Mercedes-Benz GLK Brand Reputation: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2013 | The smaller the Mercedes, the more heavily it tends to trade on the three-pointed star. So the #1 reason to consider a GLK250 carries over from the GLK350 review (text from the previous review in italics): I don't personally put much stock in brands, with cars or anything else. But each time I have a Mercedes-Benz for a week the continuing power of the marque has been unavoidable. Audi and BMW now command similar prices, but haven't yet acquired the same mystique. They probably never will for people born before 1980. Until the final years of the twentieth century, Audis were largely ignored as troublesome, modestly upgraded VWs and BMW was mostly known for the compact, still semi-affordable 3-Series. Neither could hold a candle to the company that invented the mass-produced automobile and that has been strongly associated with large, top-shelf automobiles ever since. Gayla (the site's programmer, my wife) is not a car person. Her take on the GLK: "Of course it's a good car, it's a Mercedes." Some of my friends who are more into cars--and who own competing makes--similarly employ a different tone when asking about "the Mercedes." They could afford one, so why don't they own one? Partly because the brand's mystique cuts both ways. They're not interested in making such a strong status statement. Can even a compact crossover make a strong status statement? Mercedes-Benz has done its best to make this so--check out the size of the three-pointed star on the GLK's grille. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review |
Mercedes-Benz GLK Brand Reputation: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Trickle-down reputation from the more expensive M-Bs. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review |
Hyundai Sonata Brand Reputation: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Hyundai has made major strides in reputation for reliability, build quality and style in the last few years, especially for the price. For value oriented customers who keep their cars a long time, these are major positive factors. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 162-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Hyundai is emerging leader in quality and reliability see full Hyundai Sonata review |
Hyundai Sonata Brand Reputation: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2015 | 4dr Sedan 185-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The Customer Service folks at Hyndai are weasels. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2011 | 4dr Sedan 200-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
People seem to be living in the past in regards to this. Hyundai is probably more reliable than the average brand but people who have never owned one only want to remember the days when they were considered a joke. Most problems I have heard of are only minor in nature. The pulling issue is the only legit one I've read about often and they seem to have fixed that. I've had no issues other than a dead battery which is irritating but not really Hyundai's fault. Really impressive considering this was a completely new design in its first model year. Great warranty makes this a non issue in my opinion. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
It does not have the cache of honda or toyota, which will hurt resale. However, at the price paid, and with that warranty, I still like the Sonota. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Cheap and low class. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 162-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Hyundai has not had a great reputation for high quality cars for most of its history. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2002 | 4dr Sedan 149-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Well, it still does not have the class. I do not care that much but you specially feel it when you want to trade it in for something else. see full Hyundai Sonata review |