
Winter always seems to come upon us long before we’re ready for it. This is especially true when it comes to winterizing your Hyundai. Winter elements can be very hard on your vehicle, whether it’s salt-covered highways, snow, slush, slippery roads, or freezing temperatures in Baltimore. This might be a good time to schedule an appointment at Fitzgerald’s Lakeforest Hyundai so we can winterize your vehicle. Several things need to be done to winterize your Hyundai. To learn more, continue reading.
Important Winter Services near Arlington, VA
- Tires – You can expect your vehicle to handle well on winter roads if they’re not in good condition. If your tires are showing signs of wear and tear, they should be replaced before winter arrives. If you live in a snowy climate such as Alexandria, VA, you might want to consider winter tires. Be sure your tires are rotated every 5,000 miles. Tires typically lose air in the winter, so be sure to check the pressure regularly.
- Heating – Too often we discover our car’s heater is not working properly on the coldest day of the year. Our technicians can inspect your heating system and make sure it’s in tip-top shape and ready to do its job.
- Windshield – Your windshield should be in good condition and free from cracks. Make sure the windshield wiper blades are working correctly and not in need of replacement. Make sure your windshield washer reservoir is full and keep extra windshield washer fluid in the trunk.
- Fluids – Make sure all your fluid levels are topped, including motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and anti-freeze.
- Battery – Cold temperatures can be hard on batteries, which is why you should start the winter with a fully charged battery or a new one.
Don’t wait before it’s too late. We are happy to assist all drivers in the Washington DC area to get their vehicles ready for the cold months ahead.
Hyundai vs. Honda – Fitzgerald Gaithersburg Hyundai

With so many brands and models to consider, it can be overwhelming when shopping for a new vehicle. If you’ve whittled down your list of brands to two, and they’re Hyundai and Honda, then we’re ready to help! From SUVs to compact cars and sedans, we’re going to help Baltimore area drivers make some (hopefully) helpful distinctions between Hyundai and Honda!
Standard Equipment
Regardless of whether you’re an Arlington, VA driver searching for a new family SUV or you’re a Washington, DC driver looking for a commuter car, when you look at Hyundai and Honda you’ll likely notice on glaring difference. The difference: Hyundai models tend to come equipped with a far larger set of standard features than Honda models. The difference becomes clear when you look at two vehicles side-by-side.
Hyundai Kona vs. Honda HR-V
The Hyundai Kona comes outfitted with ample tech and comfort features, offering drivers a standard seven-inch touchscreen infotainment display, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, and dual USB front inputs. Comparatively, the Honda HR-V comes equipped with a five-inch infotainment display that doesn’t include smartphone connectivity. It does, however, comes with an AM/FM radio and a CD player.
Safety equipment with the Honda HR-V includes all the classics. Alexandria, VA drivers can look forward to seat belts and airbags along with a handful of other traditional safety offerings. The Hyundai Kona boasts a standard set of driver assistance features along with all the classic safety features! The Kona includes automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. In order to add driver assistance features, drivers have to jump to the EX Honda HR-V trim.
Contact Fitzgerald Gaithersburg Hyundai to learn more about the Hyundai Vehicle Lineup!
Check out our full Hyundai vs Honda comparison here and then check out our latest selection of new Hyundai models for yourself!

