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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  Car of my dream - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By VaKo - May 25 - 2:00 am

  Universal car, powerfull engine, all needed feature standart. A lot of space affordable to move your stuff. Got my car with Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus tires and have to exchange them this summer after 35000 miles. Nice tires and short braking distance.

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  Very happy with Hyundai - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Doogs - May 25 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I have had our Santa Fe for almost 1 year now. I am glad to report that with 20,000 km on it we have had no issues. Im very impressed with the ride quality and fuel economy of our car. The interior fit and finish is excellent and the styling is a lot more interesting than most SUVs. The only complaint I have is the microscopic buttons on the stereo.

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  Hard to put down! - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Edging1 - May 25 - 2:00 am

  I am finding it extremely diffucult to find anything really wrong with the Santa Fe. It is surprisingly built very solidly, and along with the warrenty package and price-made this vehicle very difficult to pass up. While some may complain about the lack of power @173HP, I honestly cannot see the complaint legitimately. Its handled everything I have asked from quick acceleration, to passing to top speed, it is more than adequate for an SUV owner. As for the styling? While it may not be for everyone, it has some inexplicable way of growing on you.

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  A Review - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Alex5555 - May 25 - 2:00 am

  Great car for the price

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  alot of car for not alotta dough - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Corey565 - May 25 - 2:00 am

  i wanted a new car for under 15,000 that was attractive, fun to drive, and comfortable. the only problem was that i had a 2000chev/tracker with $2500 negative equity thati still owed over 3yrs on. the dealer not only paid off my traid but i was out the door for under 15000. i dont think ive been happier with a car than with my elantra. for a car that size you cant beat the room(im 6ft2), the comfort, and the performance. the deal clencher for me was the warranty. if hyundai keeps making cars with the quality of an elantra for that price, the competition might as well close up shop and go home.

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  A Standard Setter for the Genre - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Clint - May 23 - 7:46 am

  After driving US, Euro, and Japanese cars for 40 years, I came to understand that you go with the manufacturer who is trying hardest. For now, that seems to be Hyundai. The Elantra has begun to come out of the shadow of its big sister - Sonata - to earn well deserved praise. After driving this car for several months, now, I have found only one mistake: When you drop the automatic shift lever down to the stop, it lands in third gear, rather than Drive. This can result in straining the engine, on the highway, unless you notice it. Otherwise, the design features appear to be literally flawless. Its tame, comfortable basic transport, but it wants to frolic. It may surpirse you!

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  Impressive Tib SE - 2007 Hyundai Tiburon
  By bnick - May 22 - 2:13 pm

  Great car! The exterior styling is what let me to purchase the Tiburon. The price was well below comparable sports cars. My MPG is slightly better than I was expecting based on the published MPG. On the low end I have never got fewer than 24, and the highest has been 29. I now have driven it to 23,000 miles with no mechanical problems. A little wear spot on the leather seat bolster. The 6th gear, ratio, could be a little higher it "tacks" about 900rpms higher that my old 5sp Mits. Eclipse at 60MPH. It could do better on fuel consumption if the 1-6th gear ratios were different, especially 6th. There is noticeable acceleration steer. The accelerator pedal and brake pedal are to close together.

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  Gave Hyundai another chance!!!!!!! - 2016 Hyundai Sonata
  By Chad Walden - May 22 - 7:34 am

  My first Hyundai I bought in 1993. This was my first car ever. It was a 1993 Hyundai Excel GS. After a 6 months of having the car I begin to have trouble. The check engine light came on. When I pushed the clutch in the car shut off. After several trips to the dealership, the cause was the ground wire to the engine had broke. Well by then I didnt want the car. I said that I would never purchase another Hyundai. Well I was wrong!!!!! I was looking for another car due to a my 3 year old kicking my seats in my 2007 Volkswagen Jetta. My heart was set on a 2014 Toyota Camry. Well I was introduced to the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. Let me tell you!!!! This car is crazy!!!!! Hyundai did their homework and research! Excellence is all I can say. I really am enjoying this Hyundai. I hope and pray nothing happens to it but if it does, I will buy another one. Too may awesome features to name. GREAT JOB HYUNDAI!!!!!!!!!

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  The four wheel driving deal - 2005 Hyundai TUCSON
  By george zamot - May 22 - 6:56 am

  An excellent suv at an excellent price. Great traction control, great safety features, great interior/exterior design. In a word perfect!

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  Sonata 06 1st - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Stewart - May 21 - 2:06 pm

  The car has met all the expectations that Edmunds review stated. We did find the front seats comfortable during a 4 hour road trip. It drives and handles like a dream. A smooth ride with minimal exterior noise and great responsivness. The stereo is excellent and the six disc CD changer is handy. The trunk doesnt look very large from the outside but, it seems to be a "bottomless pit" when you load luggage! Another nice feature regarding the trunk...when there is water on the trunk lid it does not flow into the trunk compartment upon opening. Someone finally got it right! Overall, this is a great car and it is made right here in Alabama!