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Kia Most Improved Brand in ALG Perceived Quality Study

ALG, a company best known for predicting residual values on vehicles in its automotive lease guides, also conducts ‘Perceived Quality’ studies. And the findings of its most recent one (Spring 2011); indicated that of all automakers that sell cars and trucks in the U.S., the most improved in the mainstream category was Kia Motors.

“For Kia, the consumer quality recognition is the payoff for a recent revolution in product quality and design supported by aggressive marketing campaigns,” declared Eric Lyman; ALG’s Director of Residual Value Solutions.

Other brands that reported notable gains in perceived quality included Land Rover; largely fueled by the growing popularity of the Ranger Rover Sport and new Evoque models.

In terms of the top five automakers in the mainstream category, there were few surprises: Honda, Toyota, Ford Trucks, Subaru and Nissan were ranked in that order as delivering the best in perceived vehicle quality. In the luxury category Lexus ranked first, followed by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche and Acura.

[Source: Kia]

Kia Most Improved Brand in ALG Perceived Quality Study

ALG, a company best known for predicting residual values on vehicles in its automotive lease guides, also conducts ‘Perceived Quality’ studies. And the findings of its most recent one (Spring 2011); indicated that of all automakers that sell cars and trucks in the U.S., the most improved in the mainstream category was Kia Motors.

“For Kia, the consumer quality recognition is the payoff for a recent revolution in product quality and design supported by aggressive marketing campaigns,” declared Eric Lyman; ALG’s Director of Residual Value Solutions.

Other brands that reported notable gains in perceived quality included Land Rover; largely fueled by the growing popularity of the Ranger Rover Sport and new Evoque models.

In terms of the top five automakers in the mainstream category, there were few surprises: Honda, Toyota, Ford Trucks, Subaru and Nissan were ranked in that order as delivering the best in perceived vehicle quality. In the luxury category Lexus ranked first, followed by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche and Acura.

[Source: Kia]

Kia Most Improved Brand in ALG Perceived Quality Study

ALG, a company best known for predicting residual values on vehicles in its automotive lease guides, also conducts ‘Perceived Quality’ studies. And the findings of its most recent one (Spring 2011); indicated that of all automakers that sell cars and trucks in the U.S., the most improved in the mainstream category was Kia Motors.

“For Kia, the consumer quality recognition is the payoff for a recent revolution in product quality and design supported by aggressive marketing campaigns,” declared Eric Lyman; ALG’s Director of Residual Value Solutions.

Other brands that reported notable gains in perceived quality included Land Rover; largely fueled by the growing popularity of the Ranger Rover Sport and new Evoque models.

In terms of the top five automakers in the mainstream category, there were few surprises: Honda, Toyota, Ford Trucks, Subaru and Nissan were ranked in that order as delivering the best in perceived vehicle quality. In the luxury category Lexus ranked first, followed by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche and Acura.

[Source: Kia]

2011 Hyundai Sonata Named A Top Family Car by KBB.com

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 02/28/2011 - Kelley Blue Book’s www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new- and used-vehicle information, named the 2011 Hyundai Sonata to its annual list of Top 10 Family Cars. Sonata joins a list of family-friendly vehicles, including the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse, 2011 Ford Explorer, 2011 Honda Odyssey, and the 2011 Volkswagen Golf.

Full press release after the jump.

According to kbb.com experts the Sonata is “taking the mid-size sedan market by storm with a compelling mix of design, quality and value. The Sonata also is chock-full of safety features, comes with one of the best warranties on the market, and even offers a fuel-sipping hybrid model. With enough style and versatility to transform effortlessly from child-hauler to client shuttle on a daily basis, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is an easy choice for someone who needs to impress while still being practical.

“We are proud to receive this recognition from kbb.com,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of product and corporate planning, Hyundai Motor America. “With advanced standard safety features, three versatile powertrain choices including our class-leading 40 mpg highway BlueDrive Hybrid, unrivaled interior convenience technologies and enough space to comfortably fit the entire family, the Sonata is the perfect option for families looking for quality and value without sacrificing on performance and design.”

Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com editors assessed the winning models based on safety, comfort, economy of operation, child-friendliness, a reasonable purchase price and good resale value.

“This year was especially difficult for the kbb.com editors to narrow down the Top 10 Family Cars of 2011 choices, as there is such a variety of new cars on the market today that have appealing features for the American family; capable versatility, value, safety and economical factors, to name a few,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com.

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata features some of the most advanced technological options, such as a navigation system with voice activation and interactive touch screen through XM NavTraffic® and XM Data Services, integrated Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a Homelink transceiver. It has many safety features, including Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, and Anti-Lock breaking systems. Sonata was also the first midsize car to receive a five-star crash test rating under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new, more stringent 2011 system and an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick honor, placing it in a safety position unsurpassed in the industry.

KELLEY BLUE BOOK

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies. Kbb.com is a leading provider of new car prices, used car values, car reviews, new cars for sale, used cars for sale, and car dealer locations. Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through about 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

[Source: Hyundai Motor America]

Hyundai Sonata Named 2011 International Car of the Year

Hyundai continues to break down barriers illustrating its consumer lifestyle compatibility with the 2011 International Car of the Year (ICOTY) win for the all-new Sonata. The award was presented at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The ICOTY Awards honor vehicles based on lifestyle compatibility and the emotional connection between car and consumer.


“With a completely new look for 2011, the Sonata really took us by surprise,” said Courtney Caldwell, ICOTY Executive Producer. “Hyundai laces the new Sonata with serious hardware including sporty suspension tuning and a strong powertrain that achieves best-in-class fuel economy scores. Combine that with a stunning shape and design, it truly is a complete package that will satisfy the emotional connection consumers seek when shopping for a mid-size sedan.”

“We’re delighted the ICOTY committee validated the choice of over 200,000 new Sonata owners in North America in 2010,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “The 2011 Sonata shows the power of Hyundai’s product recipe – industry-leading fuel economy, engaging design, and great quality – which we’ll continue to enhance with new models like the 2011 Elantra and the 2012 Veloster.”

[Source: Hyundai]

2011 Kia Optima Earns an Edmunds' InsideLine.com Editors' Most Wanted Award

Our friends over at Edmunds' InsideLine.com recently named the new 2011 Kia Optima as an "Editors' Most Wanted" Award winner. The Optima was one of six vehicles to receive the accolade and the only mid-size sedan to be honoured.

The 2011 Kia Optima has been receiving much adulation from the media since its unveiling and the editors of Inside Line were no different, praising the car for its "comfortable cabin, excellent mileage and plenty of features." In the review of the vehicle, Inside Line called the Optima "an affordable family car that looks, feels and drives a class higher."

The other five cars that received the recognition were the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Honda Odyssey, and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (which also won the 'Instant Classic' award).

"The Edmunds' Inside Line 'Editors' Most Wanted(SM)' Award winners are chosen for one simple reason: They're the cars, trucks, and vans that we like the best," said Ed Hellwig, Editor of InsideLine.com. "'Editors' Most Wanted' winners are the cars that we remember the most even after hundreds of test drives. These are cars that we'd buy for ourselves and highly recommend to our friends and family."

The Edmunds' InsideLine.com "Editors' Most Wanted(SM)" Awards are awarded annually to six vehicles based on the votes of 11 Edmunds' Inside Line editors. Every car and truck for sale in the United States is eligible for the "Editors' Most Wanted" award if tested by Edmunds' Inside Line by December 1st.

[Source: Edmunds.com/Image Source: Edmunds-Inside Line]

2011 Hyundai Sonata Named Car and Driver "10Best"

The all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata has been named one of the “10Best Cars for 2011” by Car and Driver, marking the first time a Hyundai product has received the recognition by the editors of Car and Driver.


