Hyundai Motor Co.'s Genesis premium sedan and Kia Motors Corp.'s K900 flagship won automotive awards for excellence at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show, the two companies said Thursday.

The cars that started reaching the North American market this year have been getting positive coverage from local media and praise for their value and quality. 

Hyundai and Kia are corporate cousins and are flagships of Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-largest maker of cars in terms of output.

Hyundai Motor America (HMA), the distribution and marketing arm of the South Korean carmaker, said its second-generation Genesis has been named Luxury Car of the Year by Popular Mechanics at the magazine's annual Car of the Year Awards event.

Mike O'Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning at HMA, claimed the all-new Genesis is redefining the luxury market by offering premium features and advanced technology at great value.

"Receiving the honor of 'Luxury Car of the Year' from a prestigious publication like Popular Mechanics further demonstrates why the 2015 Genesis is truly in a league of its own and goes toe-to-toe with the best cars in the world," the executive said at the award ceremony.

The car received the Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety earlier this year. It is the first car made by the automaker to be equipped with the H-TRAC all-wheel drive system. The car sold in the United States can be had with either a 311 horsepower 3.8-liter V6 or a more powerful 5.0L V8 with 420 ponies on tap.

Hyundai added that the Genesis was also tapped as the Best Luxury Car at the Hispanic Motor Press Awards held at the L.A. motor show.

Kia Motors America (KMA) said its K900 was named International Car of the Year by Road and Travel Magazine.

The K900, sold as the K9 in South Korea and Quoris in some other markets, was praised for its design combined with luxurious amenities, performance and value.

The latest win marks the third straight year that Kia got the car of the year award from the publication. In 2012, the midsize Optima got the award, with the Cadenza following suit last year.

"Since arriving in the U.S. market 20 years ago, Kia has repeatedly defied conventional industry thinking, and the K900 is our boldest move yet, making a significant leap forward for the brand and bringing new and affluent customers into our retail showrooms," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing and communications at KMA said.

The latest laurel for the K900 follows the car getting the 2015 Best Buy Award in the premium large car segment from Consumer Guide Automotive. The luxury car got high marks for its upscale interior amenities, limo-like rear seats, refined V8 engine and long list of premium features that all cost some $20,000-30,000 less than the competition.

Consumer Guide Automotive picks its best vehicles in 20 different segments, with emphasis placed on price and value. (Yonhap)