Hyundai Motor’s Genesis was the highest-ranked model in the midsize premium car segment in the 2012 Vehicle Dependability Study conducted by U.S.-based J.D. Power.

The VDS, which was released on Feb. 16, measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by the original owners of three-year-old (2009 model year) vehicles.

The Genesis received 81 points in the annual test, an all-time low ― which is the best performance ― for Hyundai Motor vehicles in the VDS.

The BMW 520d and Mercedes-Benz E330 fell behind the Hyundai sedan.

“Our goal is to design and build cars that meet and exceed consumers’ expectations not only on the showroom floor, but through the duration of their ownership experience,” Hyundai Motor America said in a statement.

He said that earning Hyundai’s first-ever top 10 finish in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study demonstrates that the company’s efforts are paying dividends.

“Long-term dependability translates to a positive ownership experience and brings customers back to the Hyundai brand in the future,” he said.

The Genesis is built on Hyundai’s performance-driven, rear-wheel-drive architecture.

In the U.S. market, the sedan’s sustained growth trajectory continued over the past few years.

“While we’ve still got a lot of work to do, we’re getting good responses to our consumer-driven Hyundai recipe ― assurance programs like the Trade-In Value Guarantee and America’s Best Warranty, industry-leading fuel economy, and the freshest designs,” a Hyundai executive said.

During the first quarter of the year, Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors’ share of the U.S. market for midsized sedans rose to a record high, industry data showed.

The Avante, dubbed the Elantra in North America, ranked third in the compact car category with 106 points, following Toyota Motor’s Prius and the Japanese company’s Corolla.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor came in fourth in overall dependability ratings among general carmakers with 125 points, outperforming Honda Motor with 131 points and Audi with 148.

According to J.D. Power, the industry average of the VDS was 132 points.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)