Hyundai has had a great year so far—in Chicago, Hyundai Elantra and Sonata vehicles are everywhere you look—and if the Korean automaker is going to stay competitive with the big boys in the auto industry (the Toyotas and Hondas of the world), it’s probably going to have to put on its thinking cap every once in a while.  Because why go toe-to-toe and trade blows with the heavyweights when you can out think them?  Even considering how far Hyundai has come, Toyota and Honda are, in all likelihood, in a better position to absorb the roundhouses typical of a grueling fight.

Hyundai could very well be using this creative strategy with the Hyundai Veloster that is rumored to be appearing in production form at the Paris Motor Show this September.  The Veloster is a small sports coupe that is designed to compete with the Honda CR-Z.  But now while the CR-Z is a hybrid that gets a very good 36 city/39 highway equipped with a CVT, the Veloster runs on a conventional four-cylinder engine (a 1.6-liter direct injected inline that gets 140 hp, to be specific), and, according to John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president, it will eclipse the 40 mpg mark and outperform the CR-Z in fuel economy all around.  He went on to say that the Veloster, by not using a hybrid powertrain, will be lighter, simpler, and, most importantly, cheaper than a hybrid.

It would seem Hyundai is using its smarts to stay in step with the overall attitude of our culture right now.  Sure, most people want to be greener, and a hybrid is good way to go about achieving this, but with the way the economy is performing, people don’t have the extra income for these types of purchases if these purchases are going to hit them harder in the wallet.  This is especially true in Midwest cities like Detroit and Chicago.  Hyundai Tucsons are a solid car and good for their stated purpose, but it’s hard to imagine SUVs are flying off the lots right now from Chicago Hyundai Tucson dealers like they were five and six years ago.  But again, in Detroit and Chicago, Hyundai Elantras and Sonatas, cars with good MPG, are appearing everywhere for a reason.  It’s definitely a major trend right now.  And with the coming of the Veloster, Hyundai seems to have wisely taken notice.

If you’re like me, buying a brand new car isn’t necessarily in the cards. The good news is you don’t always have to buy new to get a great vehicle! There are a large number of used vehicles on the market today and Edmunds.com recently compiled a list to help consumers sort through the choices and determine their ideal vehicle. Two of these vehicles are the Chicago used Hyundai Azera and the Chicago used Hyundai Elantra Touring – both of which are available at your local Hyundai dealer.

Edmunds.com is a leading online automotive resource. In order to determine the “Used Car Best Bets for 2010,” their editors and experts looked at reliability, safety, value, and availability. They also looked at consumer ratings and vehicle longevity while applying their own experience and judgment, and this is what they found about the Azera and the Elantra Touring

When it comes to the Chicago used Hyundai Azera, the 2006-2008 models were at the top of the large used sedan segment. Editors credit this to its upscale look and unexpected luxury features, adding that it has a reasonable price tag, solid build, and steadfast reliability. Crash test scores and a smooth performance also added to its résumé.

As for the Chicago used Hyundai Elantra Touring, the 2003-2008 models lead the compact used car segment. In explaining this decision, editors point to class-leading interior space, outstanding handling, and overall refinement. Every year, the Azera adds upgrades and standard equipment so its value only continues to improve.

Not all used cars can boast leading safety so it is important to note that both of these vehicles feature class-leading safety technology. This helps them to perform strongly in crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and allows for the continued reliability and strong residual values.

So if you’re in need of a vehicle, consider the value and affordability of a used car from Patrick Hyundai! For an Edmunds.com “Used Car Best Bet for 2010,” consider the Elantra or the Azera but remember these are just a two of the possible choices. Visit Patrick Hyundai today and see everything that they have available!

Have you ever been on the Dan Ryan and thought to yourself how terrible the other drivers seemed? I found myself in just that situation last weekend while driving my Chicago used Hyundai Azera which I purchased from the Chicago used Hyundai dealers. I think we can all relate to that frustration and so today I’d like to take a moment to review some summer driving tips we should all follow so that we can have a safe and care-free summer!

