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2006 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 Long-Term Test Update No. 10

Quality is Hyundais Number One Selling Point

If theres another automaker being praised as much as Hyundai these days, we dont know about it. The South Korean automaker, which incidentally makes some of its top models, such as the Sonata, in North America, has been winning award after award from all manner of third-party organizations, and the auto companys latest prize, is no exception. The American Consumer Satisfaction Index, which now rates Hyundai amongst the top-five automakers in customer satisfaction, improving on its score from last year, also cites the brand as one of the "Industry Leaders in Quality".

The quarterly survey is conducted by the University of Michigan, and measures customer satisfaction

If theres another automaker being praised as much as Hyundai these days, we dont know about it. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

of a variety of products. The survey questioned 8,096 vehicle owners between April 1 and June 30, 2005, with average scores ranked at 80 out of 100 points. Hyundais cars and crossover SUVs returned an overall score of 84 to rank fifth.

University of Michigan Professor Claes Fornell, who compiles the index, stated that Hyundais rapid climb in the

The American Consumer Satisfaction Index rates Hyundai amongst the top-five automakers in customer satisfaction. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

rankings illustrates that focusing on quality can significantly improve satisfaction ratings.

"An example of the success from a focus on quality is Hyundai," stated University of Michigan Professor Claes Fornell, who compiles the index. "South Koreas number one automaker entered the U.S. market in the late 1980s as a low-priced competitor, but also with low quality cars.  Following a change

Quality is the recipe for success, adhered to by front runners Toyota and Honda, among others, and now the mantra chanted by Hyundais executives. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

in strategy and a strong commitment to quality and styling improvements, backed by the industrys first 10-year/100,000-mile warranty, Hyundais customer satisfaction improved a remarkable 24 percent over the next six years. It remains one of the most competitive automakers on price, but is now among the leaders in quality as well."

Such is the recipe for success, adhered to by front runners Toyota and Honda, among

The previous Sonata was rated as Consumer Reports highest pick for reliability last year, based on a the largest customer survey of car buyers in North America. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

others, and now the mantra chanted by Hyundais executives.

"Hyundai had dedicated itself to quality over the past several years, and this consumer satisfaction study again demonstrates the results of our emphasis on building quality products while respecting and retaining the traditional Hyundai emphasis on value," stated Bob Cosmai, President and C.E.O. of Hyundai Motor America. "We understand that quality is the number-one priority for consumers, and we have responded

Hyundais new Santa Fe looks fabulous and is even more upscale inside than the Sonata. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)?

with constantly improving quality rankings in numerous individual studies. In addition, the recently introduced 2006 Sonata offers a unique combination of quality, safety, style, performance, spaciousness and value that is indicative of where Hyundai is going as a brand as we continue our rapid-fire new product barrage into 2006 and beyond." 

Well, you must know by now that we wouldnt have included such an obviously biased statement in the above quotation if we didnt agree with it, which gets us back to our long-term Sonata GLS V6.

Since we last

Yes, I could get used to one of these over the long haul... very nice Hyundai. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

reported on the car, and the upper-scale Premium Packaged loaner Hyundai gave us while ours was being serviced, weve added 313 miles to the odometer for a total of 4,232 miles. So without keeping you waiting any longer, here are the test logs for the last two weeks of life with our Sonata:
Odometer: 3,937 miles

Trevor: The few days prior to leaving for Detroit to take in the auto show of auto shows have been more than a bit busy, so I havent been driving around that much. Rather, Ive been parked in my office on my big leather chair

The Santa Fe is well endowed with the same top-line engine as our overly exuberant Sonata V6, so it should pull away from stoplights quickly. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)?

next to my desk, feet up on the ottoman, laptop in my lap, of all places, typing out story after story so that when I get to Detroit Im not having to stay up all night working, and then forced to keep up with the following days grueling schedule with legs that want to give out from hour one. Ive just finished a story on the cool new Dodge Challenger Concept, one on a 70th Anniversary Morgan 4/4 that wont even be offered in North America but is pretty cool nonetheless, plus one on Fords new Edge crossover, impressive, Chryslers first SUV, the Aspen, which also seems appealing, and when I get back home after my short drive to the store to by healthy munchies

A week of loading up kids and gear into the Sonata to go back and forth to the store, church, soccer practice... how did I ever become a soccer mom? (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

ahead of my voyage, Ill be finishing up a long overdue road and track test of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, whats turning into a slightly negative commentary on Lincolns new MKS Concept, and the list goes on, plus over the last few days Ive edited a bunch of stories from other writers, such as Kays article on the new GM hybrids, Justins news stories on new Lamborghini Miura Concept and Aston Martin Rapide Concept (he likes the bling), Robs Chevy Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid piece, etc, etc. I think one of the most impressive cars I personally wrote about, though, is Hyundais completely revised 2007 Santa Fe, that I havent seen yet, other than in photographs, and therefore left spaces where I

I like the fact that despite the Sonatas powerful engine it only needs regular fuel. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

can type in my comments when it finally debuts at the show and I jump on stage and poke around inside. Im not particularly blown away with its expected performance, although it looks to be well endowed with the same top-line engine as my overly exuberant Sonata V6, so it should pull away from stoplights quickly, but Im more impressed with the high level of refinement the vehicle appears to have. I wont know for sure until I see it first hand, and then more so when I finally drive it, which could be some time, but the SUV, or should I say CUV, sounds as well put together as this Sonata (yes Im in it now scribbling this extremely long note) and the even more upscale Azera, but of course, by the time you read this I will have already made my thoughts known about it along with the

Ive got no problem with the standard audio system. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

other new production and concept vehicles revealed over the course of the three-day press event that Ive already mentioned, so I might as well shut up about it and tell you to go read the review if you have any more interest. So, I had better get to the store to buy my munchies and then drive back to my office, sink into my big leather chair and continue rambling on about something else.

Odometer: 3,947 miles

Jennifer: Trevors gone to Detroit and Im regularly loading up kids and gear into the Sonata to go back and forth to the store, church, soccer practice... how did I ever become a soccer mom? Ugh, the stigma! Im just glad Trevor didnt get us a long-term minivan. The brakes made that squeak a few minutes ago, yes the one that Trevor said

Why cant I plug my iPod into this car? (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

wasnt a problem, but I still find it disconcerting. The rest of the car seems to work flawlessly though, so I can hardly complain.

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