Hyundai Kona, Santa Fe win international awards

The Hyundai Kona was named top utility vehicle of the year at the recently concluded 2019 North American car, truck and utility Vehicle of the Year Awards, while the 2016 model of the Santa Fe was named the most dependable midsize SUV in the 2019 Vehicle Dependability Study carried out by the global market research firm J.D. Power.

“2019 has only just begun, yet we at Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (Hari) welcome with great pride the multiple awards our vehicles have already earned internationally,” said its president and CEO, Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.

Hari is the official distributor of Hyundai passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the Philippines.

The 2019 Hyundai Kona, alongside the Kona Electric CUV, was named North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.

This is the first time a Hyundai vehicle has won this prestigious award given by a jury of about 60 independent American and Canadian journalists and analysts.

The award was announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

Best SUV for the money

The Kona was also recognized as the best Subcompact SUV for the Money in 2019 by the United States News and World Report, which judges vehicles of different classes on their quality and value for money.

Finally, the Kona was among six models to earn 2019 Car and Driver Editors’ Choice Awards, which aims to provide car buyers with recommendations on the best vehicle options for each class.

Most dependable

This month, the 2016 model of the Santa Fe was named the most dependable midsize SUV by J.D. Power in their 2019 Vehicle Dependability Study.

The study looked into issues owners of 2016 vehicle models experienced over the previous year. This follows the results of the 2018 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report, where the Kona, Santa Fe, and Elantra received top marks for safety.

“These awards truly represent what Hyundai is all about. We aim to offer mobility solutions in all classes that boast unparalleled safety and reliability, while also introducing stylish yet affordable options like the Kona and, in 2019, the Reina,” said Agudo.