HYUNDAI VENUE – GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

Hyundai has launched the fourth, and smallest, member of its SUV range. Indeed, at just 4040 mm long, Hyundai Venue is one of the shortest of all models in the compact SUV market. Only the Suzuki Jimny is shorter, at 3645 mm. Venue’s stubby body is offset by an overall height measurement of 1592 mm which effectively dictates the boxy shape that used to characterise early SUVs before the stylists stepped in and began trying to outdo each other. Having said that we love the neat and functional styling that’s… Read more

NEW HYUNDAI VELOSTER

All-new 2020 Hyundai Veloster uses the same 2+1 door sports design that was such a feature of the original model. Now with a low and wide frontal design Hyundai’s signature cascading grille, sculpted wheel arches and sporty rear diffuser. Veloster is available with a choice of 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle engine (110kW & 180Nm) or 1.6-litre turbocharged (150kW & 265Nm) powertrains, the latter featuring up to 275Nm over-boost function. The entry 2.0L MPi engine is offered with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Veloster Turbo and Turbo Premium… Read more

HYUNDAI KONA: EXTRA SAFETY

Hyundai Kona for 2020 has additional standard equipment as part of the Hyundai SmartSense suite of technologies. Every Kona model has Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) systems as standard. The 2020 Kona Elite and Highlander variants continue to feature a camera and radar-based City/Urban/ Interurban FCA system with a Pedestrian Detection function. In addition, every 2020 Kona model features a Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) system that progressively provides warnings and then steering intervention to help keep the SUV within the lane markings. Also standard is the… Read more

HYUNDAI KONA WINS GOOD DESIGN AWARDS

The Hyundai Kona Electric has earned top honours at the 2019 Good Design Awards, securing the overall award in the Automotive and Transport product category. Kona Electric’s outstanding success comes in a year that is notable for its high calibre of entries, including rival electric vehicles the Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf. Judges were impressed by Kona Electric’s ability to package its long-range EV powertrain with advanced standard safety and convenience technologies at what they called, “an accessible price”. However, with a prices of $59,990 (Elite) and $64,490 (Highlander)… Read more

HYUNDAI HOT HATCH QUICK TO MAKE ITS MARK

Hyundai continues to play Bach with the i30, the fugue-like (variations on a theme) composition of the small car range going on apace with the augmentation of the hot-hatch i30 N by the toned-down N-Line, while the rip-roaring Fastback N has just joined the band. However, despite the late-comer distractions, it’s still the ‘old’ N that rules the roost. The first model from the Hyundai ‘N’ Performance Division was conceived at Hyundai Motor Company’s global R&D Centre in South Korea and honed on the ‘Green Hell’, Germany’s notorious Nurburgring circuit,… Read more

HYUNDAI TUCSON: NEW ACTIVE VARIANT INTRODUCED

For 2020 Hyundai has added a new Tucson Active variant, and given the others in the range additional features, with a strong emphasis on several aspects of safety. Though the range doesn’t get a facelift as such, the 2020 Hyundai Tucson Active features 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather-appointed steering wheel and gear knob, and a one-touch auto up/down function for the driver’s window. All of which are additional features compared with the just superseded 2019 Tucson Go models. All Tucsons have a camera-based Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) City/Urban system with… Read more

HYUNDAI KONA PURE ELECTRIC

The first all-electric production car to go on sale in Australia was the Mitsubishi I-MiEV. In 2010 I picked up one from Mitsubishi in Brisbane and drove to our home on the Gold Coast – arriving there with just five kilometres to spare before the dash readout told me the batteries would be flat. That’s nail biting territory … Last week I picked up a Hyundai Kona Electric from Brisbane, drove home along the same route – and arrived with 398 kilometres to ‘empty’. Such has been the advancement in… Read more

NEW VENUE WILL BE HYUNDAI’S MOST AFFORDABLE SUV

Hyundai has added a new entry-level model to its SUV range. Launched at the New York International Auto Show the Hyundai Venue sits below the Kona, Tucson and Santa Fe in size and price. Pricing is yet to be announced but, given that it’s described as “Hyundai’s most affordable SUV”, it will come in below the $23,500 tag on the Kona Go. There’s even speculation that it could start sub-$20,000 for a stripped down basic model. We’ve yet to see Venue in the metal but photos show a squarish, functional… Read more

NEW HYUNDAI SONATA: FIRST DETAILS

Hyundai has given us initial details of its third-generation Sonata. The medium-large family sedan sits on an all-new platform that is lighter for improved fuel efficiency. Just as important is that there are significant improvements in crash safety. A fascinating feature is that the platform is designed so that the tyres move outward during a small overlap collision to maximise occupant safety. This also reduces the chances of the vehicle from spinning, thus preventing possible secondary collisions. Next-generation Sonata will be launched in Australia in the second half of 2019…. Read more

HYUNDAI i30 FASTBACK N

The Hyundai i30 Fastback N is the second offering from the Hyundai N Performance Division. Developed from the i30 N hot-hatch, the Fastback has a seven per cent aerodynamic drag reduction compared with the hatch. It has the same 202kW / 353Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the hatch. Overboost increases torque to 378Nm at full throttle for up to 18 seconds. The zero to 100 km/h time is listed at 6.1 seconds and the hot Hyundai is electronically limited to a maximum speed of 250 km/h. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol… Read more