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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  Concert Hall on Wheels- a Real Gem - 2009 Hyundai Azera
  By AWM - August 29 - 10:41 am

  This is an amazing great car with unmatched value. My wife and I absolutely love it. Our friends are very impressed. Weve owned it for 4 months and I waited until now to do the review. At 3500 miles, with majority (~80%) highway driving, the long-term mileage has been 24 mpg. As the flagship for Hyundai until the Genesis, one clearly senses that a whole lot of thought had gone into the design, and care into the build of this car. So far, this has been the most issue-free car Ive owned, including Camrys and Accords. There are people who would rave about this car if it was a luxury brand, but are more reserved as a Hyundai product. The Azera should be continued, to convert these skeptics.

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  Tiburon 04 review - 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Soonerlady - August 29 - 2:00 am

  I have had this automobile three weeks and noticed its comfort much better than my American made car. Good gas mileage too. Totally enjoyable car with great design.

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  Love at first sight - 2004 Hyundai Sonata
  By RDSC - August 29 - 2:00 am

  I went to our one week old Hyundai dealer to buy an Elantra for my wife and ended up trading off my Lexus ES- 300 for a loaded Sonata! There it was just begging me to take it home; I couldnt resist. It is not as sporty nor as powerful as the Lexus but I am not 20 anymore so those things are not as important. This car just looks and feels right. Except my wife didnt win.

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  A Great Car - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Steve - August 28 - 9:43 pm

  I bought the Elantra as a fuel-saving means of getting back and forth to work. On my last tank I got 36.5 mpg, with only about 15 percent freeway, although living out in the country I do go about 50 mph getting into town. The car feels very solid and comfortable. I love the XM stereo and the myriad of small touches inside the car. The trunk is cavernous. All in all a great car.

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  Its a great vehicle - 2009 Hyundai Genesis
  By Ver234 - August 28 - 2:52 pm

  got this beauty for 38,000 with the tech package. I couldnt be any happier. The thing moves and is very nice to be inside. Looking forward to future Hyundai vehicles. Especially the Equus

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  2003 Tiburon - 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
  By vito - August 28 - 7:00 am

  Only had a couple of days but love it already. Traded 2001 5 speed which was 14 months old and had 24K miles. Never a problem with the 2001. Look forward to same with 2003.

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  This Car is a contender - 2009 Hyundai Genesis
  By JOnstone - August 27 - 4:28 pm

  I got this car yesterday after test driving this vehicle. I certainly can say that the Genesis has a one of a kind personality. Though the car feels much more expensive, with luxurious appointments, the price paid was only 41,500 with all the options laid out.

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  Very nice sporty car - 2008 Hyundai Tiburon
  By Shirley Beavan - August 27 - 7:03 am

  Fun little sporty car that looks hot and has a nice interior to match. My car handles very well, gets decent mpg from the little 2.0 and with manual mode has nice acceleration. I test drove a Honda Accord coupe 4 cylinder, but this car has tighter handling, better warranty for $4000 less.

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  2006, The year Hynudai got serious - 2006 Hyundai Sonata
  By Marc - August 27 - 7:03 am

  I never thought I would own a Hyundai but the 2006 Sonata has completely changed my opinion of Hyundai as a car manufacturer. Not only is the interior and exterior craftsmanship of the vehicle top notch, it doesnt come with a price tag that will give you sticker shock. I have had the car for almost two months now and I absolutely love this car.

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  Cant believe I love a van - 2008 Hyundai Entourage
  By A new mom - August 25 - 9:37 am

  We have taken two trips with this van and love it. The room is great especially considering we have a 6 month old. Miss my controls on the steering wheel and my auto headlights that my other car had, but I am getting used to the lack of these features. Gas mileage could be better. Wish we could have afforded the upgraded model, but love van overall.