By Jim Henry

Not Your Father's Korean Cars

Most people still think of cars from South Korea as inexpensive and poorly built. They're still inexpensive, vs. cars and trucks with similar features, but independent surveys show that quality is much improved for the Hyundai Group, which includes both Hyundai and Kia brands. Their U.S. sales have also grown exponentially, to the point where the Hyundai Group is determined to break out of it second-tier status. Ironically, Hyundai and Kia have been working hard to take the brands upscale, just as U.S. consumers are downsizing vehicle choices and looking for fuel-efficient small cars. That's not necessarily a bad thing for the South Korean brands, but their recent product introductions do seem headed in the wrong direction. Here's a list of Hyundai and Kia models, ranging from small cars they can't build fast enough, to SUVs and minivans that are sitting on dealer lots. In that sense, they're already mainstream U.S. brands.

next slide previous slide