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HMC garnered two segment winners in the 2005 Strategic Vision Total Quality Study. In the influential US market study, the Tucson and Accent topped the Small SUV and Small Car segments respectively. In addition, 73.61% of HMC owners reported no problems with their new vehicles, slightly ahead of the industry average of 73.43%. HMC set a new benchmark for the Small SUV segment with its Tucson. Tucson owners rated it higher on roominess, road noise and innovation and reported that it provided them with feeling of refinement, which is typically not present in vehicles in this segment.
The Accent offered its buyers with superior craftsmanship, style and thoughtfulness. The Total Quality Study surveyed over 40,000 newvehicle buyers who purchased their new 2005 vehicles during the October-November 2004 time period. Buyers were asked an extensive array of questions about their complete ownership experience including buying, owning, and driving their new vehicles.

MotorWeek, America's most popular automotive video magazine show, recognized the HMC Sonata as the Best Family Sedan in its 2006 Drivers' Choice Award. A team of 15 judges, comprised of the writers, producers and crew of MotorWeek evaluated more than 150 cars and trucks, looking for superior performance, technology, practicality and dollar value. Each vehicle tested underwent road and track tests and comprehensive competitor comparisons. The Sonata beat other vehicles in its class by combining performance, safety and comfort in an attractive and affordable package for families. The American-made Sonata was the first Korean-brand car to ever win the Best Family Sedan award of MotorWeek and did so with a tremendous combination of roomy comfort, quality assembly and most of all safety.

HMC recorded the highest rate of improvement in the VDS (Vehicle Durability Quality) survey of customers by J.D. Power and Associates. With the rapid improvement in the initial quality of new vehicles, HMC improved by 115 points, the highest such improvement within the automobile industry in the VDS. Such success is due to HMC's Quality First management initiatives. Unfortunately, as the aforementioned score has yet to live up to the average level, HMC is making every effort to improve overall quality. According to the vehicle class assessments of this study, Sonata garnered 3rd place in the Entry Midsize vehicle class, and the Accent occupied the 2nd spot in the Entry Compact Car class.

Five HMC models, the Accent, Elantra, Santa Fe, Sonata and Tiburon (Coupe) earned the title 'Best Bet' in Jack Gillis' The Car Book 2005. The Car Book, in cooperation with the Center for Auto Safety, selects vehicles for this distinction based on how well they respond to the safety and performance needs of today's consumer. Having five HMC models identified by The Car Book as 'Best Bets' demonstrates how well HMC vehicles are fitting the needs of the American consumer. The 5 models earned recognition for industryleading standard safety features, like side-impact air-bags and Electronic Stability Control. This recognition from The Car Book validates that customers are considering safety equipment as standard, not optional. The Car Book has analyzed new vehicles each year for the past 25 years to identify vehicles that have made a significant contribution to bettering the market. 'Best Bets' is The Car Book's list of highest-rated cars in each of the size categories.

HMC obtained the top ranking in the quality reliability survey performed by the UK automobile magazine, 'WHAT CAR?.' The survey, which was conducted by 'WHAT CAR?' and Warranty Direct, a warranty provider, ranked HMC 6th overall and awarded HMC vehicles with the top ranking of 5 stars along with the brands ranked from 1st to 5th. Regarding the number of cases of quality problems and the average costs and time required for maintenance, HMC was ranked 6th among the 30 companies with a total of 16.2 cases of quality problems for 100 vehicles and was ranked first with a cost of 135 British Pounds and 1.2 hours required for maintenance.

Conducted by the Chinese World Trade Organization Research and the Chinese Broadcasting Television Association, the Sonata was honored as the best brand representing Chinese lifestyle in the '2005 Chinese lifestyle survey,' which closely followed members of the Chinese political, economic and academic elite.
The '2005 Chinese Lifestyle Best Brand Award' selected 1 representative from leading sectors, namely, the IT, financial, consumer electronics, furniture, clothing, food, real estate, and the automobile fields etc. to properly reflect the representative local and foreign brands most actively used by and influencing Chinese lifestyle in 2005.

The Sonata was chosen as the winner of the 'Good Design Award' among imported vehicles, the highest accolade in the field of passenger vehicles conducted by the Japanese Association of Industrial Design. HMC's best design award for 2 years running, namely, the 'Good Design Award' for the Sonata following the heels of the Tucson's achievement in 2004, indicates that HMC's designs are reaching world-class levels.
The 'Good Design Award,' which is based on the Good Design Product Selection System (known as the G-Mark) and established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1957, is the foremost composite assessment of design and the most prestigious design award in Japan.