Hyundai was also named the highest-ranked non-premium brand in the US J.D. Power 2014 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), marking the first time a nameplate has ranked highest among non-premium brands in both APEAL and IQS in the same year.
Now in its 19th year, the APEAL study examines owners’ assessments of the design, content, layout and performance of their new vehicle. Vehicles and their brands are scored on a 1,000 point scale.
The news comes a month after Hyundai was the highest ranked non-premium brand and the Genesis, Elantra and Accent all received awards in the acclaimed US J.D. Power Initial Quality (IQS) study.
In this year’s APEAL study, Hyundai again claimed top spot among non-premium brands while improving five spots among all brands to rank 13th overall.
“We are so pleased to see the recognition that Accent has received in this year’s J.D. Power APEAL study,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, corporate and product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “And it’s especially gratifying coming on the heels of our best-ever IQS showing just one month ago.”
Additionally, in the tightest race in the study, the 2014 Hyundai Sonata finished third by just two points – 819 vs 821 – in the midsize car segment. The Hyundai Veloster finished second in the Compact Sporty Car segment.
O’Brien added: “We expect the all-new 2015 Sonata to do even better next year.”
