Overview & Reviews

A relative newcomer to the American marketplace, Hyundai is a Korean automaker with a product line that has improved greatly over the past decade. Hyundai cars and SUVs provide a high level of content for an affordable price, and are currently backed by one of the industry's longest warranties.

In 1947, Chung Ju Yung founded the Hyundai Civil Engineering Company. Mere months later, the outfit was bombed in the Korean War. However, the company regained its footing to distinguish itself as one of Korea's leading construction enterprises during the 1950s.

By the late 1960s, Chung had turned his attention to the automobile industry. The Korean government at that time believed that it made more sense to import vehicles than produce them domestically, and had made its opinion known. Still, Chung opted to follow his own convictions, and in 1967, he founded the Hyundai Motor Company.

The company quickly established an alliance with one of the industry's oldest automakers, signing a two-year contract with Ford in 1968 to share assembly technology. Hyundai's first car, the Cortina, was created from that partnership. The manufacturer's first car to be designed and built in Korea was the compact Pony (although the car was based on Japanese technology courtesy of Mitsubishi). The vehicle made its debut in 1974, and the following year Hyundai began exporting it to overseas markets.

Hyundai entered the U.S. market in 1986 with the introduction of its subcompact Excel. The car was an immediate hit, with its supreme affordability being a primary selling point. More than 100,000 Excels were sold stateside in the first seven months. By 1988, Hyundai had begun to produce cars using its own technology. The midsize Sonata was the first fruit borne of this endeavor.

Unfortunately, Hyundai's nascent image was soon tarnished by the poor durability and reliability of its vehicles. Sales tanked. However, rather than abandon the American market in the '90s, Hyundai chose to invest heavily in new product designs and improvements in overall quality and reliability. In 1998, Hyundai also purchased Kia, another Korean automaker, to expand its business and economies of scale.

It all started to pay off by the start of the new millennium, with the 2001 Elantra in particular showing massive improvements in overall quality, reliability and performance. Other models followed suit and the desirability of Hyundai cars increased sharply. Providing an extraordinarily long warranty period didn't hurt either.

Today's lineup is indicative of Hyundai's complete turnaround. Hyundai has a vehicle for nearly every segment, including the economical Accent subcompact, the popular Elantra compact, the midsize Sonata sedan (also available as a hybrid), sporty Genesis and Veloster coupes and a couple of stylish SUVs. Hyundai has also expanded into the entry-level and premium-level luxury sedan markets with its Genesis and Equus sedans. Having gone from being the butt of late-night TV jokes in the 1980s to a well-respected manufacturer of quality vehicles, Hyundai has created a very inspiring rags-to-riches story.

User Reviews:

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  Great vehicle, one complaint - 2011 Hyundai Sonata
  By George - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I have nothing bad to say about my 2011 Hyundai Sonata in regards to the performance. I feel it is a great car for the money and you cant beat the warranty.

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  Impressed all time - 2006 Hyundai Azera
  By timeless - August 4 - 12:56 pm

  i have driven azera about 600miles so far. i dont drive the other car Acura MDX any more. i have driven many other luxeries, but this car is the best car.

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  my last hyundai - 1999 Hyundai Accent
  By kml99 - August 4 - 2:00 am

  this car had so many problems. my friend and i bought the car on the same day and she ended up trading it in 2 years later, because it was so bad. the suspension was horrible.it would never get into the proper gear on the highway (i have an automatic). and i have had a problem with the air conditioner since day one, and no one seems to know how to fix it.

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  A loser - 1999 Hyundai Sonata
  By Ray Wilson - August 4 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car with 38K on it (a major mistake). Hyundais warranty is good but car has recurring problems. When warranty expires (60K) or 5 yrs) the car starts to literally fall apart. virtually everything but the motor will need to be re-placed. Even stuff fixed under warranty is only good for 12 month period. Dont keep this car after warranty expires, you will be SORRY.

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  Overly Happy - 2003 Hyundai Accent
  By sweet16drvr - August 4 - 2:00 am

  The hyundai accent is the best car on the market. I currently was given a new black 2003 accent for my birthday, and i am in love with it. I fully believe it was worth the wait for the car.

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  Hyundai Santa Fe - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Jim Bourg - August 3 - 9:03 pm

  Has given me every thing promised and then some. Has been trouble free. Will consider another when the time comes.

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  Check out for better fuel economy - 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By zonthemon - August 3 - 5:20 pm

  I have the base model with a manual trans. I think you get excellent value for the money. I get many comments on the styling and looks. As for the fuel economy I have found a pretty decent (15%+)increase when I have the Electronic Stability control (ESC) turned OFF.

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  2009 Santa FE for a BIG Man - 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Dave S - August 3 - 3:53 pm

  I really like my Santa Fe however, I find the seat to not go back far enough. That said, the only vehicle that is comfortable for me is my Ford SuperDuty Truck. I stand 68". I do think they could have allowed the seat to go back just another 2". The vehicle is very well made and a joy to drive (except for my hurting knees). The mileage could be better. But I have found the odometer to be off by almost 10% LOW. Which means my mileage is probably 21 rather than the 19 shown on the computer. We only have 8K miles on it and there seems to be some clunking under the back end when going over rough road. Probably a loose shock. Havent taken it in yet to have the dealer look at it.

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  Lived to tell about it!!! - 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Jana - August 3 - 3:16 pm

  Recently my daughter and I were in an accident with my 2004 Santa Fe which I was the driver my daughter the passenger. 3 vehicles were involved all of which were totaled off. The driver of the vehicle which hit us lost control and landed on my Santa Fe and rolled off, literally tearing open the drivers side and pushing us into another vehicle which stopped us from rolling into traffic.The accident reconstruction police team visited us at the hospital at which time they told us that had we been in any other vehicle the chances of the accident being fatal would have been much higher as the Santa Fe is designed to crumble around us in an accident and has the best accident ratings.Thank you Hyundai!

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  One of the worst car that I have ever bought - 2012 Hyundai Azera
  By Khush - August 3 - 10:20 am

  Warning Do not buy Hyundai Azera. It has engine problem the stupid 10 years warrenty is worthless. I own a 2012 Hyundai Azera it has engine problem I took it to the dealer several times for the same issues. The problem with the car is that it’s shaking it vibrates they call it rough idle when it’s turn it on when you drive it you feel it less but when you stop at a light or park it while the car is still on the entire car is shaking. Long story short they put a brand new engine in my car guess what? I still have the same exact issue with the car. At the end the corporate said there is nothing els they can do.