2016 Hyundai Tucson Earns Five-Star Safety Rating

2016 Hyundai Tucson

 After earning the Insurance Institute for Highway's Safety's top safety award, Top Safety Pick Plus, Hyundai's redesigned-for-2016 compact SUV also got the nod from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, earning a five-star rating.

 Redesigned for the 2016 model year, the Hyundai Tucson compact SUV took on a tougher, upscale appearance and added an efficient, new 175-horsepower, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine to its lineup as well as expanded cargo space and lots of new safety and convenience features.

 The 2016 Tucson earned scores of five stars out of five in NHTSA's crashworthiness tests for both frontal and side collisions, and a score of four stars in its rollover test. Those scores were good for an overall rating of five stars. The scores apply to both the SUV's all- and front-wheel-drive versions.

 The 2015 Tucson received only a four-star overall rating, earning four stars in both its frontal-crash and rollover evaluations and five stars in side collisions. Competition is tough in the compact SUV class: the 2016 Toyota RAV4, a Tucson rival, also received the five-star overall safety rating. The 2016 Ford Escape fell short with a four-star overall rating; the 2016 Honda CR-V has not yet been fully tested by NHTSA, though the 2015 model received four stars.

View Our 2016 Hyundai Tucson Inventory

by Matt Schmitz - Cars.com

Hyundai Demonstrates Sonata Safety In A Car 2 Car Crash Test

Safety is one of the most important elements of any vehicle, and automakers will go to great lengths to prove just how safe their cars are. Hyundai recently performed a crash test that saw a pair of Sonatas collide head on at a speed of 56 kilometers per hour.

One of the vehicles was manufactured in Korea, with the other coming from the US.
While this may seem like a rather unimportant fact, Hyundai did it this way to show that their vehicles are safe no matter where they are made.

The test proved to be a success, as both vehicles held up very well in terms of damage after the crash.

Hyundai Sonata safety features & technologies

The Hyundai Sonata is now in its seventh generation, and is more refined looking than ever before.
It rides beautifully, too, as a stiffer body structure is used, which helps improve NVH levels. The vehicle also comes with a host of safety and convenience features.

Knee airbag included

The safety elements begin with the use of seven airbags as standard. This includes a driver’s knee airbag which is in place to ensure that the driver does not slide down the seat in a collision. This helps the restraints do a much more effective job. Other standard safety features include Traction Control, Electronic Stability Control, Vehicle Stability Management, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, ABS, and individual tire pressure display. Projector headlights come standard, and there is also an option for HID headlights.

View Our Hyundai Sonata Inventory - Over 35 in Stock!

Hyundai engineers worked hard to ensure that all of the safety technologies included in the new Sonata would prevent collisions, but also protect the driver when they do occur. Other features, which are usually only found in luxury vehicles, include Blind Spot Detection, Forwards Collision Warning, Land Departure Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Once the turn signal is activated, the Blind Spot Detection system automatically alerts the driver to vehicles approaching from behind. The Lane Change Assist system is an active safety feature that is a segment exclusive. Warning lights display in the side mirror once an approaching vehicle is detected. The system quickly determines the speed of the closing vehicle and determines whether or not it is safe to change lanes. If the vehicle is approaching to quickly for a safe lane change, an audible alarm is sounded. A forward-facing camera is at the heart of the Lane Departure Warning System, and is used to recognize lane markings. If it appears that the vehicle is about to drift outside of those markers, a light in the dashboard comes on, and an audible sound is heard. The Rear Cross Traffic Alert System also worls off the Blind Spot Detection System. It uses cameras to scan each side of the Sonata to spot vehicles backing out of parking spaces. When the system detects a vehicle making that move, an audible alert is sounded in the cabin.

As you can clearly see, the new Hyundai Sonata is a vehicle that is among the safest you can get behind the wheel of.


 - Hyundai Blog

5 Tire Tips You Didn't Know

Some of the best advice we’ve ever heard: Invest in what goes between you and the ground. That means good shoes, a good mattress and good tires. People often neglect their tires or just don’t pay too much attention to them in general. It’s important to check your tires’ PSI once per month and have them rotated every 5,000 miles.  

