THere's a new sherrif in town. J.D. Power just recognized Hyundai as the top-performing non-luxury brand for initial quality and presented three Hyundai vehicles – 2014 Genesis, 2014 Elantra and 2014 Accent – their highest award in their respective segments in the U.S. We've reviewed the 2014 Santa Fe XL as well as the Veloster Turbo and found both to be remarkably well-equipped for cars in their respective classes. Hit jump for more details on the well-deserved recognition.
Hyundai ranked fourth overall in initial quality, climbing six spots from last year. In total, Hyundai had six vehicles in the Top Three positions in their segments, including two second place finishes for Santa Fe and Sonata and a third-place finish for Equus. This year’s results mark the third time Hyundai has been the highest-ranked non-luxury brand in the past 10 years, and the third time it finished among the Top Four brands overall.
The award comes from the J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS). Now in its 28th consecutive year, IQS is the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality, measured at 90 days of ownership.
“Receiving IQS awards in multiple vehicle segments acknowledges Hyundai’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction across our entire product lineup, not just our luxury vehicles,” said Don Romano, President and CEO, Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. “Today’s awards are a true reflection of the hard work and dedication of all the Hyundai team members in our factories around the globe.”
The IQS serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality and has proven to be an excellent predictor of long-term reliability, which may significantly impact new-vehicle purchase decisions. The focus of the study is model-level performance and comparison of individual models to similar models in respective segments, which helps manufacturers worldwide to design and produce higher-quality vehicles.
In addition to victories in three vehicle segments, the Hyundai brand substantially reduced problems per 100 vehicles and finished fourth overall, gaining six rank positions compared with 2013. The Hyundai overall score was 94 problems per 100 vehicles, 12 fewer than last year and 22 fewer problems than the industry average which actually deteriorated three problems per 100 compared with 2013. Also, Genesis scored back-to-back segment while Accent, with a mere 65 problems-per-100, was the second highest performing vehicle in the study.
ABOUT THE J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES 2014 U.S. INITIAL QUALITY STUDY
The 2014 U.S. Initial Quality Study is based on responses from more than 86,118 purchasers and lessees of new 2014 model-year cars, trucks and multi-activity vehicles surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study is based on a 233-question battery designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate identification of problems and drive product improvement. The study was fielded between February and May 2014. The study is used by manufacturers worldwide to improve quality and by consumers to help them make more informed purchasing decisions. Throughout the years, initial quality has been shown to be a leading indicator of long-term durability, which directly impacts customer loyalty and purchase decisions.