HYUNDAI Automotive, noted for its aggressive marketing actions, is yet again setting the pace in the Australian automotive industry with a five-year warranty on all cars in its range.

The industry-leading warranty of five years/130,000km is two years longer than any other car company offers across its range.

It applies to all Excels, Lantra sedans, Lantra Sportswagons, Coupes and Sonatas sold from December 27. Prices have not been increased to cover the cost of the warranty.

Hyundai's managing director Mr Doug Croker says the longer warranty will send a clear signal of confidence to the car-buying public.

"More than any other feature, the five-year warranty demonstrates Hyundai's faith in the long-term reliability and durability of its cars," Mr Croker said.

"Once again, Hyundai is taking the lead in the Australian car industry - a position that will help us increase sales.

"We are the only car company with the confidence in our cars to offer a five-year warranty across the entire range.

"We were the first mass-market carmaker to introduce a three-year warranty and we made "drive-away, no more to pay" a household phrase.

"While other companies have finally matched these initiatives under protest, we have once again raised the bar and caught our competitors on the hop.

"We expect the new warranty to make 1999 a Happy New Year for our customers! Unlike some of our Japanese competitors, we don't see the need for a price increase at this time - even with the longer warranty.

"The Excel, for example, continues to sell from $13,990 drive-away with free air-conditioning."

The Hyundai Excel is Australia's best-selling four-cylinder car, with sales up 18.6 per cent so far this year to almost 42,000. Its nearest rival is the Toyota Corolla with just 22,000 sales.

Hyundai's Lantra Sportswagon is the country's most popular four-cylinder wagon and the Coupe is one of the most sought-after sports cars.

The four-cylinder Sonata GLE outsells the Mitsubishi Magna, Mazda 626 and Subaru Liberty four-cylinder sedans.