If you’re looking to add some style and versatility to your daily drives, but need something with smaller space requirements, the Hyundai Kona is a perfect fit. With its sleek design, spacious interior, and available turbocharged engine, Kona is a breath of fresh air in a segment that has gotten a bit stale. It offers flexible accommodations for passengers and cargo, plus tons of standard and available features. And with its convenient compact dimensions, it’s ideal for navigating Arlington, VA’s busy streets.
Though still a relatively new model, Kona is shaking up the industry, which means it’s bound to draw comparisons to established nameplates like the Kia Sportage. While the Sportage is a slightly larger model, that could be a detriment to Alexandria VA drivers who need something more maneuverable. And when you compare these two models head-to-head, Kona emerges victorious in several essential areas.
Want to learn more about how these compact crossovers match up? Check out our Hyundai Kona vs. Kia Sportage comparison page. Here are a few highlights:
- Despite a smaller exterior, Kona makes better use of its interior space, offering more front headroom than Sportage.
- Sportage is in a larger class than Kona and has a stronger engine to match. However, when comparing available turbocharged engines, Kona’s acceleration keeps pace, thanks to its lighter curb weight.
- Kona is also much more efficient than Sportage. With its standard engine, Kona achieves EPA-estimated fuel-economy ratings of 27 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. And even with the available turbocharged engine, the numbers don’t change much (EPA-estimated 28/32/30). Conversely, the Sportage engine achieves EPA-estimated ratings of 23/30/26 with the standard engine, and 20/28/23 with the turbo.
Test Drive the New Hyundai Kona in Gaithersburg
For more information about the new Hyundai Kona and available finance offers, get in touch with Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai. And if you’re ready to get behind the wheel and experience it for yourself, we welcome you to visit us for a test drive. We’d be happy to give you a tour.
These days, we buy more and more of the things we use online. Groceries, clothes, pet food, and more, can all be purchased and delivered to your door while you shop from the time and place of your choosing. At Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai, we don’t see why shopping for a new car or SUV shouldn’t be as easy.
If you’re more comfortable shopping online these days, from the security and safety of home, we make it easy. We offer a number of tools on our website that help you research, secure, finance, and take home the perfect Hyundai model for your Washington DC area drives.
Get started with your online vehicle purchase by browsing our inventory and research pages. We have an extensive collection of models and sizes available to please everyone in the greater Alexandria, VA area. We supply in-depth details on the various vehicles we have available, as well as comprehensive pictures of each and every model, to help you select the best one for your needs.
Using our buy online tools, you can also trade in your older vehicle to use the money towards your new purchase, apply for financing, and personalize your payments and deals. From low-money down lease deals on brand-new models, to purchase agreements and loan details, you can hammer out the details on the payment plan that works for you online and from home.
Best of all, our team is here to help every step of the way. Take advantage of each of our high-tech, cutting edge tools online, and reach out to our team online, on the phone, or in person if you have any questions and need assistance.
Our online retailing tools are easy to use, confidential, and secure, and we look forward to helping you navigate them and get the best vehicle possible in the greater Arlington, VA and Baltimore area.
At Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai, we think very highly of our extensive collection of brand-new Hyundai models, including the new Hyundai Elantra. But we also know that there are other similarly sized sedans competing for your attention, and we want to help you make the best decision for your Baltimore area commute.

To illustrate what sets our small sedan apart from the competition, we’ve done a side-by-side comparison, pitting our Elantra against two other popular models from Toyota and Honda. If you’re ready to dive into your shopping adventure for a new sedan, here are three ways we’ve found that set our car apart:
- Efficiency and range. Go further between fill ups with the new Hyundai Elantra. It has a better fuel range and EPA rating than both the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla. The base engine for the Elantra averages 35 mpg combined, while both competing models get around 33 mpg. The Elantra also averages 574 miles on the highway per fill up, while the Civic gets 471 miles and the Corolla 502.
- Warranty. Hyundai’s manufacturer warranty for new vehicles is untouchable, and neither Honda nor Toyota come close. The Elantra is backed for 10 years or 100,000 miles, while both the Civic and the Corolla get a 5-year or 60,000-mile warranty.
- Passenger space. The Elantra will be more comfortable for you , and your passengers in Alexandria, VA and Arlington, VA. It has more headroom in both the front and backseats than either the Civic or the Corolla.
Learn more about the Hyundai Elantra and the ways it compares to the sedan competition. Browse our inventory online to get started and reach out to our expert sales team in Gaithersburg, near Washington DC, for more information and answers to your questions.

