Hyundai Sonata Tops TheCarConnection's List of Top Ten Most Popular Reviews in 2010

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Dec. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The all-new Hyundai Sonata, a North American Car of the Year finalist, led TheCarConnection's (TCC) list of top ten most popular reviews in 2010.  The all-new Sonata, TheCarConnection's Best Car to Buy 2011, topped all other models, boosting viewership and site traffic each time a new story was posted.

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Joining Sonata on the TheCarConnection's list is the 2010 Hyundai Tucson.  Following its early 2010 debut, Tucson continued to hold the attention of car shoppers throughout the year with its daring design and sub-$20,000 sticker price.

"The list of the most popular reviews on TCC in 2010 shows you're shopping brands like Hyundai more often than ever," said Marty Padgett, editorial director for TheCarConnection. "The 2011 Hyundai Sonata led all comers with a boost each time we wrote about it: as a base car, as a turbo 2.0T, and as a Hybrid."

"Consumers have discovered the new Sonata this year with its exciting design, best-in-class fuel economy and outstanding residual value," said Mike O'Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America.  "This combination makes Sonata a top contender in the competitive mid-size category and we are pleased by its outstanding market reception this year.  Not only are shoppers showing interest in the Sonata, they are buying the vehicle as well – we've sold more than 200,000 Sonatas in North America this year, a highpoint for the nameplate."

The 2011 Sonata represents a modern approach to the traditional mid-size sedan segment by using only advanced four-cylinder engines, emotional design and luxury features offered with Hyundai's strong value proposition. In addition to the standard 2.4-liter, gasoline direct injection powertrain making 35 miles-per-gallon highway, Hyundai added a 2.0-liter, 274-horsepower turbo and first-ever hybrid to the Sonata lineup. The Sonata Turbo went on sale in September and the Sonata Hybrid, achieving 40 miles-per-gallon highway, will hit showrooms in January 2011.

The revolutionary new Tucson joined the rapidly evolving Hyundai product line in early 2010. The sleek crossover from Hyundai, with its athletic European design, improves in every functional area, from its roomier cabin with extra cargo space to its leap in fuel economy and technology.

Both the Sonata and Tucson achieved the 2011 Top Safety Pick honor from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's new, more stringent 2011 system.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

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SOURCE Hyundai Motor America