Hyundai and Kia beat Lexus in quality study amid battle for buyers

Southfield, Michigan

SOUTH Korean carmakers Kia Motors Corp and Hyundai Motor Co could use a shot in the arm. A big victory in an influential quality study might give them a boost.

While Kia and Hyundai have been losing market share in the US, they scored great marks in JD Power's initial quality study, which measures the number of problems in the first 90 days of ownership. Kia took first place for the second year in a row and Hyundai's Genesis luxury brand placed second in its inaugural year in the survey. The mainstream Hyundai brand ranked eighth.

That's a change of fortune that has been in the works for several years. Toyota Motor Corp has long ruled over quality studies among American car owners, with its luxury Lexus line being the top nameplate for 14 of the 31 years JD Po…