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Ward's releases 10 Best Interiors list for 2014

While we're still a ways off from the automotive awards season proper, where things like North American Car and Truck of the Year, Motor Trend's Car of the Year and Car and Driver's Ten Best are named, that doesn't mean there aren't trophies being handed out to deserving automakers. Ward's 10 Best Interiors being one of them.
As the name might imply, the magazine focuses on the very best interior treatments in the US market. Whereas some awards purposely exclude extreme, high-dollar offerings, Ward's considers them - the only requirement is that a vehicle has a "new or significantly redesigned interior."
Ward's offered up the list of winners in simple, alphabetical order, and it only seems fair to do the same:

Hyundai sets land speed record with fuel-cell Tuscon

The Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell certainly isn't a hydrogen-powered speed demon like the Buckeye Bullet, but the South Korean company's H2-fueled crossover is fast enough to hold its own land speed record. How many SUVs can claim that? Not too many, but that's because there simply aren't many hydrogen-powered vehicles around, let alone SUVs. Hyundai recently took a 2016 Tucson Fuel Cell to the Soggy Dry Lake Bed in California, and the efficient model claimed a new land speed record for a production hydrogen-powered SUV. Set to the always stirring Ride of the Valkyries, the automaker's video shows the Tucson whispering through the desert while leaving only a cloud of dust and drips of water behind. Rather than spoiling it, you need to watch the clip to find out just how fast the fuel cell-powered Tuscon can go. The Tucson uses its fuel cell stack to power to spin the front wheels with an electric motor that makes 134 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. They are currently available to lease in Southern California, and the company delivered about 70 of them in the first year.

2018 Hyundai Kona improves headlights to get top IIHS award

Only about two months ago, the IIHS tested the 2018 Hyundai Kona subcompact crossover for safety, and it did well in almost every category except headlights. The subpar lights meant it only received the second-highest award available from the organization: Top Safety Pick. But now Hyundai has updated the lights, and IIHS agrees that some of them are a massive improvement, enough to upgrade the rating to Top Safety Pick+. The versions of the Kona that have the highly rated lights are Limited and Ultimate trims with projector LED lights. The rating applies to cars built after May 2018, and the main improvement is reduction in glare for oncoming drivers. While these high-level Konas now have solid lights, the IIHS still rates base models with the halogen lights as "Poor" due to weak forward illumination. All of this makes the Kona an attractive crossover option. Not only does it have good crash test results and headlights, but it's actually an enjoyable car to drive, particularly with the spunky turbo engine. Add in the distinctive, funky styling, and the Kona is a stand-out in its class. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.