5 Misconceptions Malaysians Have Of Korean Cars
Korean automakers have come a long way from transforming themselves as the underdog into a worthy competitor up against their Japanese and continental counterparts.
Published for Hyundai, 24 Apr 2015, 12:02 PM
1. Korean cars have low resale value
The general sentiment is that Korean cars have the lowest resale value. We got the editors of Carlist.my and LifeLifeDrive.com to help us compare the resale value of 2012 cars above RM100,000 and this is what they found:
Based on the comparison above, Korean cars have a competitive resale value, especially against continental cars.
2. Korean cars have less features compared to Japanese or continental cars
A decade ago, Korean automakers struggled with poor reputation for vehicle quality, but they have now surpassed their Japanese and continental counterparts with huge investment in improving not only the quality and design, but also the features of the car. For example, the Hyundai Sonata is one that packs a punch - rear-view camera, panoramic sunroof, cruise control, smart trunk system, smart key, safe drive recorder, audio visual navigator, and so much more.
3. Korean cars are stylish but unreliable
On the contrary, Korean cars have been making big waves around the world. For example, Hyundai was named the North American Car Of The Year not once, but twice when the Genesis and Elantra took the coveted title in 2009 and 2012 respectively. This year, The Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai Genesis, which received the highest score in ANCAP safety rating, was shortlisted again for the 2015 North American Car Of The Year. In fact, Hyundai vehicles come with 5 years/300,000km warranty and 24/7 roadside assist. The Sonata LF even comes with 8 years powertrain warranty.
Kia is also not left out when the Kia Picanto was named as Britain's most reliable car in 2010.
4. Korean cars are only popular in Korea
Gone are the days where Korean cars were considered the runt of the litter. According to Wired, Hyundai and Kia have sold more vehicles to Americans than all European automakers combined through the first seven months of 2011, and they’re growing faster than any other automaker.
5. Hyundai Sonata is named after the popular Korean drama 'Winter Sonata'
As for this myth... we'll leave it to your imagination. You can ask the salesperson yourself when you register your interest to test drive the Hyundai Sonata.