2014 Hyundai Elantra Leads Brand to Top of IQS Ratings

The 2014 Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Elantra and Hyundai Genesis all won their segments in the 2014 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS), and that, combined with top-three finishes from three more Hyundai products, was enough to propel the company to the lowest IQS score of any mainstream auto brand. Which is good, because the IQS is based on problems per 100 vehicles, as this year reported by more than 86,000 purchasers/lessees of new 2014 vehicles.

In terms of specifics, the Hyundai honor roll included:

• 2014 Hyundai Accent—first place, Small Car
• 2014 Hyundai Elantra—first place, Compact Car
• 2014 Hyundai Genesis—first place, Midsize Premium Car
• 2014 Hyundai Sonata—second place, Midsize Car
• 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe—second place (tie), Midsize SUV
• 2014 Hyundai Equus—third place, Large Premium Car

Additionally, the automaker just missed the overall IQS podium—trailing only Porsche, Jaguar and Lexus—with a brand-wide score of 94 problems per 100; the next lowest score from a non-premium brand was 105, earned by Toyota. This also marked the third time in the past decade that Hyundai has led the "popular" brands in the study, with Dave Zuchowski, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America reporting that: “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. Today’s awards are a true reflection of the hard work and dedication of all the Hyundai team members here, in Korea and Montgomery, Alabama.”

Perhaps also worth noting: With the 2014 Hyundai Accent, Elantra and Sonata all recognized by J.D. Power survey respondents, Hyundai was the only brand with winning entries in the three core car categories that correspond to the industry's subcompact, compact and midsize car segments.