Here are a handful of tire tips from caranddriver.com we bet you didn’t know :

1. Skinny tires, much taller and narrower than the norm, are coming back. BMW’s i3 electric/plug-in hybrid, which relies on minimal rolling resistance to achieve acceptable driving range, is leading the charge. The i3’s Bridgestone Ecopia EP500 tires have aspect ratios ranging from 55 to 70 (narrow tread, tall outside diameter) to reduce energy loss as the tire rolls into and out of its footprint. This shape also reduces the car’s frontal area and aerodynamic drag. To compensate for a reduced air cavity and a smaller-than-normal footprint, Bridgestone uses an elevated inflation pressure to deliver the desired acceleration, braking, and cornering traction.

2. In the strictly theoretical sense, increasing just the width of a tire does nothing to improve acceleration or braking traction. A wider tire will have a shorter contact patch, which is precisely what you don’t want when the goal is maximum longitudinal grip. Jamie McNutt, the replacement-tire development manager at Bridgestone Americas, says that a longer, not wider, contact patch helps you climb faster to maximum braking grip.

3. Wider tire treads do, however, increase cornering grip. Again, though, tire engineers are always working with multiple variables. See our first point about the modern Corvette, which uses skinnier tires than its predecessor yet increases its roadholding with a stickier compound. To maximize traction in all directions, tire engineers aim for an even pressure distribution throughout the contact patch.

4. Static electricity build-up is an old concern that has returned to haunt modern tires. An inadequately grounded vehicle is an issue during refueling and when occupants slide out of the car’s interior. Modern tire compounds have become less conductive as manufacturers have greatly reduced the amount of carbon black in rubber compounds to cut weight and rolling resistance.

5. A run-flat tire can roll for more than 100 miles after it loses pressure. Tire manufacturers typically claim that a deflated run-flat can cover 50 miles at 50 mph, but if you slow down, you can stretch that distance much farther. Lee Willard, a product development engineer at Michelin, says the range roughly doubles if you drop your speed to 40 mph. Slow down more, and the range continues to grow. It’s all about reducing the amount of heat generated in the tire.

For the full list of tips head over to Car and Driver’s Blog: http://bit.ly/1IKbyxg

Top 10 Excuses People Used When Being Pulled Over

“Well gosh officer, I didn’t see the speed limit sign!” – the most common excuse police hear when pulling drivers over, according to an article from Cars.com about a survey done by Insurance.com. The comparison pooled licensed drivers 18 an older. More than a fifth of the drivers polled said when they gave an excuse to the officer that pulled them over they said they couldn’t see the sign that told them not to do something.

There were 10 other popular answers given among drivers polled. They are listed with their percentages below:

1. I couldn’t see the sign telling me not to do it :20.4%
2. I’m lost and unfamiliar with the roads: 15.6%
3. I didn’t know it was broken: 12.4%
4. Everyone else was doing it: 6.4%
5. I’m having in emergency situation in my car (for instance spilled a hot drink on your lap): 5.4%
6. I missed my turn/exit: 4.8%
7. I had to go to the bathroom: 5.6%
8. I didn’t do anything dangerous: 4.2%
9. I was on my way to an emergency (for example, to help someone who was ill or injured): 4.0%
10. My GPS said it was the right thing to do: 2.2%
11. I’m just helping out; I wasn’t even supposed to be driving (for example, your friend is intoxicated): 2.0%

To read the full article from Cars.com, click the link : http://bit.ly/15XAT5U

Driving in The Rain: 3 Tips to Stay Safe

Getting caught in a rainstorm while driving can be a scary thing. You’re not only worried about yourself but those driving around you as well. Defensive driving techniques should always be applied to the road, but even more so when driving in the rain. There are around 707,000 automobile crashes each year due to rain, resulting in approximately 3,300 deaths and 330,200 injuries.

Statefarm has offered a few tips for driving safely in the rain:

1. Turn on those headlights. It’s the law in all states to turn headlights on when visibility is low, and many states also require having the headlights on when the windshield wipers are in use. Praeter says that well-working wipers and relatively new (not threadbare) tires also are must-haves when driving in rain.

