Wandl

Interesting article; on one hand you have volume but companies like GM/Ford have decreased fleet sales because of profit. This year is doubly difficult because both volume and profits are expected to drop. Rental fleets have liked Toyota's because of their strong resale value (rental companies like Hertz/AVIS have suffered big losses due to falling used car values when they sell their rental assets after the rental life), but when I see 2016 Camry's for $13k, I can't see rental fleet sales as a sustainable strategy...

LexBob2

Here are the sales #'s thru June for Azera and Cadenza:

Azera 1,792 Sonata 76,315
Cadenza 2,656 Optima 59,717

As already mentioned here, with the Genesis G80 probably not much need or room for the Azera in the Hyundai/Genesis lineup.

GS69

Meant to post that in the sales thread ....

mmarshall

If more people actually looked at the Cadenza, it would probably sell more. It's built quite well, with excellent hardware, though it isn't quite as silky-smooth in its road-manners as, say, an Impala or LaCrosse.

SW17LS

If more people bought the car, it would sell better I agree.

mmarshall

Not sure what you mean by that phrase.

The point I was making is that not enough people are actually looking at it. Most people don't buy a car sight-unseen....though I've heard of it happening, more than once LOL.

I remember when you first went to look at a Sedona, you remarked at how much better you found it to be than you were imagining at first....though, of course, you had some later complaints about seat-access.

SW17LS

Because it doesn't make any sense

LexBob2

Car and Driver thinks highly of the Cadenza. They rank the segment Maxima, Cadenza, Avalon, Impala, Lacrosse.

As a sign of the times though, thru June Kia has sold 53k Soul, 50.3k Sorrento, 36.6k Sportage, vs. 2.7k Cadenza. For now it's probably selling as well as it's going to.

mmarshall

Some of that, of course, is simply the huge popularity of SUVs today. But it also reflects the fact, at least to some extent, that many people, even after all these years, still don't associate Kia or Hyundai with upmarket sedans in the Cadenza/Azera class.

SW17LS

It's a two fold issue. One, the market for a sedan like the Cadenza is very soft. Two, the Cadenza suffers from brand recognition issues.

mmarshall

That order of C&D ranking is not surprising. It more or less fits in with their conception of how they want a sedan to drive and perform, though a Lacrosse with the 20" wheels and the Hi-Per-Strut suspension is considerably firmer and more responsive than the standard 18" version, which is more traditional Buick.

LexBob2

CR's ranking of the segment as they see it is similar to C&D's. They rank it, Impala, Avalon, Cadenza, Lacrosse, Chrysler 300.

damtachoa

Instead of making too many cars, why don't they make one perfect car with the design last 7 years?

SW17LS

Because there is no such thing as a "perfect car". Different buyers like different things.

LexBob2

And manufacturers want to sell you a car more than once every 7 years.