“We're delighted so many American consumers have put a 2011 Sonata in their driveway this year,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “Achieving our first Car and Driver ‘10Best’ award is tasty icing on the cake, and a tribute to the team of global engineers, California designers, and Alabama plant associates that made this game-changing product a reality.”

According to Car and Driver, the “10Best” award celebrates the best cars on sale in America for less than $80,000. Testing takes place over a week on public roads in rural Michigan. The staff tested more than 60 new cars before selecting the “10Best.”

“In our testing, we are looking for those automobiles that deliver spectacular value, real driver engagement and the highest fulfillment of their intended missions,” said Eddie Alterman, Car and Driver editor-in-chief. “It’s a real workout and only the best cars on the market emerge victorious.”

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata was introduced earlier this year. Sonata brings to the market a number of breakthroughs previously unheard of in the mid-size family sedan segment including standout design, a standard gasoline direct injected engine that delivers 35 miles per gallon on the highway, an optional 274-horsepower 4-cylinder turbo and a soon-to-be-introduced hybrid model.

Sonata sales are up 64 percent over last year on the strength of the new model. Sonata has been the most “shopped” midsize car in the market for five of the past six months according to Compete, an automotive market analysis firm.

“All of our business metrics are pointed in the right direction,” said Krafcik. “Retail sales are up. Incentive spending is down. Our residuals are among the strongest in the industry. And cars like Sonata are driving more and more smart shoppers to Hyundai.”

The full list of 2011's 10 Best Cars comprised of the following models:

BMW 3-SERIES/M3
CADILLAC CTS-V
CHEVROLET VOLT
FORD MUSTANG GT
HONDA ACCORD
HONDA FIT
HYUNDAI SONATA
MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
PORSCHE BOXSTER/CAYMAN
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF/GTI

The complete story on the “10Best” is available in the January issue of Car and Driver and at CarandDriver.com.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Hyundai Named One Of Top 5 Most-Considered Car Brands by KBB.com

Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com Brand Watch reports that for the first time ever, Hyundai has made the list of top five most-considered brands. In Q2 2010 Hyundai brand consideration surged nearly six percentage points in the non-luxury coupe/sedan/hatchback segment. Hyundai now garners 29 percent of the total consideration among shoppers of this segment, beating out top competitors like Nissan.

Kelley Blue Book’s Brand Watch is an ongoing study tracking and trending consumer perceptions, detailing strengths and weaknesses of makes within each segment.

“Hyundai is truly on a roll,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “Hyundai has proven that when you make dynamic, exciting and affordable products that appeal to the new-car shopping masses, consumer perception begins to change and subsequently, sales will follow.”

Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com Q2 2010 Brand Watch was fielded to more than 3,000 in-market new-car shoppers on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com from April 6 – June 17, 2010. Q2 findings reveal that new-car shoppers rank durability/reliability, driving comfort, fuel efficiency, driving performance and safety (respectively) as the top five important factors while shopping for their next new vehicle.

[Source: Hyundai]

Kia Picanto Tops British Reliability Survey

The Kia Picanto has topped Britain’s most reliable new car survey in consumer magazine Which?. Which? Car, the British equivalent to America's Consumer Reports, has just published its annual reliability survey which is based on Which? members’ feedback. The Picanto, Kia’s oldest car introduced in 2004, was scored highly in reliability amongst cars up to three years old and was one of the top five in the four to eight years old category.

Achieving a reliability score of 98.1%, the Kia Picanto beat off established rivals from Japanese and European brands to take the accolade.

Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive, Which?, said: “You don’t expect a new car to go wrong – but our rigorous research shows there’s a big difference between the best and worst. Some small cars, particularly Korean and Japanese superminis, run like clockwork. Whereas some bigger cars, which you might expect to be more robust, aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.”

Michael Cole, managing director of Kia Motors UK, said the feedback shows how dependable the car is. “The Picanto has been our best-seller since it was introduced and for it to receive this praise at this stage of its life is confirmation of our efforts to deliver high quality products to our customers at a fair price – something we shall continue to do in the future,” he said.

