Quote:
Originally Posted by PhishPhood
Careful on the interpretation. I didn't say that Toyota was reducing quality to compete with Hyundai. In fact in both the Camry and the Corolla they've added content in the way of safey features, size and fuel economy but they have minimized the use of superior materials in the interiors. This is not reducing quality. That's matching the product to the expectations and needs of the buyers. If the buyers want more safety features, same reliability, top fuel economy and a down low price something has to give.
It's also a means to keep costs down in order to stay in line with Hyundai which is the strongest competitor ( financially ) in the every-day transportation field. Toyota along with HOnda and Nissan for 15 yrs has had a hold on the midsized/compact market. It's been the basis of their success. Now Hyundai is on the scene with two good products that have to be addressed. Both are among the least expensive offerings in both segments. It appears to me that Honda and Nissan and Mazda have opted to get larger and more upscale which leaves the basic transport field wide open to Hyundai. Toyota has declined to abdicate this high volume subsegment and is fighting Hyundai for it.
That however doesn't mean that upscale vehicles are being ignored. Honda now is selling more V6s than it ever did. That puts it more in competition with the Fusion and the Malibu. Toyota and Hyundai are selling some V6s but both it appears are concentrating mostly on the I4s.
|
I don't see it that way at all. Toyota has just come out with best V6 on the market while Honda still has the best I4.
And I dont understand what you mean by upmarket. The Camry and Accord are priced just about the same and have roughly the same number of features.
You also don't take into account that Hyundai is trying to improve quality and its the one that is moving up market with products like the Genesis and the Genesis coupe. Toyota's CEO has also said it will refocus attention on improving quality, and has adimited it dipped.