Hyundai Quality Shines Through in Latest J.D. Power Study

It’s hard to believe, but when Hyundai first came to the U.S., its quality was – shall we say – not stellar. Compare that to now, when three 2026 Hyundai models ranked at the top of their classes in the 2026 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study™ (IQS). 

• The Hyundai Sonata was the leader in the Midsize Car category
• The Hyundai Venue topped the Small SUV category
• The Hyundai Santa Cruz beat all comers in the Midsize Pickup category.

Just slightly behind, taking second place in their classes, were the 2026 Hyundai Elantra in the Compact Car segment, and the 2026 Hyundai Kona was second among Small SUVs. 

Initial quality is measured by problems per 100 vehicles. J.D. Power ranks each segment based on 78,514  new owners’/lessors’ responses to a 220+ question survey about their experiences after 90 days of driving their new vehicles, plus repair data collected from dealers. The survey responses were broken into 10 vehicle categories: infotainment; features, controls and displays; exterior; driving assistance; interior; seats; powertrain; driving experience; climate; and unspecified (unique to repair). Using the collected data allows manufacturers to continue refining and improving their products. 

A major finding was that year-over-year, overall quality has improved considerably. Interestingly, the number and location of cupholders made a big impression, along with driving assistance, EV range, road noise and body panel fit and finish.

 The one big challenge is with infotainment – especially connectivity –  and touchscreens. “As more technology is introduced into vehicles, keeping the experience simple matters more than ever,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. “The biggest gains in quality come from features that are easy to use—simple controls, less-intrusive driver assistance and software that works the way customers expect.”

“Hyundai’s strong results in the JD Power 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study reflect consistent execution across our lineup and reinforce our focus on delivering high-quality vehicles our customers can rely on from day one,” said Barry Ratzlaff, chief customer officer, Hyundai Motor North America.

Schomp Hyundai is very proud to represent vehicles that have continually increased in quality while remaining among America’s most affordable. We’d love to help you find the perfect Hyundai for your family.