Is Hyundai any good?

At Castlegar Hyundai, sometimes we encounter skeptical customers who ask us point-blank: is Hyundai really any good? We don't take offense to this question. None, really. We understand that it can take years, sometimes decades, to change the perception of a brand. We welcome the opportunity to discuss how far Hyundai has come since arriving in Canada 30 years ago.

But J.D. Power, an independent research firm that analyzes consumer products, has made our job a little easier. It recently published its annual Vehicle Dependability Study for 2017. Hyundai ranked sixth among all brands for long-term quality, topping established car makers including Honda, Cadillac, Audi, Subaru, Mazda, Nissan and Ford. Going further, J.D. Power singled out Hyundai as the most-improved brand. This is an important and relevant study because it surveyed more than 35,000 original owners who have driven their vehicles for three years.

Interestingly, the study also confirmed our core belief. "The good news is that consumers don't have to spend a lot of money to get a very dependable vehicle," noted Dave Sargent, vice-president, global automotive at JD Power. Many car buyers naturally assume that the more they spend on a vehicle, the better the quality. For years, competitive brands have derisively suggested that Hyundai is less expensive for a reason. But this study confirms that Hyundai is producing modern, advanced and affordable vehicles that rank among the best in the world for reliability. This important point is a key reason why we chose to open a Hyundai dealership in the first place.

So when the next customer puts us on the spot about Hyundai's quality, we will point to this independent study. And we will continue to show every customer just how much value Hyundai offers.