Hyundai Santa Fe Wins 2018 Wards 10 Best UX Trophy

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The all-new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe has been named to the Wards 10 Best UX list. The competition drills deeply in to user experiences in driver-assist technologies, connectivity, navigation, voice-activated systems and intuitive controls. The Santa Fe was acknowledged for its new technologies that make it easy for a driver to interact with the vehicle systems and controls.

"It's important that we pay tribute to the automakers that are focused on making it easy and enjoyable for consumers to interact with their vehicles," WardsAuto Senior Content Director, Drew Winter says. "Nobody wants to be frustrated by technologies that seem like a great idea in the lab but turn out to be annoying in the real world."

WardsAuto recognized the Hyundai Santa Fe (Ultimate trim) as being loaded with 'exemplary' UX features including an easy-to-reach center stack with hard buttons on either side, two USB ports in front and two in the second row, and a 360-degree camera view to help get in and out of tight parking spaces. Additionally, the Santa Fe's was also highlighted for its effective voice control and head-up display featuring loads of information.

"As vehicles become more connected and sophisticated, a driver's ability to comfortably interact with the features is an important part of the overall driving experience," said John Robb, director, Electric Systems Development, Hyundai America Technical Center. "We are at a pivotal point in the industry regarding the evolution of in-vehicle user experiences and are inspired by this recognition as a leader in this competitive space."

According to WardsAuto, models that earn 10 Best UX honors provide customers with the best interactions with:

• Talking to a car's navigation system and having it accurately respond, representing advances in natural voice recognition
• Simplified menus
• Touchscreen controls that include the right mix of hard buttons and knobs, quicker response times and greater accuracy by systems

Hyundai's Santa Fe includes Infotainment and Sound Systems
The 2019 Santa Fe is loaded with technology, including Hyundai's latest AVN 5.0 navigation system with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ offered with higher level trims. The base level trim gets a standard 7-inch user interface, also equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. And to eliminate the need for a charging cord, there's an available Qi wireless charging pad for compatible Android devices, as well as Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X.

When it comes to audio technology, the available premium sound system is well-suited to the Santa Fe's upscale interior. The 640-watt, 12-speaker new Infinity branded stereo system with an 11-channel amplifier features Clari-Fi and QuantumLogic™ Surround Sound technology. Clari–Fi works in real-time to rebuild audio details lost in digitally compressed music, while QuantumLogic™ extracts signals from the original recording and redistributes them into an authentic, multidimensional soundstage for playback that is clear, refined and full of detail. The result is a more robust and enjoyable on-road listening experience.

Smart Speed-Dependent Volume Control can automatically adjust the audio volume up or down based upon the vehicle's speed and the system's volume setting. The gain will change proportionally to the vehicle's speed to overcome associated noise masking effects of the vehicle and thereby reducing the need to adjust the volume while driving. Additionally, the volume setting will taper the gain applied as the volume setting increases. This prevents the system from increasing volume further once road noise has been overcome.

BLUE LINK® Connected Car System
Santa Fe Blue Link-equipped models include three years of complimentary Blue Link services, with enhanced safety, diagnostic, remote and voice guidance services. Blue Link brings connectivity directly into the car with technologies like Remote Start with Climate Control, Remote Door Lock/Unlock, Car Finder, Enhanced Roadside Assistance and Stolen Vehicle Recovery. Blue Link features can be accessed via buttons on the rearview mirror, the MyHyundai.com web portal, the MyHyundai with Blue Link smartphone app, the Amazon® Alexa Blue Link skill and the Blue Link Google Assistant app. Some features can also be controlled via Android Wear™ and Apple Watch™ smartwatch apps. The latest release of the Blue Link smartphone app includes:

• Widgets for easy access to remote features
• Ability to send Point-of-Interest data to vehicle navigation system (if so equipped)
• Access to Blue Link notification settings

More details on specific Blue Link-equipped vehicles available at www.hyundaibluelink.com.

Heads-Up Display (HUD)          
Taking inspiration from aircraft technology, an available Heads-Up Display (HUD) projects an 8.5-inch virtual image onto the windshield, enabling the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road. The feature uses a system of mirrors combined with a TFT LCD display and features adjustable brightness to ensure both excellent daytime and nighttime visibility. Driving information such as speed, Smart Cruise Control status, navigation, Blind Spot Collision Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, speed limit, Lane Departure Warning and audio system data is projected at a perceived virtual distance approximately seven feet ahead of the driver for maximum legibility.

Smart Sense Technologies
Hyundai Smart Sense technologies are now available on Santa Fe. Below are key standard and optional features:

Safety Features
Hyundai's standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) puts eyes in the back of drivers' heads. When backing up, the Blind Spot Detection system may warn the driver if vehicles approaches from the rear side, and may also apply the brakes automatically.

Additional safety features include the optional Rear Occupant Alert, which Hyundai is debuting with the 2019 Santa Fe. The system monitors the rear seats using an ultrasonic sensor that helps to detect the movements of children and pets. The system first reminds drivers to check the rear seats when exiting the vehicle with a message on the center instrument cluster display. If the system detects movement in the rear seats after the driver leaves the vehicle and locks the doors it will honk the horn and send a Blue Link alert to the driver's smartphone via Hyundai's Blue Link connected car system. The system is designed to help prevent children and pets from being forgotten in the car, but it also helps in case children accidentally lock themselves in.

The 2019 Santa Fe also features Hyundai's first standard Safe Exit Assist system. To enhance the safety of Hyundai's passengers, Safe Exit Assist uses radar to help detect cars approaching from the rear and cautions passengers looking to exit the vehicle. If a passenger attempts to open the door when a car is approaching from behind, a visual and acoustic warning on the center cluster may alert the driver. In addition, if the driver attempts to deactivate the Electronic Child Safety Lock feature, Safe Exit Assist will override the driver and ensure the rear doors remain locked until the approaching vehicle has passed. Once the road is clear, the driver can then deactivate the Electronic Child Safety Lock and successfully unlock the rear passenger doors.

Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America is focused on delivering an outstanding customer experience grounded in design leadership, engineering excellence and exceptional value in every vehicle we sell. Hyundai's technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assurance—our promise to deliver peace of mind to our customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide and the majority sold in the U.S. are built at U.S. manufacturing facilities, including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.

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