Big Words: Simplified.

Car And Driver Magazine named the Hyundai Sonata one of the 10 Best Cars for 2011.

The thought is rather flattering. To be compared to the likes of Porsche, Cadillac and BMW is like being compared to the Prom Queen in High School. We did it! The Sonata is in the cool crowd.

Without basically re-writing the article I will tell you, it’s classy. The 2011 Sonata has been out for about a year now. It has been said that its “greatness is undeniable.” It may look like a sports car but it is indeed a family sedan; refurbished with your needs in mind.

Guess what else this car has to offer: The LOWEST base price in its segment! Hyundai didn't want you to feel like you were settling so the lowest base price will still get you a six-speed transmission. With this car, the good just keeps on coming, with Bluetooth and XM radio and trunk space to boot, you will swoon when you see this car in your driveway (post Christmas present? Or how about Valentines Day?).

Here, peruse our stock.

Asterisk Abuse. Not your momma's commuter car.

The exciting news can finally be revealed: The New 2011 Hyundai Elantra is here! Finally

I personally feel like every carmaker taps into our inner 5 year old and makes you blurt out, “ooooh, I want that!” I am still paying off my 2008 Hyundai Sonata (which I adore, by the way, nothing but good reports about it) and I want to trade it for either the 2011 Elantra or the Sonata, both incredibly sporty and just in general, better than my car. Remain calm. My head suddenly goes through a thousand scenarios, I am selling things on Craigslist to scrape together a down payment, I am asking my Father for a new car. No, that's silly.

They shouldn't have let me test drive it.

Reasons Why I Have Fallen For the New 2011 Hyundai Elantra:

• 29 mpg City, 40 mpg highway. Oh my goodness, Need I say more?
  • for those uninformed out there....which was me 2 years ago, let me explain mpg = miles per gallon. The reason it's lower in the city is because you are stopping and starting so often. These numbers are so high and that means...you fill up on gas less, which I hate anyway, it's so inconvenient, take me back to the days of full service gas station pump attendants, please!
• Redesigned, sleek body. Wow, this 2010 body was thrown out the window! This car looks like a scaled down 2011 Sonata which, let me tell you, is a good thing. Not only sporty but also aerodynamic. Someone was doing their homework.
• I'll just say it, I am nearly 6 feet tall. Finding a car that fits my legs is tough. But driving the Elantra was a joy. I started out by sliding my chair back and it went TOO FAR. Too far, seriously? That never happens. Then I sat in the back seat (with my driver seat extended) and there was enough room to put someone on my lap...not that I did.
• Talking about space...don't get me started on trunk space, it was unlimited. It went in so far, which I imagine helps with wheel noise reduction.
• Heated front AND REAR seats? I have always wanted those....just in my seat, let alone all of them! This is so cool (calming my inner 5 year old all over again).
• Last but not least proximity, touch start engine and touch screen navigation (let's hope they have an Australian accented guide)

I could go on and on about the engine and how there is a 6 speed transmission, etcetera, etcetera. But those aren't the sinkers. With this new car, Hyundai has you in mind! They honestly pursued making you feel special for under $20,000 (and a little bit more than that if you so desire all of the bells & whistles).

Back to the Asterisk Abusing out there. As I read and read article upon article to maximize my Elantra knowledge I realized there are some number fudgers out there. Why say that your car has 42 mpg with the dreaded asterisk (which I realized I was spelling incorrectly)? Dreaded asterisk....meaning you can hit a whopping 42 mpg if you are being dropped out of a helicopter onto a highway, going down wind and if you are a supermodel who weighs 12 pounds, thus never slowing down you car. Come on! The special thing about the new Elantra is:

a)you don't have to be a supermodel and weigh 12 pounds and

b) it has 40 mpg on the highway no matter what (GASP!).

So, get one. Or at least test drive one and satisfy your inner 5 year old, please!

More info? Click here.

The Great Debate: To be Mighty or to be Humble?

Give this Automotive Magazine article, Hyundai: Humble and Hungry a gander.

Do you find your mouth watering every time the fantastic Hyundai commercials come on TV? Here's why...

• In the past six years Hyundai has grown 75% in the US Market and is now the #6 selling car in the nation.
• Recession? What recession? Hyundai is the WORLD's fastest growing carmaker.
• Hyundai has recently received public applause from J.D. Power & Associates, the jury for North American Car of the Year, the Wall Street Journal and MANY more.
• For more than 10 years they have offered the 10-year/100,000-mile power train warranty. (many other car-makers decided to follow suit. Coincidence? I think not.)
• For the past few years have operated under the Hyundai Assurance Initiative - to make matters simple - you can bring your new car back if you lose your job and Hyundai will give you the value of your car

Want to get acquainted with the Hyundai Motor Higher Ups? Read this article. Or I can sweetly summarize for you.

John Juriga, the power-train director at Hyundai, used to work for GM "squeezing extra power from Corvette engines." Juriga came to Hyundai eight years ago, drawn in by the small group of men who pursued decision making with power and precision. Their focus was to do what was best for the customer and to make changes on cars right up to their unveiling. Amazed by the idea of being interviewed by a top executive and his easy access to them to this day, he quickly joined the team and has been helping Hyundai make perfection a reality on their cars.

John Krafcik is President and CEO of Hyundai. He describes Hyundai in three words: Diligence, Frugality and Harmony. Not a very "sexy" motto. Diligence is described as this: South Korean Hyundai employees arrive at 7 am and stay until nearly 10 pm with a dinner purchased by Hyundai. The intense rate of improvement sends thanks directly to these employees who devote their time and attention to their engineering. The frugality refers directly to the Hyundai speed - the ability and desire to make decisions as late in the process as possible. Hyundai not only accepts but encourages later changes to improve upon customer response. Harmony is displayed in the small number of officers in the company. "At Toyota Motor Sales, there are more than forty people with vice president and above titles; we have five at that level."

Chris Perry, Marketing VP, is the last character we meet. You have probably seen his latest vision during Glee or Monday night football commercials. Recent ads teach you how to say "hun-day," spread holiday cheer with the internet group Pomplamoose, and showcase wind-stretched faces of powerful 2011 Sonata drivers.

Why do you care?

Well, I care because I take pride in the fact that I am representing the nation's fastest growing car-maker. And you should care because you are driving one (or at least considering). The success of Hyundai corporate directly reflects on YOUR vehicle improvements, retained trade-in value, convenient location of Hyundai dealers, availability of parts and service, and state of the art features when you do purchase a new car or SUV. As opposed to some automakers who delay improvements until Congress forces a restructure, Hyundai is on the cutting edge and offers value because they care about you and the product they are selling you. Don't you love doing business with a company that has integrity?

On the Hyundai Motor Officers I say this, thank you for posting your picture! I like to feel like I know you. Thank you for being somewhat funny and sharing your challenges. I can appreciate and relate to someone who tries to be normal. I'm not sure what Mercedes CEO looks like and I'm pretty sure he and I wouldn't be facebook friends.

On the title...I'd rather be seen as humble.