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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  Its about time. - 2007 Hyundai Entourage
  By John - April 20 - 9:16 am

  After owning 4 Hyundais Ive waited 10 years for them to bring out a minivan and they didnt disappoint me what a product.The standard features are second to none.The top warranty on the market how can you go wrong?.If you dont look at the Hyundai Entourage it will be your loss.This minivan is very responsive to the road and power all I can say is WOW!It does Move with a speedometer that goes to 130MPH can hardly wait till after the breakin period.You will think you are driving a sports car.The Premium Entertainment package makes you feel like you are in a Home Theater.Love the extra mirror to keep an eye on the kids and the radio controls on the wheel.This minivan to me is it!.

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  I WOULD BUY ANOTHER HYUNDAI! - 2000 Hyundai Accent
  By DAVID HUARACHAS - April 20 - 2:00 am

  I AM VERY PLEASED WITH MY CAR. IT WAS DIRT CHEAP AND ALMOST NEW. THE ONLY THING I DONT LIKE IS THE SMALL TIRES BUT A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS FOR BIGGER RIMS AND TIRES AND SHES PERFECT. I AM A BMW OWNER AND I KNOW ABOUT SHIFTING, HANDLING, PERFORMANCE WHEN I DRIVE A CAR. IT DOES ALL VERY VERY WELL. ITS BEEN 4-5 MONTHS IT RUNS PERFECT, NO PROBS WITH ANYTHING. I WAS GOING FOR VARIOUS YR 2K ENTRY CARS LIKE THE FORD FOCUS, PROTEGE,COROLA, ETC.. I TEST DROVE THEM ALL AND THE ACCENT WAS SUPRISINGLY BETTER IN ALL ASPECTS! REAT DEAL. I WAS SICK OF MY BMWS SUCKING ALL MY HARD EARNED SAVINGS MONTHLY IN MAINTENANCE & REPAIR! HYUNDAI PARTS ARE A WELCOME CHANGE!

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  06 Sonata comments - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By TEAShea - April 20 - 12:53 am

  The 06 Sonata has a wonderful engine - smooth and powerful, with a lovely ripping sound that only a fine engine can provide at full rpm. The exterior styling is classic and distnguished. The panel gaps are as the narrowest and thinest in the auto world - absolute world class regardless of price. My comparison shows that an LX is $4,600 less than a Camry or Accord with the same equipment. Hyundais estimate of the difference is low. The suspension is well controlled and balanced. There is no torque steer and understeer is well controlled. The interior is well designed with good quality of materials for the class. The tolerances and build quality of the entire car is very good.

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  Should have had me at hello. - 2016 Hyundai TUCSON
  By M. Fitzgerald - April 19 - 10:58 pm

  The looks are what get you to the dealership right? In its market space, the redesigned Tucson is sleeker than everything else. The exterior looks futuristic without being over the top. The interior is wonderfully laid out and minus being unable to get my seat JUST right (the headrests are simply odd) and maybe a few too many blind spots, it is knockdown awesome. But then you drive it. During the test drive you can feel a bit of sluggishness coming off the line, and you are reminded by the salesperson that this car comes with a fancy "dual clutch transmission". So you think, "well, brand new car, probably something I can get used to". But you cant get used to it. You cant get used to driving a stick without it being a stick. You cannot get used to the rules having a dual clutch transmission comes with ("dont creep up on the car in front of you in traffic, wait until there is some space and then pull forward". Seriously?). But you bought it and you just think that over time everything will be ok. And then comes the gear stalls. When you are in first gear and the DCT doesnt engage second gear, but the computer thinks it did so now your in some odd wonderland between first and second, sort of gliding (or stalling is more like it). And if you stomp on the accelerator, nothing happens....youve got to "tap, tap tap" the gas pedal and get third gear to engaged. And after you shut the car off for a bit and come back, its like nothing ever happened and the dealership just claims ignorance. Its really unfortunate to lose as much money as I will when I offload this and go to something else, but I feel less and less safe every time I drive it.

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  quality of paint coat - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By kessler17 - April 18 - 12:32 pm

  I have a 1996 Ford Taurus with 155000 miles on it and a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe with 15000 miles on it. Both cars are driven on similar roads most of the time. The Taurus has scratches on the body but no rust spots whereas the where ever there are scratches on the Hyundai, it starts to rust. This is a major problem with this SUV.

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  Much better than you think - 2001 Hyundai Tiburon
  By CL - April 17 - 4:46 am

  This car is pretty good. The only problem Ive had is that my front wheel bearing was shot around 80,000 miles. The dealership fixed it for free under 100,000 mile warranty. No other problems so far and Im nearing the 100,000 mile mark. I do my own oil changes, and did my own tune-up. Paint is still excellent even though I park it outside. I did wax it a couple times. Overall, an excellent car, but not very comfortable because after a long drive, my back hurts. The only time I had to call a tow truck was when I ran out of gas. LOL.

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  V6 6spd Tibby - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By chilli0007 - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Awesome car. Looks sporty yet classy. Handles great. Brakes are great. No problems exept for a faulty speaker which dealer replaced. Alpine supercharger in the works to make this car even faster and fun to drive.

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  This is cool! - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Thomas Kim - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Hyundai Elantra is flawless car. I bet no one can get this much car with its price and its service. Its really good for people who look for a car to have a fun..!

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  It Fits! - 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By mr suby - April 17 - 2:00 am

  I just love this four cylinder, monster eatin machine! It looks and drives like my old Monte Carlo, without all the weird looks, or the GM nametag. The five speed is crisp, clean and well planned, I drive nearly fifty miles one way, weigh over 320 lbs and it all fits comfortably! Even my frequent on the road lunches. Plus I love the fold out rear table that covers the spare tire, I can host small and intimate clientele luncheons and have room left over to take everyone with me! God I love this monster eatin machine, do yourself a favor, get off your butt and go buy one of these machines, itll be worth your while!

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  Round Two - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By HookedonHyundai - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Wow! That is all I can think of when driving the new Hyundai. A comfortable ride for long distance driving that is easy on the gas but carries the power to accelerate to pass as well as handle any Interstate speed while being fuel efficient even with California smog equipment. The adjustable driver seat allows you to be comfortable any time. Outside, the car is just the right size for parking in tough places.Inside, the 2003 model is roomier than our older 2000 trade-in. Trading in the old Hyundai for a new one was not so easy. There wasnt anything wrong with it except we had put a lot of miles on it. In fact, we liked Hyundai so much we bought two of them this time!