We all know talking or texting or surfing the Web on your smart phone are sure fire ways to get into an accident (or get ticketed if a Chicago police officer spots you), but there are also many other steps that can be taken to ensure safer roads . Why not start the summer off with a visit to the mechanic? Preventive maintenance can save you on future repairs and ensure your family’s safety, especially if you’re planning a long road trip. An oil change is the most obvious step to take, but your local mechanic can also give the car a once-over to check fluid levels, your engine cooling system, suspension, brakes, and tires.

Speaking of tires, let’s make sure you’ve got some safe ones to drive on! They are the one thing that touches the road as you drive so it’s crucial to make sure they are in top-notch condition. How many times do you see families stranded on the side of the road after a blown tire? You don’t want that to be your family this summer. Proper tires will also improve your fuel economy which means more money for hotels, food, and entertainment!

Over the summer months, we like to think of Chicago as having perfect weather, but there’s always the chance of rain so it’s important to be prepared. Remember that roads are most slippery when the rain first begins since it is mixing with oil on the road. Also, give yourself plenty of room if following other cars in traffic since it takes twice as much room to stop when driving in the rain.

Speaking of rain, what are two things you must turn on during rain? Lights and windshield wipers. These are two key factors which ensure your visibility so they must be up to par. If your lights seem faded (or if one light is completely burnt out) replace both bulbs at once and make sure the headlight housings are clean. As for the wipers, make sure you’ve got summer blades and consider RainX or a similar water repellant to help water to bead more quickly and keep your windshield clean.

If you want more information on how to stay safe this summer, visit the Chicago used Hyundai dealers for all the best tips. And for everyone’s sake, let’s try to keep the roads safe this summer!

Test driving an auto you might purchase seems to be a pretty easy concept.  You do some research, head to a dealership, cruise around in the car, truck, or SUV a bit, then make your decision to buy or not.  But, there is a lot you should be looking for when taking your Chicago used Hyundai Azera for a test run. 

First of all, drive the car on some rough surface.  It doesn’t have to be rocky back roads, but maybe down a highway where there are a few dips or a rough couple of bumps.  Does the Hyundai continue to bounce even when you’re back on even pavement?  Do you feel that you have good control of your Chicago Hyundai Genesis Coupe?   If the car continues to bounce or leans more than usual during a sharp turn, this could signify that the suspension needs work or that the shock absorbers need to be replaced.

Another really good suggestion is to practice parallel parking a few times during the test drive.  Make sure visibility out of the back window is what it should be.   The visibility can also be checked by backing out of a few driveways during this same test drive.  This should be a pretty easy couple of tasks to check.  Also, see if the Cruise Control works okay and that the driver’s seat is comfortable for longer trips.

One of the most important checks to make while doing a used Hyundai test drive is testing the brakes.  This part of the car ensures the safety of not only the driver, but of all the precious cargo that may travel with you.  Good brakes are vital to help keep you accident free while on the roadway.  If the Chicago used Hyundai Azera pulls to one side when you brake hard, this is certainly a problem that needs fixing.  If the brakes squeak, the pads most likely need replacing and this is costly.  You would hopefully be able to negotiate that with the asking price.

Now when you go in to test drive your Chicago Hyundai Genesis Coupe, you’ll know some key points to focus on. Doing these can help keep you safe and save time and money down the road or possibly upfront.

Hyundai has always been considered (though not really been) something of a second class citizen in the automotive world compared to Toyota and Honda.  A producer of small, inexpensive knockoffs is a charge leveled at Hyundai so often it might be mistaken for a branding strategy.  Even its latest offering the large luxury sedan called the Equus has been questioned all over by that deafening, infinite-headed beast known as the blogosphere, as to whether it can truly compete with the Lexus LS460 and the Mercedes S-Class.  For starters, by pricing it much less (it’ll come in around the mid-$50,000 price tag), doesn’t that diminish an aspect of its luxury appeal?  Guess we’ll soon find out, as the Equus is due to go on sale this fall. 

But getting back to Hyundai’s brand perception, this idea of inferiority has seemed to be a prevailing one among the press and citizenry alike, and yet someone out there must be thinking the brand’s doing good work (besides new and used Hyundai Chicago dealers, of course).  In case you missed it, Hyundai is the world’s fastest growing automaker.  According to the L.A. Times, the Korean automaker’s profit was $1.37 billion for the first quarter of this year, its best quarter ever.  It boasted strong sales in India and China—China, you might recall, recently overtook the US as the biggest automobile market in the world.  Yes, from Beijing to Kashmir new Elantras and Accents are flying off the lots; from L.A. to Chicago, used Sonata and Santa Fe models are being driven down every block.

