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Sometimes, given its fast climb over the past decade, it’s hard to remember that Hyundai Motor celebrates only its 50th anniversary this year. That’s one reason the brand can seem “late” to certain traditional milestones already achieved by other carmakers that have a 100-year history.

For the first time in the last ten years, a mid-sized vehicle has achieved the top spot in the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's "Greenest Cars" list. The mid-sized Hyundai Ioniq topped the list with a highest ever green score of 64, followed closely by the BMW i3 in a list dominated by electric vehicles.

High Wycombe, 17 March 2017 – Hyundai Motor has been named Green Manufacturer of the Year and producer of the Best Plug in Car (0g/km), highlighting the brand and its model range as the stand-out environmentally-friendly option for fleet operators. The prestigious awards from leading business automotive title Fleet News recognises Hyundai Motor’s commitment to eco-friendly practices that enhance the lives of its customers while providing cost-effective motoring options to fleet operators.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., March 22, 2017 – The 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has been recognized for class-leading performance and value by Automotive Science Group (ASG), earning their “Best All-Around Performance” honor, while the Sonata earned their “Best Economic Performance” honor in the full-size sedan category, besting 106 other models. Sonata is joined by four other models that were recognized for “Best 5 All-Around Performance” in their respective classes, including the Accent, Tucson, Santa Fe Sport and Sonata PHEV.

 

 

“I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain…”

 

James Taylor lyrics?

 

Of course.

 

However, today’s test car, the 2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport, has experienced those conditions, too. Plans for our test driving didn’t include a trial by fire, but that’s what happened when we woke up to our Elantra covered with ashes.

 

Montgomery, Ala., – On Tuesday, March 14, 2017, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) celebrated the 5 millionth engine to be manufactured at the Alabama assembly plant. Engine shop Team Members and HMMA leadership gathered for a luncheon to celebrate this significant achievement.

If you're familiar with Hyundai you already know the automaker's modus operandi: offer a similar (or superior) product at a lower price than the competition. The company has always been a price leader, though when it entered the U.S. market 30 years ago it quickly gained a "you get what you pay for" reputation. Throughout the 1990s I was as skeptical as anyone regarding Hyundai's quality. Then I drove a 2000 Elantra for a year as part of a long-term test.