In the past couple of years, Hyundai have made the effort to become much more than just the car company that is known for their great warranty. The emphasis has been put on providing quality vehicles with excellent fuel efficiency and an even better price.
Those efforts have paid off in spades, with critics and customers alike espousing the virtues of the Korean automakers. Hyundai is setting sales records each and every month, and their trophy cabinet is full to the brim.
This week, that cabinet got a little fuller when AutoPacific, an automotive research and consulting firm, presented Hyundai with two Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA) in the Compact car and Large Car segments. It was the Elantra 2012 which beat out rivals such as the Ford Focus, Mazda 3 and Volkswagon Jetta in the compact contest, and the Azera beat out Toyota Avalon, Dodge Charger and Ford Taurus in the large segment.
Hyundai also had three of their vehicles (Sonata, Genesis Coupe, Accent) perform well in their respective categories, and finished second overall in the Popular Brand rankings, coming in behind Chrysler. There was also good news in AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Awards with Hyundai with 3 winners (Genesis, Elantra, Sonata) in different categories, plus a win in the first ever President’s Award for All-Time Highest Satisfaction.
AutoPacific go through a painstaking process of going through 72,000 surveys from owners of new cars and trucks purchased in the US in the first part of 2011. That is then measures against owner expectation and the reality that the car provides across 15 different categories.
“Having our Elantra 2012 and Azera sedan recognized for AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into all the vehicles in the Hyundai lineup. At Hyundai, we strive to exceed customer expectations in safety, quality, value and performance, and look forward to continuing to develop more award winning vehicles as we bring the 2012 Accent and Veloster to market this year,” told to the press Scott Margason, director of Product Planning at Hyundai Motor America.
Great news for Hyundai (but) once their Kia Dealerships networks gets updated and expanded, watch (that) division of HKAG blast off and rival or exceed the sales expectations ofParent company Hyundai due to their cutting edge styling and option content. Since they both share almost identical mechanical components and warranties, its all going to be about looks and design. Example: Who the hell in their right mind would choose the “ugly/dated” styling of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe over the 2012 Kia Sorrento which is the best selling vehicle in its segment of all “Brands”.
@Heywood
That’s why the 2013 Santa Fe is right behind the corner, aswell as a facelifted Sonata, a facelifted Genesis Coupe, and a brand new Azera (Grandeur 5G in South Korea)
Why did`nt the 2012 Elantra get the upgraded GDI fuel injection for its 1.8 ltr engine? The little Accent with its smaller 1.6 ltr engine gets the GDI, whats that all about? Oh, I know, like the missing spare tire and jack in U.S. Spec Elantra`s and Accent`s, to save a few extra dollars and hope that no one would notice. Ooops, someone just did…..
Hyundai Go! Wonder if HMA while scheduling their “face lifts” for the Santa Fe, Sonata, Genesis Coupe and Azera might reconsider their decision to eliminate the emergency spare tire and jack in both the Elantra and Accent for its U.S. destined vehicles. That (toy) mini-air compressor and can of tire sealant is (not) a satisfactory substitute. Perhaps the NHTSA should step in and (mandate) the spare tire requirement. A total tire failure now requires a Tow Truck which before could be handled by putting on the spare tire. Only tiny tire punctures can be temporarily abated by the can of tire sealant which also may ruin the vehicles TPMS.
The most perfect compact sedan is going to be the refreshed Mazda 3 with 28/40mpg, the new 156hp Skyactiv engine and new 6-speed Skyactiv transmission.
ALEX:
When will this new Mazda 3 be available?
@Glenn – I dunno, hopefully within the next 3-4 months.