Hyundai winning streak continues as the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) named the all-new, 2006 Hyundai Sonata as Canada’s “Best New Family Sedan Under $35,000” and the 2006 Hyundai Azera as the country’s “Best New Family Sedan Over $35,000” in the annual AJAC Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) competition.

The vote results and comparative new vehicle data are derived from the journalists’ annual four-day “TestFest” that is based on “real world, back-to-back testing at Shannonville Motorsport Park near Belleville, Ontario.

These dramatically new Hyundai products are milestone vehicles for Hyundai all over the world. Hyundai is surely honored to have won these prestigious awards from Canada ’s most influential group of automotive journalists and amongst 180 new models representing the 62 entries in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year awards

These awards are a testament that Hyundai is the surprising automaker that exceeds consumer expectations through relentless drive to over-deliver on quality in every price it competes. The all-new Sonata and Azera sedans are destined to redefine the way people perceive Hyundai and Hyundai products by exhibiting unwavering focus on quality, safety, style and by over-delivering with standard features while reflecting and retaining traditional Hyundai value.

 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 - winner Best New Family Car (under $35,000) with an overall score for 684.5, is an all-new vehicle featuring refined and confident styling, class-above spaciousness, segment-leading safety features and outstanding value. The new Hyundai Sonata represents the culmination of three years of intensive collaborative development at Hyundai’s global R & D centres.

 Hyundai Azera – winner Best New Family Car (over $35,000) is also an all-new vehicle featuring contemporary “European” styling and an interior package so spacious that it exceeds that found on other such luxury vehicles. The Hyundai Azera sets new standards for occupant safety with eight standard airbags (dual front, front and rear seat-mounted side impact and side curtain) standard active front head restraints, standard child seat LATCH system and seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters. Based on preliminary testing, the Azera is projected to perform at a five star level in all National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) frontal and side impact testing.

 The Hyundai Azera is available in two distinct trim levels - luxurious cloth or leather upholstered versions and the Azera is equipped with a host of standard features usually found only on sedans costing lots more. 

 These AJAC awards are further evidence of the high quality levels consumers are finding in Hyundai products. In the past two years, Hyundai and Hyundai vehicles have been the winners of over 30 awards for automotive and quality excellence.   These include such prestigious awards as the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Award for the Sonata and Tucson, the Strategic Vision Top Quality Award for the Tucson and Accent, and the Hyundai Santa Fe’s AutoPacific Satisfaction Awards for 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. The Hyundai Tucson, Elantra and Sonata have been listed as recommended vehicles by the highly respected Consumers Guide while the 2005 Hyundai Tucson was named as AJAC’s “Best New Crossover Vehicle” and as an Editor’s Choice winner in the SUV/Crossover category by World of Wheels magazine.

Driven by the steady, consistent launches of award-winning new products, the Hyundai brand has seen a dramatic increase in its sales, market share and brand image in the last few years. Hyundai is definitely on a roll – with more showroom traffic, more customer consideration and more sales, all driven by great new models. The road map is to grow Hyundai’s market share and brand image through sophisticated product design, leading-edge quality, safety technology and exceptional value.

 OTE Group is the exclusive dealer of Hyundai’s range of vehicles in Oman . With a nationwide network of showrooms and service centers, OTE Group ensures that Hyundai customers are never far from getting a wide range of high quality after-sales service. It is this strong partnership that continues to lead more customers to join the Hyundai family.