2. Beware of hydroplaning. That’s the technical term for what occurs when your tires are getting more traction on the layer of water on the road than on the road itself—the result is that your car begins to slide uncontrollably. It’s easy enough to hydroplane: All you need is one-twelfth of an inch of rain on the road and a speed of more than 35 miles per hour. If you start to hydroplane, let off the accelerator slowly and steer straight until you regain control.

3. Turn off cruise control. Ironically, on rain- or snow-slick surfaces, cruise control may cause you to lose control. You might think it’ll help you stay at one steady speed, but if you hydroplane while you’re in cruise control, your car will actually go faster.

Read the full article from Statefarm here: https://learningcenter.statefarm.com/auto/safety/5-tips-for-driving-safely-in-the-rain/

How Much Auto Insurance is Enough?

Your auto insurance plan is a collection of policies that cover various things in the event of an auto accident. It’s illegal to drive without auto insurance and the bare minimum you must hold is a liability insurance policy.

Wall Street Journal has laid out other various policies and what is covered under each one. Some drivers may need more insurance than others so it’s incredibly important to review your policy before choosing one.

• Liability coverage – These policies help cover liability and expenses when you’re at fault in an accident. The money will go to the people you hit, but it won’t cover the people in your car.

• Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) – This policy pays for the medical expenses of people injured in a crash in which you’re at fault. You’ll often see BIL policies described as a “20/50” policy or a “100/300” policy. These numbers describe the maximum dollar amount the policy will pay for a single person’s injuries and the maximum for all the injuries sustained by all the occupants of the other car. For example, a 20/50 policy will pay a maximum of $20,000 for a single person’s injuries, and up to $50,000 total for the injuries of everyone in the car you hit.

• Property Damage Liability – This policy pays for damage done to the other car if you’re at fault in an accident. Property liability is sometimes referred to alongside BIL as a third number, so a 20/50/10 liability package will cover up to $10,000 for damages to the other car.

The following policies cover you and your card in an accident:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – This covers your and your passengers’ medical expenses after an accident. If you lose time at work because of your injuries, this policy may also cover lost wages.

To see the other types of policies including uninsured motorist, collision and comprehensive coverage, check out this link: http://guides.wsj.com/personal-finance/insurance/how-much-car-insurance-do-you-need/  

6 Summer Tuneup Tips

It may feel like summer is winding down but there are still another 2 months of this glorious season left. You should paying extra special attention to your car as we enter the hottest part of the summer. Fluids tend to drain more quickly and engines are known to overheat easier.

Bankrate has provided 6 tune up tips for you car this season. All you have to do is remember the acronym SUMMER.

S: Scrub the battery

Long drives and hot weather can put a strain on your car battery. To keep your battery healthy, sprinkle some baking soda onto the battery terminals, and then lightly spray with water. Let the mixture sit for an hour, and then wipe it off with a wet sponge.

U: Use a sunshade

When you park in direct sun, not only does your car's interior heat up, you are putting strain on the dashboard and upholstery, which can accelerate wear. Use a sunshade to protect your car interior and lengthen its lifespan.

M: Maintain proper fluid levels

All fluids are important to your car's operation, but antifreeze, also known as coolant, should be your top priority. A low coolant level can cause your car to overheat. Check your antifreeze level and add more if it's low. Do not open the coolant tank lid while the engine is hot.

M: Make sure tire pressure is correct

Check your tire pressure regularly and before any long trips. Inflate tires to the recommended pressure listed in your owner's manual for the number of passengers and the amount of cargo you'll be carrying. Proper tire pressure will help prevent a blowout and can improve your fuel economy by up to 3.3 percent.

E: Expect an emergency

Like a good Boy Scout, you should be prepared for an emergency. Make an emergency kit that includes jumper cables, roadside flares or reflective triangles, a flashlight, old towels or paper towels, a first-aid kit, nonperishable snacks and water.

R: Replace your wiper blades

Summer means the dry season for many areas, but storms can occur unexpectedly. Make a note to remind yourself to replace wiper blades every six months or sooner if they are unusually squeaky or you notice decreased visibility.

For the full article from Bankrate please follow the link: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/summer-car-tuneup-tips-1.aspx