2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring to feature USB port

It's no secret that vehicles hoping to get Microsoft's Blue&Me system integrated in aren't scared of rocking a USB port, and while Hyundai hasn't stated whether or not the technology will indeed be a part of the 2009 Elantra Touring, the USB port will still be along for the ride. Deemed the first Hyundai to come equipped with such a connector, the vehicle will also come standard with an auxiliary jack and XM radio, which is apt to be called something a bit different by the time it's released. Nevertheless, it's refreshing to see such a nicety being added to a lower-end ride, and while we can only assume that it will enable MP3 playback, Hyundai's remaining mum on the details for now.

[Via GetUSB]

[XAVIER @ Aug 15th 2007 5:38AM]

But will it blend ?

LOL i Had to , sorry.

[JPQsat @ Aug 15th 2007 6:32AM]

That's really nothing new, my father 2006 Hyundai Tucson have USB port on the stereo. It's a canadian model, but i don't see why us models would be diferents.

[DutchGuy @ Aug 15th 2007 5:48AM]

This isn't news. Any €20 car radio nowadays has USB and will play MP3 and WMA.

[arthur @ Aug 15th 2007 6:39AM]

Hyundai's new European hatchback, i30, has an USB/iPod port as standard; in promotional pictures, an iPod is connected to it, and the brochure states it'll play back the connected player's music (iPod or other MP3) over the factory fitted audio system.

So "the first Hyundai to come equipped with such a connector" is perhaps true for the US, but not world wide...

[Marcus @ Aug 15th 2007 7:48AM]

Great You Wrote it, Otherwise I would have done it!

[michael @ Aug 15th 2007 6:40AM]

So.. My LCD TV has a USB port, it says SERVICE right next to it but its still a USB port.

[RAVENB. @ Aug 15th 2007 7:39AM]

WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE TO HATE? LET HYUNDAI DO ITS THING AND GET SOME LOVE. MAYBE PEOPLE WILL BE A LITTLE SMARTER IN THE WAY THEY BUY NEW CARS. THEY ARE A HELL OF A LOT CHEAPER THEN MOST CARS ON THE MARKET AND PROBABLY MADE BETTER TO

[Mrmean @ Aug 15th 2007 7:46AM]

LMAO @ Hyundai.....garbage

[Grizz @ Aug 15th 2007 7:57AM]

I find the majority of people who rag on Hyundai's are 12yo's who play Need for Speed on their game cubes all day and think their gonna have a kicking rad Honda when their 16. Low and behold they get that Honda but its a 1987 model with nothing that can hold a candle to the 2009 Hyundai.

[Mrmean @ Aug 15th 2007 8:02AM]

LOL, because the 2009 Hyundai has been tested for reliability standards in the future years already...?

[Grizz @ Aug 15th 2007 8:24AM]

I guess we both will have to wait and see.

[iczer2 @ Aug 15th 2007 8:42AM]

Hyundai, best bang for the buck, one of the best power train warranties, and they just keep getting better and better every year. Hyundai's gaining on Toyota and Honda with every passing year. It's the same thing that happened during the 80's when Toyota and Honda. Back then they were the newer kids on the block and needed to fight to get to where they are now. It's Hyundai's turn now and they're succeeding.

Although, I wished they had put that USB port in the even the higher-end cars, like the new re-designed Santa Fe I got. Then I wouldn't have had to replace the stock stereo. Ah well.

[Player1 @ Aug 15th 2007 11:51AM]

You don't know what you are talking about.

[JS @ Aug 15th 2007 8:40AM]

Well my dad has had two elantras in the past (now driving a PT Cruiser now theres a piece of shit), and two of friends have bought 07's this past year. I gotta say they're reliable and reasonably priced (a comparably equipped civic would probably cost 7 grand more). They're certainly not garbage, if you wanna see garbage look at the cost cutting american manufacturers using substandard parts and just generally maintaining a lower standard of quality. So go hyundai go, keep adding features, and hopefully the american car companies take notice and turn their shit around.

[iczer2 @ Aug 15th 2007 8:49AM]

I've had Santa Fe's for years, also, and it's one of the best car's I've had. And the '07 is even better.

[Mike Botros @ Aug 15th 2007 10:32AM]

Kinda like the 2008 Ford Focus having the optional voice activated Ford/Microsoft Sync system. It's nice to see the car companies bringing such technologies to even their lowest end models.

And to JS,

Only Chrysler remains in the low end of the quality/reliability spectrum. American cars from GM and Ford are catching up in customer satisfaction and reliability to Toyota.

Hyundai is also getting some fierce competition from them now, too. Their biggest hurdle is the bad reputation.

[JS @ Aug 15th 2007 12:11PM]

I have actually heard that recently Mike, and your right about ford at least I'd say (I like the new fusion and the fact that you cang get one with a five speed). However I still find qualitty issues with gm vehicles that have been built this decade. I drive an alero and while I maintain it nicely and it hasn't given me any issues there are some minor annoyances with inteiror quality and design I don't like.

My Alero aside my mom had a pontiac montana 2004 and the right front wheel bearing was shot after 60k miles, to me this is unacceptible as wheel bearings these days are sealed and require no maintenance so they shouldn't fail at least not after only 60k miles. Before I bought the alero I had a toyota corrolla and when I got that car it had 220,000 miles on it I put an additional 40,000 on it and the wheel bearings never had to be replaced (my uncle drove it for ten years before he gave it to me). Heres the kicker my brother is still driving that car 12 years old 300,000 miles still no bad wheel bearings. I feel that if toyota uses wheel bearings that will carry my old toyota 300,000 miles, GM better damn well be using something equivalent this is America we invented the GD car.

But alas hopefully they're learning from the mistakes of the late 90's early 2k's. And when you referred to bad reputation were you referring to hyundai or gm and ford?

Cheers

[Mike Botros @ Aug 15th 2007 2:25PM]

I was referring to GM and Ford's bad reps.

As for the GM cars. It seems like only the Caddy's and Buicks have the quality and reliability to compete. I don't know when or if the chevy's are going to match the quality. It's probably harder since they produce so many more than the other brands.

It seems like Ford has definately been focusing a lot more on their 3 main brands than the PAG brands as of late. Starting with the new vehicles that were released 2006-2008/2009 Ford should be way back up there. Fusion's really good. Taurus should be a lot better than the Five Hundred. And hopefully the 08 Focus will be successful. All I know is that the next car I'm getting as soon as my Lincoln Zephyr lease is up in Feb. will have SYNC.

[Adrian @ Aug 15th 2007 10:48AM]

I can't wait to plug in my 360 controller. Then I can drive from the passenger seat. It's just too bad it won't accept the xbox's wireless steering wheel.

[trancer @ Aug 15th 2007 3:18PM]

i love Hyundai! always improving. the point isn't whether or not u can get a usb port in your car, but rather its showing that Hyundai is moving in the right direction in integrating such devices in a low end standard car, indicating perhaps bigger and better things to come.
i don't see many stock cars out there that have usb port. then again, unless they have a good system that can utilize that usb port, it would be useless.