Wednesday, June 3, 2015

7 Reasons Why Buying a Hyundai or a Kia Could Be a Smart Decision

I find it fascinating how Korean companies Kia and Hyundai have become synonymous with both value and quality, and how these companies have raised themselves from a “sub-par status” to a genuine contender in today’s market. Once considered a cheap alternative to buying Japanese, these two firms have invested insane amounts of capitol in the American market since the mid-1990s. They also have spent large sums on developing their own brand identities, creating their own high-tech R&D departments, and purchasing legitimate materials that rival those found on vehicles costing twice as much. So how is it that these Korean companies have gone from worst to first?

Kia’s history started with bicycle manufacturing in the early 1950s, and by the 1970s the company had shifted to the manufacturing of motorcycles, cars, and trucks. It later partnered with Ford in the 1980s to make versions of Ford/Mazda collaboration cars, and by 1994 Kia had outgrown its humble roots and began selling the Sephia and the Sportage in America. But the Asian financial crisis forced Kia to file for bankruptcy, at which point Hyundai took over the company and to this day remains majority stakeholder. Over the next decade Kia grew slowly but steadily and became a genuine contender as it fixed its earlier miscues, opened a U.S. corporate headquarters and design center, and solidified its dedication to the American market in 2010 with the opening of its Georgia manufacturing plant.

Hyundai’s history draws some interesting parallels to Kia’s, as it also began not with cars (it began with engineering and construction), and it has also had dealings with Ford in the production of vehicles. After developing its own technologies for the Sonata in 1988 and its own engine and transmission line in the early 1990s, Hyundai began to invest heavily in the quality, design, manufacturing, and long-term research of its vehicles in order to raise its status and value in the American market. It added a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty to all of its cars and launched an aggressive marketing campaign, and in 2006 Hyundai hired former BMW designer Thomas Bürkle as head of the company’s design department. The automaker has opted to show a devout dedication to the American market by stationing its North American headquarters in Michigan, and an assembly plant in Alabama.

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for these Korean car makers, and back in the 1980s and 1990s many Americans avoided these “Japanese wannabes” for fear of poor craftsmanship and public ridicule. These fears were rightly founded, as early models from either maker was typically appalling on every level. But after equally rocky starts, and incessant criticism from both critics and consumers alike, these Korean firms began to gather some steam in the American marketplace and are now giving companies like Honda, Toyota, and BMW genuine cause for concern as the world realizes that it is OK to buy Korean.

1. Good value






What started out as just a cheap Korean economy car has blossomed into quite the value-packed product, as both Hyundai and Kia continue to offer more for less. Features that were often reserved for high-end luxury makers like Lexus and BMW can now be found on many models, and it is not uncommon to run across amenities like genuine Napa leather interior, heated rear seats, automatic high-beam assistance, and ventilated front seats. All of these features come at a fraction of the cost of their Japanese and European competition with cars like the Sonata ranking third on U.S. News’ list of “Best Midsize Cars For The Money.” And while the Sonata was bested by the 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid and 2015 Toyota Camry, it rolls in at thousands of dollars less than either of these two, further enforcing the fact that it has excellent value for the money.
 
2. Amazing warranties

Sick of people calling its products crap, Hyundai rolled-out an industry first 10-year/100,000-mile warranty in 1998, with Kia shortly following suit. Labeled as “America’s Best Warranty,” this warranty covers the powertrain, a 5-year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper coverage, 5-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance, seven years of rust protection, and even carries a lifetime hybrid battery warranty. Hyundai saw an 82% sales jump the year after the program was put in place, and while Kia’s powertrain and new vehicle warranties are the same as Hyundai’s, it’s roadside assistance is limited to 60,000 miles, and its rust coverage is two years less than its Korean counterpart’s.

3. Turbocharged and hybrid-powered

Kia and Hyundai were quick to hop on the hybrid bandwagon a few years back, and with the aforementioned lifetime battery warranty and favorable reviews, it is no wonder that the hybrid versions of these cars are selling well. The hybrid versions of the Optima and Sonata are no slouches either, with both vehicles topping-out around the 200 horsepower mark. But some of us don’t give a hoot about fuel efficiency, and just want some uncompromising power. Korean auto makers were tapping into this trend way before most, so while auto makers are scrambling to put turbos on their engines to increase powerbands, Kia and Hyundai have already been established as turbo specialists.

4. Cute and quirky

Kia and Hyundai have something for those of us who aren’t into turbos and hybrids, and surprisingly it is still fun and fuel-efficient. With budget-minded Generation Z  buyers demanding tech-savvy, compact economy cars, it is no wonder that cars like the Veloster and Soul are proving to be popular with today’s car buyer. These cars are affordable, adorable, and completely quirky in their own technology-laden little ways.

5. Individualistic options abound

Tired of blending in and looking like everyone else on the block? Korean car companies have been listening to Americans gripe about this for decades, so they have rolled-out tons of customizable options as well as luxury vehicles like the Equus and performance machines like the Genesis R-Spec. The latter of these two features a fire-breathing 3.8-liter V6 that churns-out 348 horses (besting a comparable Mustang) and is available with Brembo brakes, a Torsen limited-slip differential, and comes standard in rear-wheel-drive. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the 429 horsepower Hyundai Equus, which offers more interior room, horsepower, and amenities than its competition, all at a fraction of the price.

6. Sharp styling

Once considered a hideous laughingstock of the automotive community, modern Korean cars are actually becoming quite sharp looking. From the use of LED illumination, to redesigned lines and interior cues, all the way to performance aero kits, recent models from both manufacturers are truly a step above previous generations. A dozen years ago no one was ogling a Korean car save for the sticker price on its windshield, nowadays fully-furnished models are cause for statements like, “There’s no way that’s a Kia.”

7. Improved quality

Long gone are the days when people complained about inferior Korean quality. These cars are made in America, offer fantastic value for the money, and every year land tons of awards for their overall quality. This shift all started back in 2004, when Hyundai shocked everyone when it tied with Honda for initial brand quality in a study by J.D. Power and Associates. It then placed third overall in J.D. Power’s 2006 Initial Quality Survey, trailing only Porsche and Lexus. Meanwhile Kia has been busy cleaning-up as well, winning awards recently for its safety, design, and ingenuity.



No comments: