The Hyundai Accent, which achieves up to 35 miles per gallon on the highway, was named the most dependable sub-compact car by J.D. Power and Associates in its 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). The study measures problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old (2005 model year) vehicles. The study is based on the responses of more than 52,000 owners of new vehicles bought between November 2004 and April 2005.
In addition to the highest ranking by Accent, Hyundai on the whole made dramatic improvements in its overall dependability scores. For example, the number of problems per 100 vehicles over the entire product lineup dropped 28 points to 200, a 14 percent improvement over 2007, almost tripling the industry average improvement of 10 points. In the “non-premium” segment, Hyundai improved from 13th place to sixth place. Also, Hyundai’s score placed it 13th among the 38 nameplates measured in the study and placed it ahead of the industry average for the first time.
“Our continued dedication to quality is paying off for consumers, and this year’s Vehicle Dependability Study is further demonstration of the strides we are making,” said Barry Ratzlaff, Hyundai Motor America director of product quality. “Customers deserve higher levels of quality at the time they buy their vehicle and throughout its lifetime. Our improving initial quality and long-term dependability show that we’ve responded in a meaningful way for the long term.”
[Source: Hyundai]
Hyundai has commenced an advertising campaign targeted towards Hispanic buyers in the United States. Led by Patricia Romero, national manager of multicultural marketing, the campaign is dubbed "Descubrelo tu mismo" (Discover it for Yourself).