[Source: Which?]

Hyundai Tops German Quality Report

Hyundai is enjoying an improved reputation in Europe, company officials said, evidenced by its cars topping an annual quality review by influential German magazine, AutoBild.

Hyundai edged better-known firms such as BMW, Toyota and Audi to take the first-place honors in this year's AutoBild Quality Report, which has been released since 2001 and is based on a comprehensive analysis of the quality of vehicles, innovation and the repair and after-sales services of the carmaker. Hyundai finished 11th out of 20 companies on the 2007 list, but elevated itself to fifth in the 2009 rankings.

AutoBild's annual list is based on reviews conducted by more than 9,200 experts and veteran drivers, who tested the vehicles released in the German market by the 20 major carmakers, starting from the 2003 models to the latest.

"For Hyundai to top the quality list in a review by German drivers epitomizes the company's successful efforts to improve the quality of its products and consumer services," said Allan Rushforth, vice president of Hyundai Motor Europe, in a statement released in Korean.

[Source: AutoBild]

Hyundai Equus Named a Top 10 Summer Sizzler by Kelley Blue Book

Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com named the 2011 Equus to its Top 10 Summer Sizzlers list, a compilation of all-new early arrivals from the automotive class of 2011.

“With its cutting-edge technologies, bold style and unparalleled combination of luxury and value, Equus will attract a new type of buyer to the Hyundai brand,” said Scott Margason, director of Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Equus will help translate Hyundai’s successful formula for intelligent luxury into the retail and service environment so that owners get a high-end experience at a more affordable price point.”

The Top 10 Summer Sizzlers list profiles the 10 new vehicles that are most likely to excite consumers as the new 2011 model year begins. This summer, automotive manufacturers from around the world have opened one of the most diverse and intensive product launch schedules in their collective history.

“From redesigned longtime success-stories to all-new entrants to the marketplace, many hot 2011 model-year cars are coming through the product pipeline this summer,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. "It's never been a better time to be in the market for a new car, because auto manufacturers have stepped up their game to offer more choices than ever.”

“A daring move by Hyundai to step up in class, the new Equus sedan seeks to directly confront luxury cruisers like the Lexus LS460 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class,” said kbb.com editors. “Based on a stretched Genesis platform, this high-minded Hyundai matches tasteful exterior styling with a megaload of premium interior appointments. Mechanically, the Equus offers a 385-horsepower/4.6-liter V8, six-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission, variable air suspension and comprehensive vehicle dynamics package.”

Joining the Equus on the kbb.com Summer Sizzler list are the BMW 5 Series Sedan, Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Coupe, Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Fiesta, Honda CR-Z, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mazda2, Saab 9-5, and Subaru Impreza WRX/STI. For more information about the Top 10 Summer Sizzlers list from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, visit http://kbb.us/2010sizzlers.

[Source: Hyundai]

Hyundai Sonata Earns Top Marks from Consumer Reports

The redesigned Hyundai Sonata has earned an “excellent” score in testing by Consumer Reports, making it one of the top-rated family sedans and scoring just under the four-cylinder Nissan Altima.

The magazine said that the Sonata has “agile handling, a steady ride, good accommodations, easy-to-use controls, and impressive performance and fuel economy for the class.”

Two freshened versions of the Nissan Altima posted “excellent” overall scores, topping tests of four family sedans for the August 2010 issue. Also in the test group were the Suzuki Kizashi, which earned an “excellent” score overall, and the Chevrolet Impala, which earned “good.”

While both versions of the Altima are “recommended,” the Kizashi and Sonata were not recommended because they are too new for Consumer Reports to have reliability data, and the Impala scored too low in testing. Recommended vehicles must perform well in tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on the magazine’s annual auto survey, and perform at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Hyundai Accent Tops Class in J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study

PRESS RELEASE: HYUNDAI ACCENT TOPS CLASS IN J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES INITIAL QUALITY STUDY

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 06/17/2010 - J.D. Power and Associates announced today that the Hyundai Accent topped the sub-compact segment in its 2010 Initial Quality Study (IQS). Owners of the economical and fun-to-drive 2010 Accent reported the fewest problems per 100 vehicles in its segment. Elantra also finished in the top three in the compact car segment.

Overall, Hyundai finished third among non-premium brands in the 2010 Initial Quality Study, holding a top-three position for the second consecutive year, well below the industry average for reported problems per 100 vehicles.

“Pursuit of industry-leading quality is Hyundai’s number one global priority,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “It’s fitting that our most economical model, the Accent, leads its class in initial quality. It demonstrates that quality and value can go hand-in-hand.”

The J.D. Power and Associates IQS measures 228 attributes, including the overall driving experience, engine and transmission, and a broad range of defect and design problems reported by vehicle owners. The 2010 study tallied over 82,000 responses from owners of new, 2010 model-year vehicles.

[Source: Hyundai]

Hyundai Genesis and Sonata Named to Edmunds.com’s Top Best Dark-Horse Cars List

Edmunds.com named both the 2010 Hyundai Genesis and 2011 Hyundai Sonata to its Top 10 Best Dark-Horse Cars of 2010 list.

"The Top 10 Best Dark-Horse Cars of 2010 represent the true dark horses in the market – the cars that somehow fly just below the radar when it comes to consumer awareness, but nevertheless have a lot to offer shoppers on the hunt for quality and value," Hyundai reported.

“The all-new Sonata is a smart buy with modern style, top-tier quality and outstanding residual value. Couple that with a four-cylinder engine producing class-leading fuel economy and the power of a larger V6, and the Sonata should definitely be on consumer shopping lists in the mid-size sedan segment,” said Scott Margason, director of product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Additionally, the North American Car of the Year-winning Genesis continues to be an extremely disruptive force in the large sedan and near-luxury segments.”

“Although they may not have the same level of recognition as say the Ford Explorer, Honda Civic or Toyota Camry, these cars offer great value and quality, and definitely should be on more consumers’ shopping lists,” said Karl Brauer, Senior Analyst and Editor at Large for Edmunds.com.

[Source: Edmunds]

Hyundai i30 Wins UK Satisfaction Poll

The Hyundai i30 has been named top car in the ninth annual Driver Power 2010 survey for satisfaction and reliability, as voted for by 23,000 readers of Auto Express. The i30 beat last year's winner, the Jaguar XF, for the top slot, while the Skoda Octavia came third ahead of parent company Volkswagen's new Golf.

Skoda retained its position as best manufacturer overall. The second-generation Toyota Prius was voted number one for both reliability and ease of driving, the Fiat Panda took the honours for low running costs, the recently-replaced Land Rover Discovery was tops for practicality and the Lexus IS beat all the opposition in terms of build quality.

All the manufacturers named above will be happy about this, but there will be some grumbling elsewhere. The Ford Focus had only a middling result, finishing 51st overall, though at least that was better than Vauxhall managed, with its Astra and Corsa (admittedly previous models rather than current ones) propping up the bottom of the table in 99th and 100th positions respectively.

Despite this, Vauxhall was not the lowest-rated manufacturer. That was Peugeot, largely on account of the poor results achieved by the 207 and 307.

[Source: CarKeys.co.uk]

2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year Contenders Announced

The candidates for the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards were announced late Monday. The lengthy 37-car list includes three Korean offerings, twelve Japanese offerings, eleven European offerings, and eleven American offerings. All three of the Korean nominees - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, 2010 Kia Forte, and 2010 Kia Soul - are eligible for the prestigious Car of the Year honors.

It is important to note that some vehicles on the list (posted after the jump), such as the Suzuki Kizashi, Honda Crosstour, and Toyota 4Runner have yet to be officially unveiled, which indicates the very preliminary nature of this announcement. Jurors from various North American automotive publications will select the individual winners of both awards in January. To be eligible, a vehicle must be either "all new" or "substantially changed" from the previous model. Winners of the 2009 awards were the Hyundai Genesis and Ford F-150 for Car and Truck honors respectively.



