The term “shiny new car” has been used ever since there were new cars. However, a recent trend renders that phrase unusable for at least a particular selection of new cars. A matte paint finish is deliberately not shiny. Instead of reflecting light, it diffuses it, which gives the impression that the car has its…
In 2000, for the 2001 model year, Hyundai introduced its first SUV or crossover in the United States, named after Santa Fe, New Mexico. Twenty-three years later, the Hyundai lineup includes six different crossover nameplates, not including the Santa Cruz crossover-like pickup and the Nexo Hydrogen Fuel cell model offered in California. If you are…
The Hyundai Palisade made quite the splash when it made its debut in 2019 as a 2020 model. Reviewers were almost universally impressed by the interior, which many thought matched, if not exceeded, many luxury brand models. They also commented favorably on the spacious cabin, a robust powertrain, and its suite of driver assistance and…
The styling of the new Santa Fe is so striking that it may have been easy to overlook the new XRT model. This model is the most off-road-focused of the Santa Fe line-up. The Santa Fe isn’t alone in adding a more rugged trim. Several crossover models now have an off-road leaning model that goes…
The Hyundai Palisade and its cousin, the Kia Telluride, sent shockwaves through the three-row crossover category when they both arrived in 2019 as 2020 models. Reviewers were impressed by their size, refinement, bold exteriors, and luxurious interiors. Both models went on to become significant sellers for their respective brands, resulting in both getting mild makeovers…
Mid-size sedans still fill the bill for many families. Families begin with small children who need their own seats added to the car, and not just one seat does the job. Just as they outgrow clothes, children will outgrow their reverse-facing infant seats to larger front-facing seats and eventually just need a booster so the…
In the past five or six years, it has been a constant that when an automotive magazine or website looks at a general-market mid-size, they invariably recommend the hybrid model. It has actually driven Toyota to make its entire 2025 mid-size lineup hybrid and Honda to have its top trim levels be hybrids. Hyundai still…
Hyundai first launched its Digital Key feature with the 2020 Sonata. With it, you could unlock the car by holding your smartphone against the driver or passenger door handle. Once inside, you could place the phone anywhere, though the available wireless charger was a good place, push the start button and go. And the whole…
The newly redesigned Kona and the boldly-designed Tucson are two exciting crossover choices from Hyundai. One is clearly larger than the other, but which is better for you? Dick Smith Hyundai offers this post to help you come to an answer. The Tucson is a compact crossover, which is the best-selling vehicle category in the…
Stemming from BMW’s branding success with the design idea of “Same sausage cut at different lengths,” every manufacturer seemingly decided they needed a corporate face and consistent design cues across all their models. Some worked, and others failed, only to be replaced by a new corporate look. Hyundai, however, announced years ago that their models…
