LOS ANGELES — Hyundai is solidifying its image among auto shoppers. The South Korean automaker toppled Honda and Toyota to take the top spot in brand loyalty, according to Kelley Blue Book’s measure of brand loyalty during the second quarter of this year.
Although Hyundai has held that position for a month once before, it was the first time since the auto information company began tracking the data that Hyundai has held the No. 1 spot for an entire quarter.
Hyundai, once known for producing among the least reliable vehicles sold in America, has retooled its lineup and is picking up market share, mostly because of its hot-selling sedans, Sonata and Elantra.
Through the first six months of 2011, Hyundai’s U.S. sales have risen 26 percent compared with the same period last year, to 327,797 vehicles, according to Autodata. Its growth is more than double the rate of the entire industry in the U.S. this year. Los Angeles Times