The new Hyundai Elantra is here and ready for you at Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai. We invite all shoppers to learn more about how this new sedan performs against its top competition in Gaithersburg, MD. The new Hyundai Elantra is well-known for its fuel economy, performance, and style. However, it always helps to provide context for specs and figures the average car shoppers might not be familiar with when researching. Check out how the Hyundai Elantra stacks up against the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, then visit us at Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai. You can find us on N Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg and less than 40 minutes outside of Arlington, VA.
Hyundai Elantra vs Honda Civic
The Hyundai Elantra takes on the Honda Civic expertly when it comes to interior space and performance. While the Civic might offer slightly more cargo space, the Elantra more than makes up for it in the headroom, giving all passengers room to breathe as you drive through Baltimore. The Elantra also provides a few more standard features that customers have to upgrade to enjoy on the Honda Civic.
Hyundai Elantra vs Toyota Corolla
The Toyota brand has a reputation for fuel economy and safety, so one might find it hard to compare the Corolla sedan to the Elantra. However, the Elantra surpasses this Toyota sedan when it comes to highway miles per gallon. The Elantra also exceeds the Corolla in terms of cargo space. When you’re taking a road trip to Washington DC, the Hyundai Elantra is the sedan you want!
Test Drive the New Hyundai Elantra Today
We invite shoppers throughout the area to check out the new Hyundai Elantra here at Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai. Check out our new inventory, schedule a test drive and visit us here in Gaithersburg, MD to learn more. We look forward to hearing from you!
Over the years, Hyundai has perfected their SUVs. That is why both the Santa Fe and the Palisade are so popular with those living in the Baltimore area. Need room for five? The Santa Fe is perfect. Family a little bigger? The Palisade can seat up to eight. The team at Fitzgerald’s Lakeforest Hyundai is excited to tell you more about them both.

Santa Fe
There are three different versions of the Santa Fe to consider. Known as the SE, SEL, and Limited, they are all powered by the same 2.4L four-cylinder engine. It produces 185 horsepower along with 178 pound to feet of torque. Optional on the Limited trim only is also a turbocharged 2.0L that makes 235 horsepower and 260 pound to feet of torque.
All models of the Santa Fe are full of the features you’ll love. Standard across the board are features like:
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Reclining rear seats
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic high beams
- Automatic emergency braking
- Noise-reducing windshield glass

Palisade
Larger families in Arlington, VA will find that the Palisade is a great fit. It seats up to seven or eight, depending on whether or not you opt for the second-row captain’s chairs. Since it is a larger vehicle, Hyundai has equipped it with a more powerful 3.8L V6 that generates 291 horsepower and 262 pound to feet of torque.
Like the Santa Fe, the Palisade has great features for your daily life. No matter which trim level you choose, you’ll get:
- An 8-inch touchscreen
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Push-button ignition
- Adaptive cruise control
- Rear parking sensors
- Heated side mirrors
We invite you to visit us to test drive both the Santa Fe and Palisade today. Our team here is ready to help you find the perfect SUV for your lifestyle in Washington DC and Alexandria, VA!

