ORANGE COUNTY — Following an audit by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America announced they are voluntarily adjusting the fuel economy ratings for approximately 900,000, or 35 percent, of their 2011-13 model-year vehicles. These are vehicles sold through Oct. 31, 2012.

Procedural errors at the automakers’ joint testing operations in Korea led to incorrect fuel economy ratings for select vehicle lines. As part of Hyundai/Kia’s corrective actions, the fuel economy ratings for vehicles currently in showrooms are being voluntarily relabeled. With these changes, the 2012 Hyundai/Kia fleet fuel economy level is reduced by an average of three percent — from 27 to 26 MPG.

“I sincerely apologize to all affected Hyundai and Kia customers, and I regret these errors occurred,” said Dr. W. C. Yang, chief technology officer of Hyundai/Kia research and development. “Following up on the EPA’s audit results, we have taken immediate action to make the necessary rating changes and process corrections.”

Both companies are putting in place a comprehensive reimbursement program for affected current and former vehicle owners to cover the additional fuel costs associated with the fuel economy rating change. Customers will receive a personalized debit card that will reimburse them for their difference in the EPA-combined fuel economy rating. In addition, as an acknowledgement of the inconvenience this may cause, the manufacturers will add an extra 15 percent to the reimbursement amount.

Current owners will be able to refresh their debit card for as long as they own the vehicle. Prior owners of affected vehicles who have already sold their cars will also be reimbursed using the same formula. For more information about reimbursement and a complete list of eligible vehicles, visit www.HyundaiMPGinfo.com and www.KiaMPGinfo.com.

The fuel economy rating discrepancies resulted from procedural errors during a process called “coastdown” testing at the companies’ joint testing operations in Korea. Coastdown testing simulates aerodynamic drag, tire rolling resistance and drivetrain frictional losses and provides the technical data used to program the test dynamometers that generate EPA fuel economy ratings.

“Given the importance of fuel efficiency to all of us, we’re extremely sorry about these errors,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “When we say to Hyundai owners, ‘We’ve got your back,’ that’s an assurance we don’t take lightly. We’re going to make this right for everyone, and we’ll be more driven than ever to ensure our vehicles deliver outstanding fuel economy.”

HYUNDAI FUEL ECONOMY ESTIMATES

 

Current Fuel Economy Label

Modified Fuel Economy Label

(MPG)

(MPG)

City

Hwy

Combined

City

Hwy

Combined

2011 Models

 

Elantra

A-6, 1.8L, 4cyl

29

40

33

28

38

32

M-6, 1.8L, 4cyl

29

40

33

28

38

32

Sonata HEV

 

35

40

37

34

39

36

 

2012 Models

 

Accent

A-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

30

40

33

28

37

31

M-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

30

40

34

28

37

32

Azera

A-6, 3.3L, 6cyl

20

29

23

20

28

23

Elantra

A-6, 1.8L, 4cyl

29

40

33

28

38

32

M-6, 1.8L, 4cyl

29

40

33

28

38

32

Genesis

A-8, 3.8L, 6cyl

19

29

22

18

28

22

A-8, 4.6L, 8cyl

17

26

20

16

25

19

A-8, 5.0L, 8cyl

17

26

20

17

25

20

(R-Spec) A-8, 5.0L, 8cyl

16

25

19

16

25

18

Sonata HEV

 

35

40

37

34

39

36

Tucson 2WD

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl

23

31

26

22

29

25

M-5, 2.0L, 4cyl

20

27

23

20

26

22

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

22

32

25

21

30

25

Tucson 4WD

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

21

28

23

20

27

23

Veloster

AM-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

29

38

32

27

35

30

M-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

28

40

32

27

37

31

 

2013 Models

 

Accent

A-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

30

40

33

28

37

31

M-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

30

40

34

28

37

32

Azera

A-6, 3.3L, 6cyl

20

30

24

20

29

23

Elantra

A-6, 1.8L, 4cyl

29

40

33

28

38

32

M-6, 1.8L, 4cyl

29

40

33

28

38

32

A-6, 1.8L, 4cyl

30

40

34

28

38

32

Elantra Coupe

A-6, 1.8L, 4cyl

28

39

32

27

37

31

M-6, 1.8L, 4cyl

29

40

33

28

38

32

Elantra GT

A-6, 1.8L, 4cyl

28

39

32

27

37

30

M-6, 1.8L, 4cyl

27

39

31

26

37

30

Genesis

A-8, 3.8L, 6cyl

19

29

22

18

28

22

(R-Spec) A-8, 5.0L, 8cyl

16

25

19

16

25

18

Santa Fe Sport 2WD

           

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl (*T)

21

31

25

20

27

23

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

22

33

26

21

29

24

Santa Fe Sport 4WD

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl (*T)

20

27

22

19

24

21

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

21

28

23

20

26

22

Tucson 2WD

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl

23

31

26

22

29

25

M-5, 2.0L, 4cyl

20

27

23

20

26

22

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

22

32

25

21

30

25

Tucson 4WD

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

21

28

23

20

27

23

Veloster

AM-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

29

40

33

28

37

31

A-6, 1.6L, 4cyl (*T)

25

34

29

24

31

28

M-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

28

40

32

27

37

31

M-6, 1.6L, 4cyl (*T)

26

38

30

24

35

28

KIA FUEL ECONOMY ESTIMATES

 

Current Fuel Economy Label

Modified Fuel Economy Label

(MPG)

(MPG)

City

Hwy

Combined

City

Hwy

Combined

 

2011 Models

 

Optima HEV

 

35

40

37

34

39

36

 

2012 Models

 

Rio

A-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

30

40

33

28

36

31

M-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

30

40

34

29

37

32

Sorento 2WD

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl (*GDI)

22

32

25

21

30

24

Sorento 4WD

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl (*GDI)

21

28

23

20

26

22

Soul

A-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

27

35

30

25

30

27

M-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

27

35

30

25

30

27

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl

26

34

29

23

28

25

M-6, 2.0L, 4cyl

26

34

29

24

29

26

Soul ECO

A-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

29

36

32

26

31

28

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl

27

35

30

24

29

26

Sportage 2WD

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl (*T)

22

29

24

21

28

24

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

22

32

25

21

30

25

M-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

21

29

24

20

27

23

Sportage 4WD

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl (*T)

21

26

23

20

25

22

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

21

28

24

20

27

23

 

2013 Models

 

Rio

A-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

30

40

33

28

36

31

M-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

30

40

34

29

37

32

(Eco) A-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

31

40

34

30

36

32

Sorento 2WD

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl (*SIDI)

22

32

25

21

30

24

Sorento 4WD

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl (*GDI)

21

28

23

20

26

22

Soul

A-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

27

35

30

25

30

27

M-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

27

35

30

25

30

27

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl

26

34

29

23

28

25

M-6, 2.0L, 4cyl

26

34

29

24

29

26

Soul ECO

A-6, 1.6L, 4cyl

29

36

32

26

31

28

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl

27

35

30

24

29

26

Sportage 2WD

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl

22

29

24

21

28

24

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

22

32

25

21

30

25

M-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

21

29

24

20

27

23

Sportage 4WD

A-6, 2.0L, 4cyl

21

26

23

20

25

22

A-6, 2.4L, 4cyl

21

28

24

20

27

23

 

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