Craig’s Take: Why Now May Be a Smart Time to Buy a New Hyundai

Of course I’m going to tell you it’s a great time to buy a new vehicle. I’m a car dealer. It would be concerning if I told you otherwise!

But let’s set the sales pitch aside for a moment.

With fuel prices and interest rates rising, it is an amazing time to review your options, especially if your current vehicle is more than five years old, approaching the end of its warranty, or beginning to need more maintenance and repairs.

Keeping your current vehicle could still be the right decision. However, you may discover that better fuel economy, fewer repair expenses, a strong trade value, big discounts, and available 0% financing make a new Hyundai more affordable than you expected.

Sometimes the math is more convincing than the car dealer.

And yes, I asked AI to fact-check me. Apparently, even artificial intelligence agrees this is worth looking at. It did decline my offer to take a test drive, but I’m still working on it.

Fuel Economy Has Come a Long Way

The EPA’s latest Automotive Trends Report ranks Hyundai second among full-line automakers for estimated real-world fuel economy, behind only Honda. Hyundai ranks ahead of Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, and Volkswagen while averaging almost 30 miles per gallon across its entire lineup.

If your current vehicle is five years old or more, you might be surprised by how much fuel-economy technology has advanced.

Consider the difference between a 2019 Hyundai Elantra SE and a new 2026 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue:

At 12,000 miles per year and $5 per gallon, that improvement could save approximately $707 per year or more than $3,500 over five years.

The 2026 Elantra Hybrid Blue would use approximately 141 fewer gallons of gasoline every year.

No smoke and mirrors here, folks. Those are EPA fuel-economy estimates and straightforward math. At $5 per gallon, every trip you do not make to the gas station is a small financial victory.

Or, depending on your priorities, that $3,500 could purchase a truly unreasonable amount of coffee.

Other fuel-efficient Hyundai models include:

• Sonata Hybrid: Up to an EPA-estimated 47 mpg combined
• Tucson Hybrid: Up to an EPA-estimated 38 mpg combined
• Santa Fe Hybrid: Up to an EPA-estimated 36 mpg combined
• Kona: Up to an EPA-estimated 31 mpg combined

Zero Percent Can Be Worth Thousands

Interest rates are rising in many areas, but Spokane Hyundai currently has financing available starting at 0% APR for up to 60 months O.A.C.

Compared with financing the same amount at 4.99% APR for 60 months, 0% financing could save approximately:

Yes, I asked AI to check this math too.

It confirmed that 0% is considerably less than 4.99%. Technology really is amazing.

That is before including what you could save on fuel, maintenance, and repairs.

0% APR financing for up to 60 months is available to well-qualified buyers on eligible new 2026 SANTA FE and SANTA FE Hybrid vehicles financed through Hyundai Motor Finance. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Offers and eligibility may change. See Spokane Hyundai for complete details. Current offer valid through September 30, 2026.

We Know Your Vehicle, and That Can Work in Your Favor

There may be another financial advantage sitting in your driveway.

If you have serviced your vehicle with Spokane Hyundai, we already know its history. We can see how well it has been maintained, which services have been completed, and how it has been cared for.

That knowledge gives us greater confidence in your vehicle and can allow us to pay more for your trade.

For once, someone knowing a little too much about your vehicle can actually be a good thing!

We already know where it has been, what has been replaced, and whether you followed its maintenance schedule. We promise not to ask why there are seventeen coffee cups in the back seat.

More Reasons to Consider Something New

Fuel savings and low financing rates are only part of the story. A new Hyundai also offers:

• Big discounts on remaining 2026 models
• Available financing starting at 0% APR for up to 60 months O.A.C.
• America’s Best Warranty, including a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty
• Brand-new tires and brakes
• Fewer immediate maintenance and repair concerns
• Advanced safety and driver-assistance features
• Lower emissions
• Improved comfort, technology, and connectivity
• More confidence every time you get behind the wheel

Let’s Run the Numbers, With No Hassle

I’m not saying everyone needs to run out and buy a new vehicle today. I am saying that right now is an amazing time to review your options.

Bring us your current vehicle and let our team prepare a simple, no-hassle comparison. We will look at:

• Your vehicle’s current value
• Its maintenance and service history
• Your estimated fuel savings
• Upcoming maintenance and repair expenses
• Available interest rates, discounts, and incentives
• The overall cost of moving into a new Hyundai

No pressure. No obligation. No smoke and mirrors. Just real numbers so you can make the decision that is right for you.

You might decide to keep driving your current vehicle, and that is perfectly fine. Or you might discover that upgrading today could lower your overall expenses and save you thousands of dollars.