There hasn’t been a better time in Hyundai’s history than right now and its executives sense it.  There is blood in the water.  Hyundai is taking direct aim at the auto leaders (i.e., Toyota) to become the number one automotive brand in the world—the Equus being put into direct competition against the LS460 is no coincidence.  Hyundai, due in part to Toyota’s struggles with identity and perception over the past few months, recently earned the #1 spot in brand loyalty according to Kelley Blue Book marketing intelligence data.  That means those who sell their used Hyundai in Chicago or anywhere else in the U.S. are likelier to buy within the brand (56.3%) than those owning and selling Toyotas, Hondas, etc.

So, yes, it’s good to be Hyundai right now, whether in Beijing or Chicago.  Used Sonata and Elantra dealers are saying the same thing, as are new Accent and Genesis dealers.  Everyone should be feeling good about Hyundai.  Everyone, that is, except their competitors.

You get tired of it once in a while. The endless advancement of gadgets makes it very hard to care anymore about breakthroughs. My Grandpa still tells me about the first time he saw a television when he was in the Navy. If that wasn’t amazing enough, then he’ll go on about the first time he saw it in color.

I think about all the things that man has seen in his lifetime. He used to plow a field with a mule for crying out loud. Now he talks to people around the world on the Internet and sends emails. He still laughs every time he does it. He went from absolute bare minimum of human existence to now, but what have I gone from?

Cassette to CD was amazing. Then came the dawn of the MP3 and the birth of iPod from Apple advancing the world into a time when even children have machines in their pockets they take for granted that has more power than the first manned craft we sent into space only fifty years ago. Its all great, but is it really??

My advanced devices get smaller but hold more information. My point is, I’ve never gone without them. The new thing comes along and it doesn’t change my life like certain things did for my Grandfather.

Now I feel like that may have finally changed. Advancements now are found when two great things come together to make my life easier in big ways. I started seeing commercials on the TV for the different new and used Hyundai Chicago dealers saying they will give a new iPad with purchase of the new Equus. Didn’t quite hit me what that meant until I actually talked to one of the dealers and they explained that the concept isn’t just another breakthrough for the sake of “look, it’s bigger!”

Hyundai has begun to integrate their whole post sales customer service system to the iPad. Now instead of this being a gimmick to sell cars, you actually use the device to schedule maintenance, schedule pickups, and on top of it all it’s still an iPad.

Believe me, the next chance I have to unload the beater that I’ve been driving around Chicago, the Genesis line, including the Equus, will be the Hyundai models that I’ve got my eyes on. Now all I have to do is hope I get my free iPad with it.

Going green is the thing to do these days, even car companies have jumped on the bandwagon.  It’s a good wagon to be on- helping the environment is something we need to do if we want to keep Mother Nature around for us and our children to enjoy!

A few months ago, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid showed its face at the New York Auto Show.  It has a modern/futuristic design setting it apart from other new and used Hyundai Chicago models.  The term Hyundai uses is “Fluidic Sculpture” to describe the design, who’s main job is to make the hybrid more aerodynamic.

A few features on the Sonata hybrid that set it apart from the current Hyundai Sonata include eco-spoke wheels, hexagon shaped grille, and aerodynamic bumper fascias.  This just names a few of the features that help this Sonata reduce drag and air flow, which can weigh on a car, forcing it to expel more harmful emissions and use more gas.

The Sonata Hybrid contains the “Hybrid Blue Drive” technology that Hyundai developed to make this car more ecologically sound.  There are nine specific features that make up this system. Unfortunately, we cannot go into all of them in detail here, but that would be a great reason to make a trip to your Chicago used Hyundai dealer and get the most up to date information!

I can tell you a few of the features that are part of the blue drive technology.  First, the Sonata hybrid contains a 30kW electric motor that works along with a fuel-efficient Theta II 2.4-liter engine.   The electric motor in this hybrid is different from other hybrids in that it’s made of lithium polymer instead of Nickel-metal/ lithium ion combination.  The polymer batteries take up less space and are overall better quality.

