PUBLIC MARKS from kzoo with tag hyundai

Not every car manufacturer suffers in the times of crisis. While we keep hearing about the American automakers facing problems, some companies manage to profit even in the hard times like this.

In respond to high fuel prices Hyundai has introduced more four-cylinder versions of its midsize Sonata sedan. For 2008, all Hyundai Sonata models, not just the base version, are available with an economical four-cylinder engine that rates an EPA-estimated 30 mpg Highway.

That big SUV in your garage feels as modern as a Nixon-era Olds 88. Global warming and our everlasting oil dependency are dimming the prospects of GM and Ford following Chrysler into the rear-drive V-8 sedan business. You could drive yourself to work in a Toyota Prius or one of the stealthier hybrids, but even at $3 per, the hybrid won t pay off for years. By then, the interest on your adjustable-rate mortgage could be sky high.