The Hyundai Tucson is a well-rounded small crossover vehicle with the features drivers in the Arlington, VA area are after. Its athletic handling makes it a joy to drive, and its comfortable cabin will keep the whole family smiling. Plus, you have six different trim levels to consider when picking out the ideal Tucson for you. Visit Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai to check out the new Hyundai Tucson SUV and see what it has to offer!
Performance
Two different engine options are out there in 2020. For the SE and Value models, you will get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 161-horsepower with 150 pound-feet of torque. The remaining four trim levels get a 2.4-horsepower four-cylinder that has the Tucson, which generates 181-horsepower and 175 pound-feet. Front-wheel drive is standard, and HTRAC® all-wheel-drive is an option.
Safety
The team at Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai loves the driver aids found on the Tucson. All models have Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), automatic headlights, and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) with Automatic Emergency Braking. Going up to the Value trim level or higher means you will also get a Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) featuring Rear Cross-Traffic Warning (RCCW).
Technology
High-tech features can do more than keep you safe on the streets in Washington DC. Standard tech for all models includes a seven-inch touchscreen. Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®, included on all models, makes it easy to integrate your compatible smartphone with the Tucson. The Ultimate trim takes things to the next level with an eight-inch touchscreen and integrated navigation.
Prefer to go with more luxury? The Ultimate trim has more than just extra safety and tech features to offer. It also has things like heated rear seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. The already great driver information display revives a bit of an upgrade, while rain-sensing windshield wipers also come standard.
Test Drive the Hyundai Tucson Today
Shoppers can find a new Hyundai Tucson available for purchase or lease at Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai, located less than a 45-minute drive outside of Alexandria. Schedule a test drive and visit us today!
With proper care, there is no reason why your Hyundai cannot last for well over a decade, providing you and your family with many years of reliable transportation. Having the vehicle serviced from time to time keeps the parts and components in prime working condition; this is why you will want to take advantage of the work that the certified Hyundai technicians perform at Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai. You will find our Hyundai service center on-site at our Gaithersburg, MD dealership and less than 40 minutes outside of Washington DC.
Service Special Make Maintenance Even More Affordable
We know that you are on a budget, so Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai is pleased to offer regular service specials that Hyundai owners can take advantage of, whether you live in nearby Gaithersburg or out in Alexandria, VA. We also offer great discounts on repairs and certified Hyundai parts from time to time. You will want to check with us when you need a repair and see what specials we currently have available.
Check Out Available Specials for Routine Maintenance
Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai often has a special running for the major service appointments that come due for every Hyundai. It is important that Arlington, VA customers schedule these service calls in advance so that you do not forget. While your vehicle might be performing great for you right now, it is still important to do regular maintenance to keep it that here. Here are some guidelines that you should follow when taking care of your Hyundai:
- Have the oil changed with each major service performed
- The engine air and cabin air filters should be completely replaced every time you drive 12,000 miles
- Have a technician rotate and align your tires about every 6,000 miles
- Make sure you have the battery tested with each service visit as well
Contact Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai today to schedule the next service for your Hyundai and to take advantage of our current service coupons in Gaithersburg, MD. You will find us less than a 50-minute drive outside Baltimore, MD. See you soon!

April is National Car Care Month, and it’s a great time to make sure your car is ready for spring and summer driving. People in Gaithersburg, VA who plan on travelling for summer vacation will want to prepare their vehicle for the heat and rain to come. Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai has well-trained mechanics in our service center who are very knowledgeable about Hyundai vehicles. We do quick work, too, so that Baltimore drivers can get back on the road in no time!
Summer is close at hand, and soon we’ll have searing heat and heavy thunderstorms. Don’t get caught unprepared – have your car serviced at Fitzgerald’s Gaithersburg Hyundai. Our certified technicians have a lot of experience with Hyundai vehicles and we know their specific needs. We also use genuine Hyundai parts to get the best results possible for our Arlington customers.
One of the most critical concerns of spring and summer driving is the effect that heat can have on your engine. People in Alexandria, VA will want to bring their vehicle in to Gaithersburg Hyundai to make sure their oil and coolant levels are correct. Its also important to have good tread on your tires, so they won’t hydroplane on rain-soaked roads. Gaithersburg Hyundai has a full line of tires that will fit perfectly on your Hyundai car or SUV. Other amenities our service center can help you with include:
- Inspections
- Battery checks and replacements
- Air filter replacements
- Brake service
- Transmission repairs
- Electrical system fixes
- Spark plug replacements
With heavy spring rains, you need new wiper blades to have a clear, safe, view of the road. Drivers in Washington DC will also want to make sure their air conditioner is working properly to keep cool in the summer heat.
These are just some of the precautions you’ll want to take to ensure safe, comfortable driving this spring and summer. Since people in Gaithersburg have a lot going on, we make it quick and simple to set a service appointment with us using our online Schedule Service form. April is National Car Care Month. Contact Gaithersburg Hyundai today to get your car ready for the summer weather.