The fuel economy of the hybrid is also very good.  It is said to get 39 mpg on the highway and 37 for city driving.  A 2009 Chicago used Hyundai Sonata Limited model I came across had 32/22 fuel capacity, which is still good, but the Hybrid’s offerings are better.  Who can dispute saving some cash on gas!?

Hyundai engineers have been hard at work developing and perfecting a system they hope will leave other hybrid’s in the dust.  I will be curious to see how this Sonata does when it arrives at your favorite dealership!

Sales representatives at the Chicago used Hyundai dealership are undoubtedly happy to see Hyundai sales staying up, regardless of such hard times for the U.S. automobile industry. When compared to other Japanese car companies, Hyundai seems to stand out in its ability to keep selling top models such as the Hyundai Elantra Touring in Chicago.

While the recent recall issues that Toyota has been dealing with somewhat account for their loss, Honda is also suffering in sales too. Honda’s numbers decreased from 10.5 percent share in the first quarter of 2009 to 10.1 percent share during the first quarter of 2010. Some feel this drop in sales is because Honda has failed to produce new and exciting cars to add to their lineup. Although Honda sales are up 12.5 percent since last year’s first quarter, the total automobile market grew 17.1 percent. What vehicles are consumers shopping for these days? Why isn’t Honda able to keep up with the competition? After all, Toyota has an excuse, so what is Honda’s explanation?

To recover from decreased sales due to the unfortunate recall incident, Toyota has offered incentives such as 0 percent APR programs for new buyers. Honda also offered cheap leases, which helped increase sales slightly. However, the market share slope continued to decline, leaving Honda and Toyota in a bit of a struggle. Not Hyundai, though. Hyundai Motor is up to 4.4 percent share, compared to 4.2 percent share last year. While these numbers might seem unimpressive to some, they have to take into consideration how other Japanese car companies are managing. Those who have recently purchased a Chicago Hyundai Elantra Touring at the used Hyundai dealership in Chicago may agree with Charles Summers, a car shopper who recently purchased a Hyundai Sonata. Summers initially planned to trade in his 2007 Hyundai Elantra for a Honda Accord; however, after some consideration, he felt the styling of the Honda Accord a bit “bland,” and favored the Hyundai Sonata instead. Summers got the style he wanted, and saved a few thousand dollars in the process. Even something that appears as simple as style preference can hinder a car company’s overall market shares. Luckily for Hyundai, sales aren’t suffering just yet.

US News has posted its official automobile ranking, and Hyundai vehicles take to the podium!

Affordable Midsize Cars: #3 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Upscale Midsize Cars: #3 2010 Hyundai Genesis
Generally priced $25,000 to $40,000

Affordable Sports Cars: #2 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Generally priced under $35,000.

Affordable Compact Wagons: #1 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
Generally priced under $25,000.

Stop by your new and used Hyundai Chicago dealer, Patrick Hyundai, to test drive any of these top-rated automobiles

As part of their Assurance program, Hyundai is offering a bailout for customers who want a vehicle but are uncertain about their financial futures, buying back a customer’s car if he or she is not able to pay for it due to job loss or a disability a year after purchase.  The auto giant will also make the car payment for three months for those out-of-work consumers who lose their jobs but want to keep the car, allowing them a 90-day grace period for them to find work without ever asking for these payments back.  That means you can buy the new 2010 Hyundai Chicago Accent Sedan or a Chicago Elantra and, if an unfortunate job situation befalls you in the next year, there’s no risk!

Hyundai is the first automaker in the U.S. to offer a return without having to worry about equity or depreciation.  This Good Samaritan-like ethic and security assurance has brought Hyundai up in the market and has brought on a greater confidence in the auto consumer, considering the rise in job losses and unemployment leading customers to think more than twice about their auto purchases.

Hyundai has also gained market share most likely through relating to customers on a regional, rather than national, level, in dealerships, such as your local Chicago Hyundai dealership, allowing consumers to interact online and check out the latest and greatest before even stepping into the dealership.  Hyundai also sponsored the Academy Awards last year, a most appropriate sponsorship from an award-winning design and manufacturing company, matching customer satisfaction to a contemporary risk-free bailout program where everybody wins.