Honda Fails With Toyota to Dominate American Sedan Market

Hyundai is making very nice products.Everyone else in this segment should start pulling up thier socks.

I'd have to agree.Hyundai has studiously observed the success of Honda and Toyota in the automotive market. They are relatively quick learners.Because of this they have been able to put together vehicles that look good bot inside and out. The new Hyundai Elantra is a clear indication. It has a nicer quality interior then either a Civic or Accord and rides and handles at least has good as either. The last Corolla was outdated when it came out a few yrs back. The latest Civic is very little changed from the previous model and it's interior plastics are now subpar for the segment. It used to be that there was a clear deliniation when you bought a Honda or Toyota. The cars were refined,had a good ride and looked quality inside. This is simply no longer the case. Further Toyota's image has suffered as a result of all of its quality control problems. It no longer has that rock solid reliability image that it once had. Hyundai is not perfect. They and Kia still have to work on noise and suspension refinement. However if the Kia Optima,Hyundai Sonata and Elantra are anything to go by, it is clear this market has been broken open by the Korean's.

The new Sonata hybrid looks really nice on the street

I have to agree. Hyundai is on fire, Honda is choking.

When I am sure that a Sonata will feel as good as my '96
Accord in 15 years, I'll bite.

And this is according to whom? This site is just a bad joke that won't stop. So then then what two car companies are leading in this market? Idiotic article and headline. More than ten years ago Honda & Toyota gave Hyundai technology & assitance to help them build better cars. Why? Because it would make them all better and they wanted them to succeed. Hyundai has a lot of momentum right now and has a daunting task to keep it up and to get better products with consistancy to the market. We will see. I would get a Honda light years before a Hyundai.

Reality check: Hyundai and Kia sales and market share are on a fast track.

The age of the dominant Japanese brands is history. Period.

Hyundai is now following the Japanese that Honda, Toyota had done in 20 years. Hyundai's vehicles are eye-catching, but not long lasting look. It looks bored after one year so, which is the same weakness of the Japanese cara. You could hardly finda Bimmer, MB or Audi vehicles look bored after a generation.

Hyundai is very agressive in auto development. They need to change, not copy the Japanese. I'd like to see how Hyundai perform in long term.

Comparing with MB, BMW or Audi is a bit inappropriate. The message I want to deliver is that Hyundai or other Korean makers should stand out, and isolate themselves being the shadow of the Japanese. Peugeot, Renault, Seat or even VW have successfully created their company images.

Korean is beginning to challenge the domination of consumer electronics, auto industry of the Japanese companies. In addition to the historical reason in 2nd world war, the Korean would like to not only produce comparable products but also go beyond the Japanese.

If Hyundai just follows what Japanese had done in the past and does not innovate any new idea and concept, their strong sales won't last long.

Humor. Hyundai brand bashing was in vogue in the '80s and most of the '90s. Fast forward to now. You see monthly and yearly sales totals for Hyundai/Kia owning the ticker tape of market growth and sales success.

Honda and Toyota not so much, they have become more innovation adverse and sinking into mediocre quality with every new model release. Both are now content to survive off their nebulous and sliding "reputation".

"Hyundai is now following the Japanese that Honda, Toyota had done in 20 years. Hyundai's vehicles are eye-catching, but not long lasting look. It looks bored after one year so, which is the same weakness of the Japanese cara. You could hardly finda Bimmer, MB or Audi vehicles look bored after a generation."

That was so corny. First get the 2012 Civic in check before you start bashing Hyundai/Kias designs.

"So in your view, if it sells the most, it has to be better."

I don't know lets look at the facts, Kia is outselling Mitsubishi and Suzuki and Lexus and Infinti, HKAG is outselling Nissan Infinti. Saturn is dead. Olds and Pontiac is dead. Hmmm, Saab should be. Hmmmmm. The Daewoo Cruze and Equonix outsold the Rav-4.