The Genesis Of Dependability

"Old Reliable" just got a shiny new face.  According to J.D. Power and Associates, the Hyundai Genesis ranked number one in the midsize premium car category in the 2012 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).  The study surveys original car owners three years after initial purchase, making this year the first of eligibility for the Genesis which launched into the market in model year 2009.  The Genesis was the only category award recipient in its first year of eligibility, beating out other top brands such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series.

The VDS measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year-old (2009 model year) vehicles includes 202 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle.  Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality.  The Genesis "received 81 points, the lowest ever among any Hyundai automobile,’’ a Hyundai official said.  Hyundai has shown consistent improvement in VDS, reducing problems per 100 vehicles by 75 points over the past five years.  Hyundai finished ninth overall, ahead of Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW and Audi.

The Genesis sedan has been gathering awards left and right from prominent and influential media and automotive organizations ever since its 2009 debut.  Along with many other honors and distinctions, the model received the much-coveted North American Car of the Year Award, is a 3-time winner of Ward’s Ten Best Engines, and earned a Top Safety Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Improving every year, the Genesis combines the best of two worlds: the high-tech features and power specs customary of a luxury vehicle paired with a competitively low price and superb safety ratings.

"Our goal is to design and build cars that meet and exceed consumers' expectations not only off the showroom floor, but through the duration of their ownership experience.  Earning Hyundai's first-ever top 10 finish in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study demonstrates that our efforts are paying dividends," said Erwin Raphael, director of engineering and quality, Hyundai Motor America.  "It's equally gratifying to see Genesis sedan, a content-rich model with all the features you expect of a premium car, outperform powerful competitors in its category.  Long-term dependability translates to a positive ownership experience and brings customers back to the Hyundai brand in the future."