Owners of vehicles from Hyundai Motor Group brands have reported the fewest problems and frustrations compared to owners of other automotive brands in the US in the latest JD Power vehicle dependability survey.
Kia was top brand overall and Genesis the top premium brand. Hyundai Motor ranked third overall, improving by four positions.
Vehicle brands were rated by JDP’s PP100 (problems per 100 vehicles) scoring criteria.
Hyundai Motor also took top honours in the midsize SUV and midsize sedan segments with the Santa Fe and Sonata, respectively. The Kia Sorento topped the upper midsize SUV segment for the second consecutive year.
“We at Hyundai Motor Group hold long-term ownership satisfaction as one of the key benchmarks for success,” said Seog-ju Cha, head of quality division at Hyundai Motor Group, in a statement.
“The [survey] results speak to Hyundai, Kia and Genesis’ dedication to delivering vehicles that not only excel in areas long appreciated by owners, like design and driving experience, but also across innovative technologies that have become a crucial part of the overall ownership experience.”
Based on the new criteria, Kia jumped two positions to take the top spot overall with a PP100 score of 145, beating the industry average by 47 points. It was the second consecutive year the brand has claimed the top spot among mass market brands, coming in third overall last year behind two premium brands.
This was also the first time a non-premium brand had been awarded first overall in the ranking in the history of the JDP survey.
Genesis improved four positions overall and three positions in the premium category with a top-ranked PP100 score of 155, beating the industry average by 37 points.
Hyundai Motor improved its rating by four positions overall and one position in the mass-market category to place third and securing its highest-ever ranking in the JDP survey.