Hyundai’s First Superluxury Sedan Earns Top Appeal Award

SYDNEY – Aug 1, 2011: In the U.S., J.D. Power and Associates has selected the Hyundai Equus as its most appealing large premium car in the 2011 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM. The award was supported by Hyundai’s outstanding performance across all models in the annual owner survey.

Now in its 16th year, the APEAL study examines U.S. owners’ assessments of the design, content, layout, and performance of their new vehicle with all vehicles and their brands are scored on a 1,000-point scale.

The Hyundai Equus exceeded 900 points in this year’s study, achieving the highest APEAL score of any model in the industry. Equus outscored all other luxury premium sedans and performed considerably better than the segment average in the categories of vehicle exterior, storage, and audio/entertainment/navigation.

“The Equus has the distinction of being the highest-performing model in the 2011 APEAL Study,” said J.D. Power and Associates. “The Hyundai Equus has achieved an impressive introduction into the marketplace from a performance, execution and layout perspective.”

Overall, Hyundai was the most-improved nameplate in the industry and moved up 13 rank positions and 33 points to place 15th overall in 2011. This is the highest Hyundai has ever ranked in the APEAL Study, finishing ahead of all the Asian and U.S. domestic non-premium brands. The advance was driven primarily by two of its redesigned models, the i45 (known as Sonata in the U.S.) and the all-new Elantra, which improved by 57 and 35 points, respectively in the results.

Additionally, in the tightest race in the study, the Hyundai i45 finished second by just two points – 818 v. 816 – in the midsize car segment, another pleasing and encouraging result.

“The US is a challenging and competitive marketplace.” said Oliver Mann Marketing Director Hyundai Motor Company Australia. “Recognition of Hyundai’s American flagship, the Equus, backed with sound results for both i45 and Elantra, and of the Hyundai brand as a whole in this year’s J.D. Power and Associates APEAL study reflects the product revolution that has taken place.”