I'll be the first to say that that average consumer is going to place reliability and gas mileage pretty high on their list in importance when buying a midsized sedan.
But do they REALLY want to be forced into a boring design? Do they REALLY want to see the EXACT same car as theirs across the intersection at EVERY stop sign .
While those who really don't give a flip about cars may not care about these things, Hyundai has found the average urban buyer wants to at least express their style and taste in a more fashionable manner.
I guess if you think about it why should you surrender to bland and boring if you can get the same or better with some style?
Basically as we have said before STYLE MATTERS!
Also take special note to where Hyundai is pulling from when a luxury car buyer trades in for a Sonata. They are actually pulling from across the market at higher rates than the core brands under the luxury marque they previously owned. While they may not be jumping off the ship like rats on the Titanic, this statistic has to make the competition wonder what they did wrong.
2010 Paris Motor Show Photo Gallery
Saab Factory Photo Gallery
2011 Toyota Highlander Photo Gallery
2012 Range Rover Evoque Photo Gallery
BMW Paris Preview Photo Gallery