Hyundai has become the number one brand for customer loyalty among car companies. According to Kelly Blue Book‘s latest Market Intelligence report, 56.3 percent of Hyundai owners shopping for a new car are considering another model built by the company. Hyundai brand loyalty increased 10.4 percent compared to the last KBB Market Intelligence report, and jumped from third place behind Honda and Toyota in the fourth quarter of 2009 to the number one spot in the first quarter of 2010.

Hyundai’s high customer loyalty is no big surprise. Hyundai cars are usually priced lower than the competition, and their initial value is balanced with a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty, one of the best in the industry. That combination of quality and value in a new Hyundai car brings customers back to the dealership for another. The new Hyundai Genesis Sedan, which offers luxury car amenities for thousands less than the competition, and the Hyundai Accent, which has a base MSRP of less than $10,000, highlight Hyundai’s focus on giving customers the best bang-for-the-buck possible.

It’s possible that bad press may have left a bad taste in the mouth of Honda and Toyota owners. Toyota’s recent recalls may have hurt customer brand loyalty, but the Camry remains one of the top five most researched cars on KBB. Honda also had a well publicized recall recently. It’s also possible that Hyundai has been dedicated to making the good cars for the lowest price for years and owners appreciate that.