 lb. ft @ 3,000 rpm. But this review is about the 3.5 V6, which is the most desirable of the Santa Fe models at least until the vehicle is replaced by a new model in the not-too-distant future.Hyundai Opens New Doors for '05
by Jim BrayFebruary 19, 2005
What do you do to make a good value even better? Add a hatch, if you’re Hyundai updating its popular entry level Accent.
When I test drove previous models of the Accent I thought they were nice vehicles that would make a very good first car for someone just getting into the market, or a nice second car for someone who wants a decent commuter vehicle that’ll get the job done without making a fuss or breaking the bank. It would also work well for folk who tow a little car behind their behemoth RV’s to use for running around once they’ve set up shop in an RV park.
For 2005, Hyundai has sweetened the deal with its Accent 5, a four door plus hatchback version of the car previously available in only 3 and 4 door configurations. Or, as it is so often called these days, a five door, though climbing in through the hatch would be a bit silly.
Hyundai Expands SUV Line with Tucson
by Jim Bray,January 21, 2005
Hyundai has upped its SUV ante with the new compact Tucson.
Why, when it already sells plenty of its Santa Fe?
Profitability probability, undoubtedly. The Tucson is smaller than the Santa Fe, as well as being a little more "entry level," so it allows the Korean automaker an opportunity to introduce a handsome new vehicle and give itself the potential to move the Santa Fe upmarket.
The four door Tucson continues Hyundai’s penchant for naming SUV’s after cities in the warm Southern U.S. States, which certainly seemed like a slap in the face when I took possession of a Tucson during a particularly cold and snowy afternoon.
