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Hyundai/Kia has made a lot of improvements in inital quality in the last 10 years, but I personally don't trust their long term reliability. Maybe the data backs me up, maybe it doesn't, but that's it.
I have a Hyundai Sonata and Kia Sportage. Both great vehicles. Neither has given me any problems. I won't buy a Honda because they went to CVT. Toyota is expensive, and can be quirky, like their cruise control location.
I can tell you that my girlfriend's Turbo Sonata is a very good car. Nearly 4 years old, there have been no issues whatsoever (other than airbag recall that seems to be impacting almost all cars). Car is still tight-no rattles. Gas mileage out on the open road has been in the mid 30's and with the turbo it has plenty of power.
Brand loyalty keeps people stupid, and it makes companies rich. Eventually if those companies make a bad car, they're still making money because instead of doing their research they go with what they think they know. Just like how the Mazda 6, and 3 are better then the Honda accord and civic all around, but people refuse to look at them based off of pass interpretations of the quality of the vehicles that these companies made in the past.
My 2008 hyundai elantra has been way more reliable than my 2003 honda accord.
I would not hesitate to buy a hyundai or a kia for my next car. Brands have to start somewhere and if you watch long enough everyone should get a turn at being #1
I have bought dozens of new cars and it turns out the Sonata I have had for five years has been the most trouble free... only work done has been minor TSB changes (no charge to me).
I can tell you that my girlfriend's Turbo Sonata is a very good car. Nearly 4 years old, there have been no issues whatsoever (other than airbag recall that seems to be impacting almost all cars). Car is still tight-no rattles. Gas mileage out on the open road has been in the mid 30's and with the turbo it has plenty of power.
I don't know of any airbag recall for the Sonata. There is the 132 recall for the rod bearings in the 2011-2012 Sonata with both the 2.4 and 2.0T engines.
I own an 07 tiburon. I'm hitting 120,000 miles and have had to replace a battery, that's it. Hyundai/Kia used to be junk cars when they first came out. I like them now and believe they have earned their niche.
I have always been someone who simply "trusts" Honda. I had a Honda Civic EX for 5 years, which was a great, great car, which gave me know problems. Then, I got a 2003 Accord LX new and am still driving it with 183,500 miles. Car is bulletproof. Have done little other than normal maintenance. I should be able to drive it until 250,000 miles.
But, I don't want to and I'll probably get something new next year. I used to think that would be another Accord. But, I'm not so sure. I never liked the move to full size sedan and the redesign. Not awful, but enough to make me consider something else. Plus, performance reviews, while still good, aren't as great as they once were.
Now I think I want a small SUV, and I hate the Honda CR-V redesign with a passion. If it still looked like the older, more square shaped CR-Vs, I would probably stay loyal to Honda. So, I have to find something else - I'm considering a Subaru Forester or a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. I have misgivings about Hyundai simply due to their past reputation. But, I know plenty of people who have newer Hyundais and they don't seem to have any more problems than any other brand. I'm trying to be level-headed about it and not give into preconceived notions.
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