[Source: Inside Line:Edmunds]

Read more for the full list of nominees.


2010 North American Car of the Year Entrants

Audi S4
BMW Z4
BMW 335d
BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo
Buick LaCrosse
Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid
Ford Mustang/GT500
Ford Taurus/Taurus SHO
Honda Insight
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Kia Forte
Kia Soul
Lexus HS 250h
Lotus Evora
Mazda 3/Mazdaspeed 3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Nissan Cube
Nissan 370Z
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf/Golf TDI

2010 North American Truck of the Year Entrants

Acura ZDX
BMW X5 xDrive35d
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Equinox
Ford Transit Connect
GMC Terrain
Honda Crosstour (unofficial name)
Land Rover LR4
Lincoln MKT
Subaru Outback
Toyota 4Runner
Volvo XC60

UK: Kia cee'd tops C-segment in Driver Power survey

Kia Motors announced today that its popular cee’d hatchback ranked first in Driver Power’s Compact Family category, beating a competent batch of rivals from Volkswagen, Toyota, Fiat and other notable competitors in the segment.

Driver Power is a car owner reliability and satisfaction survey conducted by renowned car magazine Auto Express in conjunction with the Daily Telegraph. Its purpose is to present the frank and honest views of drivers in the UK. Surveying over 21,400 drivers across the UK, cars are scored on a number of areas including practicality, build quality, reliability, and running costs.

In its Driver Power debut, the cee’d jumped straight into the top ten and is ranked as the 6th best car in the British car market. The cee'd's closest rival, the Volkswagen Golf, found itself in 22nd place overall. Kia, as a brand, ranked 12th overall - a jump of 2 ranks from last year.

"The fact that the Kia cee’d beat the Volkswagen Golf is one of the most significant results in Driver Power’s history," said David Johns, Editor-in-Chief of Auto Express, on announcing the debut performance of the Kia hatchback in the survey.

[Source: Automotive Journal]

Hyundai named Rising Star of 2009 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

Hyundai announced yesterday that it was named the Rising Star of 2009 by the U.S.-based auto industry consulting firm AutoPacific. In this year's edition of AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, Hyundai was named the Rising Star as it received higher scores in 40 of the 48 rating categories in the survey compared to last year.

The survey asked 25,000 motorists who purchased new vehicles between September and December last year questions in 48 categories including performance, safety and comfort.

Aside from being named this year's rising star, the company won two segment awards. The 2009 Genesis won the award for the Aspirational Luxury Car segment, while the Sonata topped the premium mid-sized category. With three awards in total, Hyundai Kia Automotive Group ranked third in terms of the number of awards received.

[Source: Hyundai]

Kia Sportage Receives Top Ranking in AutoPacific 2009 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

Kia Motors America, Inc. (KMA) today announced the 2009 Kia Sportage compact SUV topped the compact crossover SUV category in the AutoPacific 2009 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA). The AutoPacific VSA is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring how satisfied an owner is with their new car or light truck, and reflects the opinions of consumers nationwide. Sportage was recognized above other vehicles in the segment for offering superior value and satisfaction.

"Sportage, a staple in the Kia Motors lineup since the brand's inception, offers a high level of value and amenities to those looking for a low-cost option in the SUV segment, and buyers recognize that," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. "We take special pride in this recognition as it is a direct reflection of consumer satisfaction and further proof that our commitment to offering vehicles with a superior blend of value, safety and convenience features is resonating with new car buyers."

The AutoPacific VSA establishes numerical satisfaction ratings for the majority of cars and light trucks in the North American market. Owner satisfaction is measured across 48 categories relating to specific areas of a vehicle's operation, comfort, safety and overall purchase or lease experience. The 2009 ratings reflect input from more than 25,000 buyers and lessees of new vehicles acquired September through December 2008.

[Source: Kia]