It seems wonders really will never cease. According to a report just out from, er, Consumer Reports, Detroit now has a new rival to worry about. That's hardly news, but it does come as a surprise that Japan's supertrio of Toyota
That's right, folks. The consumer watchdogs have anointed Hyundai's Sonata sedan as the most reliable 2004 car model sold in America. Combine that with a J.D. Power endorsement of the Sonata as the "highest-ranked entry midsize car in initial quality," and Hyundai looks poised to prosper.
You may recall that last May, we reviewed reports from The Washington Post
As bright as Hyundai's U.S. prospects are looking, though, its stock, listed on the Pink Sheets, doesn't look terribly promising for U.S. investors. As far as I could tell, the stock didn't trade a single share in the U.S. yesterday. Talk about illiquid!
That doesn't mean, however, that U.S. investors should just click "ignore" and pretend the company doesn't exist. The time may come when Hyundai decides to list its shares in the U.S. and offer us a chance to participate in its success. And even before then, it wouldn't be at all Foolish to ignore the effects that a rise in Hyundai's popularity here might have on Ford
But watch carefully. As the U.S. and Japanese triumvirates face off in the great American car lot, little Hyundai might just slip in and steal the parking space in our hearts.
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Fool contributor Rich Smith owns no shares in any company mentioned in this article.