• Best Cars Under $20 000

The best new cars of 2019 are outstanding all-around performers—shown to be reliable, safe, and satisfying. That means they have scored high in our stringent track tests and extensive owner surveys.

Currently, Editor-in-Chief of New Roads Media, I have covered all aspects of the auto industry for some thirty years for publications including USA Today, Businessweek, AOL Autos, Popular Mechanics, Adweek and Advertising Age. Besides my journalism experience, I have also worked on auto advertising accounts for major ad agencies, including Lowe, Doner, Deutsch and Fallon. I have also written three books: Getting The Bugs Out–The Rise, Fall and Comeback of Volkswagen in America (2001); Driven–Inside BMW, The Most Admired Car Company in the World (2004) and (co-author) Writing The War: Chronicles of a World War 11 Correspondent (2015). I've also been a two-term President of the International Motor Press Association.The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

Hyundai’s Genesis brand tops J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study.

Best Cars Under $20 000

The brand is under-performing, though, on sales as the company struggles to create a compelling story around its new luxe marque.Two decades ago, Korean brands Hyundai and Kia were considered little more than compromise purchases for people who didn’t have the cash or credit score to afford a car from Japan, Detroit or Europe. Today, according to vehicle quality tracker J.D. Power, Toyota and BMW and other stalwarts of quality and reputation are chasing Hyundai, Kia and Hyundai luxury brand Genesis for the fewest glitches and design flaws.The three Korean brands, which are all controlled by the Hyundai Motor Group, have the fewest problems per 100 new vehicles, according to to J.D. Power’s 2018 initial quality ranking.The luxury brand, launched by Hyundai in 2016 after previously selling a Genesis brand sedan in Hyundai showrooms, topped the list with 68 problems per 100 cars. Genesis–a lineup up of two cars with a third on the way– beat the previous top-ranked luxury brands Porsche (with 79 problems per 100) and Lexus. This honor continues a string of third-party endorsements for the two-year-old Hyundai luxury spinoff. Earlier this, Genesis year also led of top-ten brand rankings.measures complaints from owners in the first three months of ownership.

Power has found over the decades that brands and models that score high on its IQS ranking also end up ranking high on its, which measures quality/customer complaints over three years of ownership. Hyundai, for example, recently scored third in Power’s VDS. Hyundai Tucson is top ranked small SUVHyundai scored 14 fewer problems per 100 vehicles this year versus 2017, moving from sixth last year to third this year.Besides build quality, and (which share a technical development center in Ann Arbor, Michigan), have succeeded on developing one of the best telematics systems in the industry.

Hyundai’s BlueLink and Kia’s UVO systems have proved easy to use, and other companies have lost ground in this study because their connected-car smartphone interface systems have trailed leaders like Hyundai and Kia. Kia Soul has been popular model for Kia, which is the top ranked mass-market brand on J.D. Power’s IQS.The Genesis-Kia-Hyundai trifecta of leadership may take some consumers by surprise, but their improvement is part of a broader improvement in quality in the industry, as well as a steady climb in quality at the Korean automakers.The industry average of 93 problems-per-100 vehicles is a four-point improvement over last year. “There’s no question that most automakers are doing a great job of listening to consumers and are producing vehicle quality of the highest caliber,” said Dave Sargent, Vice President of Global Automotive at J.D. “That said, some vehicle owners are still finding problems. As vehicles become more complex and automated, it is critical that consumers have complete confidence in automakers’ ability to deliver fault-free vehicles.”One of the biggest benefits of improved quality for consumers, besides fewer trips to the mechanic, is longevity of ownership.

Twenty-five years ago, automakers built cars to last 100,000 miles before major parts and systems would need to be replaced. Today, it is very common to find a wide array of used cars offered through websites like Autotrader.com with 180,000 and 200,000 miles.While the Koreans cleaned up on brand rankings, there were other notable results for Detroit, European and Japanese brands.The top ranked car in the is the with just 48 problem per 100 vehicles. Is the top ranked compact car.

Is top-ranked mid-sized SUV. Chevy Silverado is the top ranked light-duty pickup. Is the top-ranked mid-sized car and the is the top-ranked small SUV.David Kiley covers the global auto industry for Forbes.com and other outlets. He is co-author of the 2015 book.