5 December 2008

Hyundai finishes 2008 with a full awards shelf

Hyundai’s commitment to excellence has been acknowledged this year with a swarm of awards from leading automotive authorities.

The i30 has been awarded the Best Small Car of the Year by New Zealand’s leading business review publication the NBR and has also been named the winner of its categories in the “Australia Best Cars” awards.

The Hyundai Grandeur CRDi has been named the Large Business Car of the Year by well respected automotive and fleet management magazine, New Zealand Company Vehicle and Executive Cars which also crowned the H-1 as its 2008 Van of the Year.

Peter Gill, motoring writer for the NBR, said of the i30, “I cannot think of a Euro or Japanese car selling in the same price bracket that can match this one for styling, presentation and driving interest and the great thing is that as with every Hyundai, you can have it as a diesel.”

As winner of Australia’s Best Mid-size Car Under $28,000, the i30 was subjected to an exhaustive evaluation and assessment process that focused on three main criteria; value for money, design and function and on the road performance and was judged the clear winner.

“The Hyundai i30, whether it’s the petrol or diesel version has scored at the top of its class” commented the Chief Judge, Ernest Litera.

The i30 hatch will be joined by the i30 CW wagon here in New Zealand in early 2009 offering consumers an i30 model with a longer wheelbase and larger boot space.

The Grandeur CRDi was praised by New Zealand Company Vehicle and Executive Cars for its refined and economical performance of its diesel engine and its full armoury of safety equipment.

The Grandeur CRDi recently competed in the AA Energywise Rally where it recorded an extremely low CO2 output of just 161g/km making it one of the few large cars that currently meets the proposed 2015 Government target of 170grams CO2 per KM.

The extremely spacious and grunt laden H-1 van was noted for its inclusion of Electronic Stability Control, a feature none of its direct competitors offers at this price point.

“It’s great to see Hyundai’s product being awarded by these well respected publications, especially as they acknowledge our commitment to bringing affordable diesel products to the New Zealand market,” said Philip Eustace, Executive Director Hyundai Motors New Zealand.

“It’s particularly pleasing to be awarded for ensuring that our cars all have electronic stability control and a high air bag count as well as offering the reduced running costs and lower emissions of diesel power.”

In a special recognition award, Hyundai was also honoured as NBR’s Sexiest Car Company of the Year, for its marketing and promotion, and for its appealing product line-up.

“From its “The Wayward Wind” TV commercials with the infant surfer picking up his girlfriend in a Santa Fe, and the various spin-offs of that creative theme, to the way the company offers a diesel option in every vehicle product it offers and ensured that electronic stability control programming has been standard in every new Hyundai for added safety, this company has very much gone the extra mile for the New Zealand vehicle buyer. It is the sexiest car company in New Zealand right now.” Said Peter Gill.

And to top it all off Hyundai was also named as the Car Company of the Year by UK Autocar citing the Korean giant’s “mind-blowing” ambition.

ENDS

Philip Eustace

Executive Director

Hyundai Motors New Zealand

Ph: +64 274 950874

Email:

For further information, please contact Nicky Clarke, 021 855 978,

  • Currently Hyundai is the number one selling diesel passenger vehicle manufacturer in New Zealand and has numerous new locations among its 24 dealerships. The brand has been imported into New Zealand by the Giltrap Group for the past 26 years

  • Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group which was ranked as the world’s fifth largest automaker in 2007 and includes over two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates.

  • Hyundai is a committed sponsor of sports and cultural organisations in New Zealand and worldwide. See

  • For further information about Hyundai vehicles in New Zealand, including high resolution images and an archive of press releases, log onto the dedicated Hyundai Media website at
  • For the international media news room, where you can download press releases, high-resolution photos, as well as preview and request broadcast-standard video which will be delivered digitally or by tape, visit . Registration and video is free to accredited media.

The award winning Hyundai i30 – NBR’s Best Small Car of the Year and Australia’s Best Cars category winner