Hyundai Reliability, Safety, & Quality | How Reliable Are Hyundai Cars?

How Reliable & Safe are Hyundai?

Since the company's inception in late 1967, Hyundai has went from relatively unknown to a leading automaker in the U.S. that has earned a reputation for being an automaker that consistently produces dependable vehicles. But is there merit to this opinion that so many people in the automotive industry seem to share? In one word, yes!

Hyundai Motor Company has achieved this level of notoriety by building safe cars that drivers can count on mile after mile, and Hyundai continues to improve the dependability of its vehicles with each newly released model year to a point where Hyundai is now exceeding Toyota, Honda, and other brands known for their reliability. 

This philosophy of building upon an already proven method is an integral part of how every Hyundai is built. And today we are going to examine the secret to Hyundai's success for making the most dependable cars on the road.

Hyundai Safety Feature Overview

Lane Keep Assist & Blind Spot Monitoring

Hyundai Awards for Quality, Reliability, Safety, & Low Cost-to-Own

The proof of reliability is in the data. From budget-friendly compacts like the Elantra to flashier modern SUVs like the Palisade, Hyundai takes great care to ensure that every vehicle in its lineup is a great buy for drivers. Reliability, safety, and a low cost-to-own are Hyundai's keys to quality and why more and more Hyundai buyers are sticking to the brand. Those commitments to Hyundai quality are paying off with great results from consumer data measuring the amount of repairs, cost-to-own, and crash test results. 

"Last year was the first year we hit No. 1 in all these: safety, quality, value. And why are these three things important? It's what made the J3 the J3. And isn't that what we've been trying to do the whole time? To chase the Japanese?"

-Dean Evans, Hyundai Chief Marketing Officer

Hyundai's Lineup & Their List of Achievements

While Hyundai has nearly 20 vehicles in their lineup, all enjoying coverage by America's Best Warranty, the entire picture of Hyundai's reliability begins to come into focus by taking a look at four of the most popular models.

The Sonata is Hyundai's most recognizable sedan that has been rewarded for both safety, design, and value by institutions like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, J.D. Power, and Kelley Blue Book.

Similarly, the Santa Fe, Tucson, and Kona are some of the best-selling and most innovative SUVs on the market. Even though buying a car for the family can be a difficult decision, Hyundai makes it easy for shoppers to justify the expense since they are engineered to keep everybody inside the cabin safe, have a low cost-to-own, and offer long-lasting value as a dependable vehicle. 

Take a look for yourself below to see what types of awards Hyundai has received over the past few years.

Is the Hyundai Santa Fe a Reliable SUV?

• Highest Ranked Midsize SUV in Long-Term Quality by J.D. Power*
• 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Highest Ranked Midsize SUV in Initial Quality by J.D. Power*
• 2016-2019 IIHS Top Safety Pick+*
• 2020 NHTSA 5-Star Overall Safety Rating*
• Best Family Car of 2019 by Kelley Blue Book*
• 2019 Santa Fe has the lowest 5-Year Cost to Own in its class by Kelley Blue Book*
• SANTA FE named Best 3-Row SUV for the Money by U.S. News & World Report for the third straight year*
• America's Best Warranty: 10-Year/100,000 Mile Limited Warranty*

Is the Hyundai Kona a Reliable Electric Vehicle?

• IIHS Top Safety Pick All 3 Years Model Launch**
• 2020 Kona awarded a 2020 NHTSA 5-Star Overall Safety Rating
• 2019 Edmunds Editors' Choice Award for Best Electric Vehicle
• 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year™
• 2018 Kona named one of the 10 Coolest New Cars Under $20,000 by KBB.com
• Hyundai Kona Electric named one of Wards 10 Best Engines for 2019
• America's Best Warranty 10-Year/100,000 Mile Limited Coverage

Is the Hyundai Tucson a Reliable SUV?

• 2016-2019 IIHS Top Safety Pick+***
• "Most Dependable Small SUV" in 2018 by J.D. Power***
• "Highest Ranked Small SUV in Initial Quality" by J.D. Power***
• 2018 NHTSA 5-Star Overall Safety Rating***
• 2016 Tucson named "Best Compact SUV for the Money" by U.S News & World Report***
• America's Best Warranty - 10-Year/100,000 Mile Limited Warranty***

Please see Hyundai Tuscon Awards for More Details.

Is the Hyundai Sonata a Reliable Car?

• IIHS Top Safety Pick 6 Years In a Row
• 2019 Hyundai Sonata named 10 Best Sedan Under $30,000 by KBB.com
• 2018 NHTSA 5-Star Overall Safety Rating
• "A 2017 GOOD DESIGN™ Award" from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design
• Sonata named a Best Bet for 2016 by The Car Book
• America's Best Warranty: 10-Year/100,000 Mile Limited Coverage

If You Can Take One Thing Away...

When it comes to finding a safe vehicle that you can own for years and pass it on to someone in your family long after you've made your last car payment, Hyundai might be the brand for you. If you are not easily influenced by top-tier luxury names and would prefer a lower cost of ownership and less money spent on service, Hyundai is definitely for you.

The newest 2019 and 2020 Hyundai models have taken everything they've learned in the automaker's 50+ years of history to make reliable, modern vehicles that are fairly priced. When you couple these factors with America's Best Warranty and a three-day worry-free exchange, you can feel great about making the decision to drive a Hyundai.

The phrase, "the proof is in the pudding" might be a call back to only being able to judge something after you've tried it. Hyundai's warranty is so focused on ensuring the customer's satisfaction that this idiom may just switch out "pudding" for "Hyundai" as the automaker continues to build dependable cars at no risk for the drivers.