OREANDA-NEWS. July 23, 2015. Hyundai followed up last year’s No. 1 ranking by finishing second among non-premium automakers in the J.D. Power 2015 Automotive Performance, Execution and LayoutSM (APEAL) Study released today. In its 20th year, the APEAL study examines owners’ assessments of the design, content, layout and performance of their new vehicle.

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata ranked second in the midsize car segment. Furthermore, five Hyundai models (Elantra, Genesis, Santa Fe, Tucson and Veloster) increased their scores in this year’s study.

“Finishing among the top two non-premium brands in this year’s J.D. Power APEAL Study shows Hyundai takes design, technology, features and performance seriously across the entire lineup,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, corporate and product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Having the best-selling Sonata ranking among the top two in its class is a tremendous achievement and we are committed to delivering the highest customer experience possible to our owners.”

Additionally, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata finished second in the midsize car segment by just two points – 817 v. 819.

Recently, Hyundai ranked second among non-premium automakers and fourth among all brands in the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS). The 2015 Hyundai Tucson was awarded for the highest initial quality in the small SUV segment and the 2015 Hyundai Accent earned the highest IQS honor in the small car segment for the second year in a row.