2009 Hyundai Accent: Hyundai's third-generation Accent subcompact car largely carries over for the third straight year. But it does get up to an 8 percent boost in fuel economy due to engineering enhancements to its 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine, transmission, powertrain management system and power steering pump. New EPA estimates rate 2009 Accent sedans and hatchbacks equipped with an automatic transmission at 35 mpg on the highway, while manual-equipped models get a 3 percent jump to 33 mpg.
Cruise control also makes its debut on the 2009 Accent, and is added (along with a sunroof) to the SE Premium package and to the Popular Equipment package.
2009 Hyundai Azera: Introduced as a new model in 2006, the 2009 Hyundai Azera flagship sedan receives mostly minor feature upgrades for the new model year, helping the Azera compete with upscale offerings from Toyota and Buick. A revised steering and suspension setup with retuned twin-tube gas-charged dampers, softer bushings and a quicker steering rack is the only mechanical update.
Additional changes to the Azera include redesigned 17-inch wheels, an updated chrome grille, blue interior lighting, a standard electroluminescent cluster display, a larger display screen for the audio head unit and standard iPod/USB auxiliary inputs.
The Azera's interior is trimmed with new chrome, dark brown wood grain or ion-plated metal grain, and brown is now offered as an interior color option. New exterior paint colors include Black Onyx Pearl, Crimson Red Pearl, Ivory Pearl, Mystic Blue Pearl, Silk Beige Metallic, Silver Frost Metallic and Smoky Gray Pearl.
2009 Hyundai Elantra: A five-door wagon joins the 2009 Hyundai Elantra sedan this year after a brief hiatus. The new Hyundai Elantra Touring wagon brings standard electronic stability control (ESC) with traction control, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, and six standard airbags. Hyundai says the Touring's sport suspension and steering are tuned for greater response and handling.
All changes to the 2009 Hyundai Elantra sedan are listed as delayed availability, meaning the first '09 sedans will roll off the line exactly like the '08 model. Features targeted for update sometime during the 2009 model year include a new audio system with a larger display screen and improved XM Satellite Radio reception, USB/iPod auxiliary inputs and a new instrument cluster design.
Suspension enhancements to improve the 2009 Elantra sedan's ride and handling are also expected at some point. We're guessing that means it will eventually share the Touring's new setup.
2009 Hyundai Entourage: Hyundai's Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) top safety pick minivan moves forward largely unchanged. Like the rest of the Hyundai models, the 2009 Entourage receives an updated audio system and standard USB/iPod auxiliary ports, plus standard XM Satellite Radio with three months of free service.
The Popular Equipment package with rear-seat entertainment replaces the previous Premium package. The package also includes back-up warning sensors, steering-wheel audio controls, dual power-sliding doors and windows, and a power driver seat.
2009 Hyundai Genesis: The 2009 Hyundai Genesis is an all-new model, and the Korean automaker's first foray into the U.S. rear-wheel-drive luxury car market.
Priced in the $30,000-$40,000 range, the new Genesis sedan is powered by a standard 290-horsepower V6, or an optional 375-hp 4.6-liter V8. Both engines send their power to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
Standard features like power front seats (eight-way driver and four-way passenger); dual-zone automatic climate control; a seven-speaker audio system (includes a CD player, satellite radio and iPod and auxiliary input jacks); leather seating; heated front seats; a power tilt-telescoping steering wheel; and cruise control help the Genesis earn respect from its Lexus competitors.
An optional Technology package that includes xenon headlights, a trip computer, front and rear park assist, a cooled driver seat, a Logic 7 surround-sound audio system, a hard-drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic, a rearview camera and Bluetooth prove that the 2009 Hyundai Genesis has covered all of the standard luxury bases. And more.
2009 Hyundai Santa Fe: Redesigned in 2007, Hyundai's all-wheel-drive Santa Fe SUV gets minimal changes for the 2009 model year. The 2009 Santa Fe receives an improved audio system with standard USB/iPod jacks, and the SE Touring package adds a power driver seat and HomeLink to the seven-passenger seating package. Trailer pre-wiring and roof rack cross rails become standard on the midlevel SE and top-level Limited trims.
New colors for 2009 include Medium Silver Blue, New Pearl White, New Silver and Willow Gray. Official color names have not yet been finalized.
2009 Hyundai Sonata: Hyundai unveiled its refreshed 2009 Sonata at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show in February, and the midsize sedan went on sale shortly thereafter. Revised powertrains, improved fuel economy and horsepower headline the changes, aided by a redesigned interior.
The 2009 Sonata's 2.4-liter inline-4 engine now pumps 175 hp instead of 162, and the 3.3-liter V6 jumps from 234 to 249 hp. EPA ratings improve slightly, earning a 1 or 2 mpg increase in highway mileage. Hyundai has dialed in a firmer ride for GLS and Limited models and added sport tuning with stiffer springs for the SE trim.
Improvements to the Sonata's cabin are immediately noticeable, and include a new audio system with standard USB/iPod auxiliary inputs, an optional navigation system with a high-resolution, touchscreen display and blue illumination on the instrument panel. A Cocoa Brown interior joins the Gray and Camel color options.
Redesigned headlights, taillights and foglights, along with new bumper fascias and body-side moldings with chrome inserts combine with alloy wheels to dress up the Sonata's pedestrian look.
2009 Hyundai Tucson: Going into its fifth year of production, the current-generation Hyundai Tucson gets a negligible boost in EPA ratings for the 2009 model year thanks to engineering enhancements to its 2.0-liter inline-4 and 2.7-liter V6 engines. An optional B&M Racing sport shifter shortens the throws of the Tucson's manual transmission.
But mostly the Hyundai SUV receives cosmetic and feature updates this year. The Tucson returns with all-new 16-inch alloy wheels, a new chrome grille and new tailgate trim. All Tucsons get standard XM Satellite Radio and an auxiliary audio input, and an optional 200-watt Kenwood navigation/audio system with 700MB of internal memory, SD card slot and touchscreen interface will arrive sometime during the model year. The Tucson SE 4WD receives standard heated front seats and a windshield wiper de-icer, and a power sunroof becomes standard on Limited V6 models. The entry-level GLS model gets new seat fabric.
Three new exterior paint colors have been added: Arctic Blue, Crystal Silver and Graphite Gray.
2009 Hyundai Veracruz: Introduced as a new model in 2007, the 2009 Hyundai Veracruz receives minimal changes this year. Like the rest of the Hyundai lineup, the big SUV gets standard USB/iPod jacks, but that's the only feature update. Option packages for the base-level GLS have been reconfigured, and the top-of-the-line Veracruz is now available with a black leather interior. A monochromatic Black Diamond exterior packaged with chrome-clad wheels is expected for the top model.
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